Eye of the Needle (1981)
Genre: Thriller / Romance
Duration: 112 minuten
Alternative title: Door 't Oog van de Naald
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: Richard Marquand
Stars: Donald Sutherland, Kate Nelligan and Stephen MacKenna
IMDb score:
7,1 (14.373)
Releasedate: 24 July 1981
Eye of the Needle plot
"To love a stranger is easy. To kill a lover is not."
This film focuses on the relationship between a master spy and a courageous woman. The English know him as Faber, but to the Fatherland he is the loyal and deadly spy known as The Needle. On his return to Germany, he is stranded at an outpost where he befriends Lucy, a beautiful English woman who lives there with her family, lonely and despised by her embittered husband. Lucy falls for the enigmatic stranger, unaware that he is a traitor, determined to prevent the D-Day invasion. But when their passion erupts, Lucy discovers the brutal truth.
Actors and actresses
Faber
Lucy
Godliman
David
Lucy's Mother
Mrs. Garden
Canter
Tom
Billy Parkin
Lieutenant
Reviews & comments
blurp194
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- 5987 messages
- 4478 votes
Perfect film adaptation of Ken Follett's book - the book that made him famous. And rightly so, because it is without a doubt a strong and exciting story. The film then adds a strong visual layer, especially through the sinister looking Sutherland as the unhesitatingly murdering spy. The denouement on the island is given a relatively large amount of space, and that is also a choice that I can agree with, the images are sometimes downright beautiful.
But there is also plenty to be found in the details - that is how I remembered from the first time I saw the film the somewhat strange way in which Sutherland spoons his soup. So that was common for civilized people at the time... which Sutherland falls back into in his role, of course. Nice role by Kate Nelligan too.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Boneka
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- 2826 messages
- 1415 votes
It may have been over 30 years since I saw this movie back then. Waited a long time for it to finally come out on Blu-ray and this fall it was time. What stayed with me most of all was the last hour with the lighthouse. The film is not perfect, but definitely worth seeing. It is indeed a bit strange that at the time of the wedding accident in 1940 we suddenly move 4 years. With that said, it's also strange that her husband has been walking around with a terrible grudge for four years as if it just happened. Definitely not well chosen. Still, these are just one of the few flaws I can find in this exciting spy thriller. Donald Sutherland in particular plays an excellent role as a master spy. The German in this film, albeit scarce, is also well interpreted. Kate Nelligan plays a fantastically beautiful role. Beautiful woman at the time too. Now 68 years old already. I especially like the chemistry between her and Donald. We also find a little more depth in the film. Her life with her husband who is still full of resentment. The other characters don't really play in the foreground and are of much less importance. Although the first hour is quite entertaining on the train and beyond, it is especially the second part at the lighthouse that makes the film exciting and intriguing.
There was also an alternative ending I saw, but this adds nothing to the whole. We then see that helicopter landing, but the end is already well enough.
That being said, the film has finally been released on Blu-ray. I saw little to no dirt. At least no obvious white splashes. However, the film is regularly full of noise. Not disturbing. It is especially difficult in dark scenes. Occasionally a bit pale, but generally a good enough. Sound is OK.
Movie 4.0 (English subtitles)
Image 3.5
Sound 4.0
Extras 3.5 (unsubtitled)
Translated from Dutch · View original
Filmkriebel
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- 10307 messages
- 4829 votes
Gloomy and well-balanced thriller based on a book by Ken Follett featuring Sutherland as a German super spy who plays a vital role in reporting the exact location of D-Day. The British must prevent him from reaching Germany alive, and the man finds refuge on a small island. There he begins a romance with the sexually frustrated wife of an invalid. Found him quite uncomfortable at times and the tense moments are definitely there. Because you know that Sutherland just cuts out anyone who gets in his way. I think this is one of the films for which Sutherland can be remembered as an actor. The point is in the feelings that he cherishes for the woman. The romance here is much needed and contributes. Can certainly be seen. The rather unknown director would go on to direct Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
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