Representing a middling
finale to an impressive career, The Eagle
Has Landed was the last movie directed by action guy John Sturges, whose
previous output included such classics as The
Magnificent Seven (1960) and The
Great Escape (1963). Considering Sturges’ skill and the caliber of the film’s cast, The
Eagle Has Landed should be terrific, but the story is hopelessly
convoluted, and the film never quite overcomes the problem of featuring Nazis
as protagonists. Based on a novel by Jack Higgins and written by Bond-movie
veteran Tom Mankiewicz, who was generally better suited to tongue-in-cheek
escapist fare, the narrative concerns an outlandish Third Reich plot to kidnap
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the height of the war’s
European action. Some of the Germans behind the scheme are, in descending order
of rank, Hitler confidante Heinrich Himmler (Donald Pleasence), an officer
named Radl (Robert Duvall, complete with eye patch), an IRA double-agent named
Devlin (Donald Sutherland), and a disgraced Nazi officer named Steiner (Michael
Caine). The overcooked plot also includes American soldiers (played by, among
others, Larry Hagman and Treat Williams), plus a British lass (Jenny Agutter)
who shares romantic history with Devlin. (In case you’ve already forgotten,
he’s the IRA guy.) Just describing the plot of The Eagle Has Landed is exhausting, and while watching the movie is
not quite as much of a chore as this synopsis might suggest, The Eagle Has Landed lacks the jaunty
quality of Sturges’ best action pictures. On the bright side, there’s some low-wattage fun
to be had in watching Caine play a snotty officer who openly expresses contempt
for his superiors, or in watching Sutherland play one of his signature romantic
rogues. Plus, Duvall has a few strong moments as the put-upon Radl, a mid-level
officer who endeavors to follow orders while slyly working the Third Reich
political system to protect himself from punishment in the event of failure. Good luck, pal!
The Eagle Has Landed: FUNKY
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