- Actors: Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland, Robert Duvall, Jenny Agutter, Donald Pleasence
- Directors: John Sturges
- Writers: Jack Higgins, Tom Mankiewicz
- Producers: David Niven Jr., Jack Wiener
- Language English, German, Polish
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Carlton
- VHS Release Date: 28 Feb 2000
- Run Time: 123 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004I9ME
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 9,997 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
This 1976 adventure story set in World War II concerns a Nazi plot to kidnap Churchill from his retreat--or murder him if need be. The Eagle Has Landed has a large, great cast and a director, John Sturges, who's been down this road of ensemble action before (The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape) make this project exciting if not as memorable as Sturges's more famous works. The weak ending doesn't help. -- Tom Keogh
Amazon.co.uk Review
This 1976 adventure story set in World War II concerns a Nazi plot to kidnap Churchill from his retreat--or murder him if need be. The large, great cast and a director, John Sturges, who's been down this road of ensemble action before (The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape) make this project exciting if not as memorable as Sturges' more famous works. The weak ending doesn't help. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
While the Carlton 2-DVD release offers both the original theatrical cut and the extended version of the film (kicking off with the gathering of Himmler, Canaris and Hitler in Bavaria which led to the fateful chain of events), this only offers the extended version. I personally think the post-production guys were almost fully justified in the cuts and change to the documentary footage for the pre-credits sequence: the documentary footage is both pithier and also more immediately creates a sense that this story 'could have happened' (rather than presenting us with an embarassing impersonation of Hitler). In short, the theatrical version is pacier, and doesn't give us so much time to reflect on the slightly absurd premise of the story.
On the other hand, there's at least two scenes cut for the theatrical release which in fact make more sense of the story: one is a brief meeting between Colonel Radl (Robert Duvall) and his doctor, where it's clear that his health is precarious - so making sense of his line towards the end of the film, 'I was measured for my casket months ago'; the other (more often noted) is the meeting between Joanna Gray, Liam Devlin and Colonel Steiner where they recap their plan.
So I suggest that those who already have the Carlton double-disc set are pretty well off and certainly shouldn't trade it in. However, this new ITV DVD set offers far more extensive documentary footage on making the film as 'extras'; both contemporary with the actual film-making (some of which is included on the Carlton, though not including the brief on-location footage in Norfolk), and also (not included in the Carlton set) a visit to the actual village as it is today where the film was made: this includes some fascinating views of the designs used to extend the original mill, adding the crucial mill-wheel and the part of the building that gets finally bazooka'd; also some interesting anecdotes about how the special effects and explosions were managed in and around the real-life church. For those extras I imagine all devoted fans of EHL will want this set as well as the Carlton.
On the other hand, there's at least two scenes cut for the theatrical release which in fact make more sense of the story: one is a brief meeting between Colonel Radl (Robert Duvall) and his doctor, where it's clear that his health is precarious - so making sense of his line towards the end of the film, 'I was measured for my casket months ago'; the other (more often noted) is the meeting between Joanna Gray, Liam Devlin and Colonel Steiner where they recap their plan.
So I suggest that those who already have the Carlton double-disc set are pretty well off and certainly shouldn't trade it in. However, this new ITV DVD set offers far more extensive documentary footage on making the film as 'extras'; both contemporary with the actual film-making (some of which is included on the Carlton, though not including the brief on-location footage in Norfolk), and also (not included in the Carlton set) a visit to the actual village as it is today where the film was made: this includes some fascinating views of the designs used to extend the original mill, adding the crucial mill-wheel and the part of the building that gets finally bazooka'd; also some interesting anecdotes about how the special effects and explosions were managed in and around the real-life church. For those extras I imagine all devoted fans of EHL will want this set as well as the Carlton.
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One of my favourite Higgins books, and good memories of the film. So I enjoyed watching it again on DVD. Sadly, I am sure it has been cut - with both the 'current day' opening and ending totally removed, and various scenes that appear 'incomplete' including one where the German organist starts playing during part of the grand finale. For a budget DVD it is adequate quality, but a shame that they did not retain the wide screen format that the credits are shown in. I feel sure that it is an edited for TV version that has been put straight to DVD.
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Although the cover states a runtime of 118 mins (all of the ITV Blu-Rays retain their PAL / 4% shorter runtimes on their covers, although in this case the 4% shorter time would still be wrong!), this is the full version as shown in the cinemas (clocking in at 2:15:24 - 135 mins). It is a shame branching was not used to include the further extended edition, but at any rate it is much better than having the 118 mins. version.
As for the actual picture quality, it is the same high standard as with all other ITV Blu-Ray products, i.e. Escape To Athena, Capricorn One, Great Expectations and (especially) The Boys From Brazil. Detail is excellent, as are colours; thankfully, ITV / Granada are not down there with the larger companies who tamper with colour to bring out detail, or turn up the yellow to give everything the brown, drab look associated with so many of today's new releases.
The Blu-Ray is absolutely vanilla, not even a trailer - but if the price is right for you, this disc with its lush picture quality comes thoroughly recommended.
As for the actual picture quality, it is the same high standard as with all other ITV Blu-Ray products, i.e. Escape To Athena, Capricorn One, Great Expectations and (especially) The Boys From Brazil. Detail is excellent, as are colours; thankfully, ITV / Granada are not down there with the larger companies who tamper with colour to bring out detail, or turn up the yellow to give everything the brown, drab look associated with so many of today's new releases.
The Blu-Ray is absolutely vanilla, not even a trailer - but if the price is right for you, this disc with its lush picture quality comes thoroughly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It could make The Charge Of The Light Brigade look like military...
A small Norfolk village in England is suddenly the focal point for a Polish regiment's training exercise. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Spike Owen
Not one of Sturge's better efforts
Good Nazis and bad Nazis. Incompetent US officer and very competent US officer ("who looks like he knows waht he's doing"). Read more
Published 3 months ago by Barry Wom
Review of single DVD version
"The Eagle has Landed", this 1977 film starring Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland, Jenny Agutter and Robert Duvall, directed by John Sturges needs a definite suspension of... Read more
Published 6 months ago by RR Waller
Landed okay, thanks!
It was quite entertaining as I have seen it quite a few times (wet Sunday afternoon fodder now on the telly it seems..) and it still has that certain 'magic' about it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Johan Wood
For the first time ever!
The Blu-Ray edition of "The Eagle Has Landed" fulfil the promise of correct and high picture quality, as compared to the previous Artisan DVD release. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Paulo Roberto Elias
The Eagle Has Landed
Classic WWII film and a great addition to my DVD collection. The ITV 'The Silver Collection' DVD cover, print and packaging is not the best quality. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Miguel Angel Orjales
A very good landing.
I bought the DVD as I remembered having seen the original in the cinema many years ago, but had mostly forgotten the details of the film. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Chris
Which eagle? There's more than one.
Is it obvious which eagle has landed?
Isn't it rather strange that there are no British troops in this story (apart from the army officer at the end who laconically... Read more
Isn't it rather strange that there are no British troops in this story (apart from the army officer at the end who laconically... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Paul Boswell
A great World War II-set film
This 2-disc special edition of The Eagle Has Landed from Carlton is very good in that it features the extended edition of the film on the first disc and the original theatrical... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. A. J. Tennant
Eagle has landed
Good entertainment which is sometimes confusing. Michael Caine up to his usual form. Definition of the film not as good as one would expect from Blu-Ray.
Published 21 months ago by A. M. Pardoe
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