The Eagle Has Landed

Review by James Anthony

Click here for DVD details at a glance

The Eagle Has Landed is one of my all-time favourite war movies and features a sensational cast and a rather good storyline.

It is all about a secret German plan to kidnap, or kill, Winston Churchill while he is at a quite countryside retreat just a little too near the coast for his safety.

Leading the German raid is Oberst Kurt Steiner, who is played to perfection by Michael Caine. A tough, no-nonsense war hero, Steiner and his paratroopers relish the idea of trying to deal a massive blow to Allied morale.

Aiding him is a renegade IRA member, Liam Devlin (a very colourful Donald Sutherland) who drops into England to pave the way for the operation.

Opposing the Germans, their sympathisers and the nasty little plan, are a group of stout English folk - including the lovely Jenny Agutter - and a company of American Rangers. Initially led by a clown, beautifully played by Larry Hagman, the combat teams really get going when Treat Williams takes over command.

The action is fast and furious and, it has to be said, I found myself really wanting the raiders to succeed.

The downside to The Eagle Has Landed is its very poor transfer in to DVD. The print it was taken from must have gone through the washer about a dozen times and it has more hairs and speckles on than an 80-year-old's head.

Still, it is one of the great WW2 films and will be regularly watched on the Anthony household's DVD player.

Conclusion: Movie 80%, Extras 20%

Continued: DVD details at a glance >