Eye of the Needle

Starring:Donald Sutherland, Stephen MacKenna, Philip Martin Brown, Kate Nelligan, Christopher Cazenove, George Belbin, Faith Brook, Barbara Graley, George Lee, Arthur Lovegrove, Colin Rix, Barbara Ewing, Chris Jenkinson, William Merrow, Patrick Connor, David Hayman, Ian Bannen, Rupert Frazer, Jonathan Nicholas Haley, Alex McCrindle
Director: Richard Marquand
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Eye of the Needle is a superbly effective World War II spy thriller from the Ken Follett bestseller of the same name. Donald Sutherland is "the Needle," a German spy in England bearing critical information on Allied invasion plans that he must deliver personally to the Führer. He's so named because of his preferred method of assassination, the stiletto. As played by Sutherland, he's a coldly calculating psychopath, emotionlessly focused on the task at hand, whether the task is to signal a U-boat or to gut a witness to avoid exposure. On his way back to Germany, a fierce storm strands him on an island, occupied only by a woman (Kate Nelligan), her disabled husband, and the lighthouse keeper. A romance of sorts develops between the woman and the spy, due to an estrangement of affections between the woman and her husband, whose accident has rendered him emotionally crippled as well. Much of the suspense of the latter half of the movie has to do with this romance, and the way it begins to reveal the Needle's motivations and whether there's a sympathetic personality buried somewhere inside him, though he remains by-and-large tantalizingly enigmatic. Early on, we discover that he may not enjoy the hand life has dealt him. When a courier asks him about the way he lives, and "What else can one do?" the Needle answers, "One can just stop." But as the film makes amply clear in its final third, one doesn't stop, does one? The direction by Richard Marquand (known primarily for thrillers such as this one and Jagged Edge, although he also did Return of the Jedi) is crisply done, boasting numerous suspenseful episodes, including a deadly encounter between Sutherland and the disabled husband, which is jaw-droppingly surprising. --Jim Gay

Description

Donald Sutherland (Outbreak) and Kate Nelligan (Up Close & Personal) ignite the screen as ill-fated lovers in this "exciting, emotionally involving thriller" (New York Magazine).Based on the best-selling novel by Ken Follett, this searing mystery is a roller coaster ride of suspense, centering on the relationship between a master spy and a brave womanwith the fate of the world hanging in the balance.Englishmen know him as Faber, but to the Fatherland, he's the lethal spy known as "The Needle." On his way back to Germany, Faber is shipwrecked on an island outpost where he befriends Lucy, a beautiful Englishwoman who lives there with her family. Lonely and scorned by her bitter, crippled husband, Lucy falls for the enigmatic stranger, not knowing that he's atraitor determined to prevent the D-Day invasion. But as their passion erupts, Lucy discovers the brutal truthas love and war melt into an electrifying climax of eroticism, adrenaline and terror!

Customer Reviews:

Eye of The Needle.......2007-05-07

One of the best WWII Spy novels, made into a great with outstanding performances by Donald Sutherland and Kate Nelligan. Worth the price of purchasing, especially if you like this type of movie. Donald Sutherland does an excellent job of portraying a German Agent living in England during World war II, although his nemsis, a former student turned soldier does a rather poor imitation of a self righteous person bent on identifying his former teacher for Scotland Yard. It is predictable what is going to happen to him.Eye of the Needle

Canny World War II Spy Story.......2007-05-05

1981's "Eye of the Needle," a canny World War II spy drama, is another of the good romantic thrillers made in the 80's. It's based on a novel by Ken Follett, with screenplay by Stanley Mann. It stars the Canadians Kate Nelligan and Donald Sutherland, at the head of an excellent British cast; and it boasts a stunning musical score by Miklos Rosza, his last, that undoubtedly contributes to the film's moods. It was made on location in London and Scotland, features quite beautiful cinematography by Alan Hulme, and was ably directed by Richard Marquand.

The film opens at a critical point in the ongoing war. It deals with the so-called "Henry Faber," important German spy dubbed "The Needle" at home for his favorite way of despatching people, by stiletto (Sutherland). We find him in place in a railway yard, a useful place for him to be, until Hitler personally assigns him to double check the impending Allied plans to invade mainland Europe. This assignment will bring him eventually to isolated Storm Island, off Scotland's coast, where he will meet David, legless former air pilot (Christopher Cazenove), and his unhappy wife Lucy (Nelligan). It quickly becomes a romantic triangle. The affair between Sutherland and Nelligan is a mature, passionate, sexy one: the film has placed Sutherland's age at 40, and Nelligan has been given a son.

Sutherland gives a creepily forceful performance as The Needle, although his accent sometimes wavers. Nelligan gives one of her trademark big, intense performances: it seems to me she was once tipped as Hollywood's next big female star, and it never happened, for reasons unknown to me. But she really carries this picture. Cazenove is surprisingly good as the embittered former flyboy. Ian Banner turns in his usual fine performance as chief spy sweeper. Rupert Fraser makes the most of his one scene as Muller. And, in a very small part at the end, we see Bill Nighy, who has suddenly, recently, become a star at an age when a lot of burnt-out stars are selling real estate.

When you think of it though, The Needle and Lucy must inevitably clash; just the two of them on the tiny island. Mind you, patriotism's all very well, but I consider this film more a good illustration of the age-old fact that women are more fixed in place than are men. The Needle, as a spy, is, by definition, a long way from home. But Lucy owns a farm, and has a son who will someday expect to inherit. She doesn't have the option of, say, running off to Germany with Faber. In fact, this exact same situation underlies the Harrison Ford-Kelly McGillis relationship in the powerful romantic thriller "Witness," also from the 80's.

So, as the knockout ending unspools, The Needle tells Lucy, "The War has come down to the two of us... I did what I had to do, it cannot be undone. I'm sorry." But if you enjoy a rich romantic suspense movie, you won't be.

Eye of the Needle.......2007-01-11

A movie, well done, from a era in filmmaking in the past

My highest rating!.......2007-01-06

This is a fine film, tastefully produced, a superior story (WW II suspense/spy thriller), and brilliant performances by the entire cast. My favorite genre is the mystery, epics are next, but I re-watch this DVD with frequency. I'm a huge fan of superior cinematography and this film has it all the way, beautiful color saturation. The filmscore is appropriate to the movie and, really, I can offer not a single negative comment about this work. This DVD is certainly one for your collection, especially if you're into war films or spy thrillers.

Eye of The Needle.......2006-11-04

This is an excellent vehicle for Donald Sutherland and it sticks to the book which is a classic thriller. It has very human characters and holds ones interest to the end.
JGH

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Killer DVD Collection

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Horror | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Amazon.com

This giftset includes 14 edge-of-your-seat thrillers including: Silence of the Lambs, Misery, Fargo (Special Edition), Manhunter, Hannibal (Special Edition), Kalifornia, Eye of the Needle, House of Games, Gangster No. 1, The January Man, Malice, Perfect Strangers, Special Effects and Dead Man Walking.

Average customer rating:

Eye of The Needle
Canny World War II Spy Story
Eye of the Needle
My highest rating!
Eye of The Needle

Eye of the Needle [Region 2]
Starring: Donald Sutherland , Stephen MacKenna , Philip Martin Brown , Kate Nelligan , and Christopher Cazenove
Director: Richard Marquand
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Day of the Jackal
Three Days of the Condor
The Eagle Has Landed
The Odessa File
The Boys From Brazil

ASIN: B00004YMHY

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Eye of The Needle.......2007-05-07

Canny World War II Spy Story.......2007-05-05

Eye of the Needle.......2007-01-11

A movie, well done, from a era in filmmaking in the past

My highest rating!.......2007-01-06

Eye of The Needle.......2006-11-04

This is an excellent vehicle for Donald Sutherland and it sticks to the book which is a classic thriller. It has very human characters and holds ones interest to the end.
JGH

Average customer rating:

Eye of The Needle
Canny World War II Spy Story
Eye of the Needle
My highest rating!
Eye of The Needle

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Day of the Jackal
Three Days of the Condor
The Eagle Has Landed
The Odessa File
The Boys From Brazil

ASIN: B000050GQM

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Eye of The Needle.......2007-05-07

Canny World War II Spy Story.......2007-05-05

Eye of the Needle.......2007-01-11

A movie, well done, from a era in filmmaking in the past

My highest rating!.......2007-01-06

Eye of The Needle.......2006-11-04

This is an excellent vehicle for Donald Sutherland and it sticks to the book which is a classic thriller. It has very human characters and holds ones interest to the end.
JGH

Average customer rating:

Eye of The Needle
Canny World War II Spy Story
Eye of the Needle
My highest rating!
Eye of The Needle

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Day of the Jackal
Three Days of the Condor
The Eagle Has Landed
The Odessa File
The Boys From Brazil

ASIN: B000056B10

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Eye of The Needle.......2007-05-07

Canny World War II Spy Story.......2007-05-05

Eye of the Needle.......2007-01-11

A movie, well done, from a era in filmmaking in the past

My highest rating!.......2007-01-06

Eye of The Needle.......2006-11-04

This is an excellent vehicle for Donald Sutherland and it sticks to the book which is a classic thriller. It has very human characters and holds ones interest to the end.
JGH

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Yoga and your Eyes

Sebastian-Blues Harmonica

Somewhere in Time [Collector's Edition] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Heat and Sunlight

Bis zur bitteren Neige