‘Exceptional’ WW2 film about Winston Churchill kidnap plot now on ITVX | Films | Entertainment

It features an all-star cast, including Michael Caine as German colonel Kurt Steiner, who leads the group of commandos, as well as Robert Duvall, and Donald Sutherland. It was based on Jack Higgin’s 1975 novel of the same name, and directed by John Sturges, from a screenplay by Tom Mankiewicz. Fans have flocked to review-aggregator platforms to heap praise on the film. On writing on Rotten Tomatoes said: “Great movie! Great actors! Like all things the book was better. But it told a truely daring and unique story.”

Another said called it a “great” war film “with an even better cast”.

A third echoed their comments, saying: “Exciting, well made and with an incredible cast. As John Sturges last film he shows how to film an adventure movie.

A fan writing on IMDb said it’s an “exceptional war movie”. “The story is very complex and the acting is first-rate,” they added.

“Provided you don’t think too much, this is a highly entertaining film. Sure, the Nazis didn’t attempt such a mission, but I enjoyed this alternative history movie.

Others suggested while they didn’t regard it as a classic of the genre, the array of stars makes up for it.

Another said: “The plot is heavy going at times, particularly the whole first hour leading up to the planned landing, and some of the dialog–heavily accented Germans–is not easy to understand without subtitles.

“This is a serious drawback for setting up this complex mission and establishing everything for the viewer, but the second half of the film has enough visual excitement, action and tension to make up for the talky first half.”

A third added: “Visually, it’s a pleasure to watch, photographed as it is in Finland and Great Britain in gorgeous color and featuring a score by Lalo Schafrin that adds to the excitement and tension.

“Summing up: Should be more widely known among all the war films produced during the ’70s.”

A fourth said the acting is “strong all around, production values are top-notch, and the story is a slick action-espionage adventure with plenty of suspense despite knowing that Churchill was never kidnapped in real life”.

“There’s just enough romance (between Sutherland and Agutter) to keep it from becoming an all-out testosterone-fest, but their relationship also figures prominently into various important plot points and helps tie the whole film together by the reasonably satisfying end.”

The film has a 15 certificate and an “S” content warning for sexual situations.

The Eagle Has Landed is streaming for free (with ads) on ITVX.