Product Details

• Actors: Donald Sutherland, Kate Nelligan, Stephen MacKenna, Philip Martin Brown, Christopher Cazenove
• Directors: Richard Marquand
• Writers: Ken Follett, Stanley Mann
• Producers: Stephen J. Friedman
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: English, German
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: July 8, 1997
• Run Time: 112 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0792835050
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,229 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A" or "F" Sutherland In One of His "A" Films, May 26, 2001

By 

carol irvin "carol irvin" (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eye of the Needle (DVD)

Hubby and I long ago nicknamed Donald Sutherland "A or F Sutherland." This is because his movies tend to be either "A"s or "F"s with nothing inbetween. "Eye Of The Needle" is one of his very best "A" films. It is based on the equally superb novel of the same name. It is rare when a novel and its film version are equal in excellence but this is one of those rare happenings. Sutherland plays a German spy, called "The Needle," stationed in England during WWII. He uncovers the real destination of the planned Allied D-Day invasion. In trying to get this information to his country and escape on a German submarine, he ends up stranded on an island with Kate Nelligan and her bitter and crippled husband. This is unfortunate for the Needle. For he finds himself emotionally captivated, as well as sexually, with Nelligan. Although he has always been able to ruthlessly kill anyone who stood in his mission's way before, Nelligan's fierce courage handicaps him. A love story as well as a war-espionage story, it is an exhilirating experience from start to finish. See it.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous., October 1, 2000

By 

Daisy Ghostly (Odense, Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eye of the Needle (DVD)

Sutherland and Nelligan are brilliant, in this old favorite of mine. It's the kind of classic spy movie you never get tired of. However, I think you probably need to be familiar with the movie already, in order to really appreciate it. -By that I mean, its pace might actually be a little too slow for someone watching it now for the first time. But this of course happens to be one of the many good things about it; it takes the time it needs to tell the story, establish the mood and the cold persona of the ruthless "Needle". (It's quite sad to think just how much most certainly would've been considered a waste of time, and ended up on the cutting-room floor if made today.) The picture on the DVD is quite good and sharp most of the time, especially the outdoor-scenes at daytime. By the way, there's an alternative ending of the movie in existence (with cop Bannen arriving by helicopter), and it would've been nice if MGM had included it as an extra bonus treat. Still, this simple tale is a true classic and well-worth getting.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Greatest Spy Movies of All Times, September 6, 2000

By 

J. GENIO (Earth) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eye of the Needle [VHS] (VHS Tape)

In the early days of WWII, a notorious German Spy, The Needle (Donald Sutherland) travels abroad and collects vital information for the wehrmacht. In 1944, the tide is turned; and Germany now finds itself in a defensive posture. The Germans are convinced that the allies are planning an invasion of France. -- but where?

The Needle uncovers critical information to indicate that the Allies are planning an invasion of Normady. Unfortunately for the Needle and Germany, on his way to delivering this vital information, he gets stranded on a remote island. At this point in the film, director Richard Marquand shows his cunning and artistic talents at convincingly weaving a supberb spy thriller and a romance movie together as one.

The Needle has to deliver his critical information to Germany. However, he cannot do so while stranded on the island. To complicate matters, the Needle now has romatic interests which causes him to delay his mission. But, at the same time, causes The Needle great anxiety because he knows he has to relay his information to Germany. The Needle knows that the fate of Germany rests in his hands.

Sutherland plays the part of a notorious, ruthless, and cunning German spy to absolute perfection. You also see Sutherland struggle with himself to complete his mission, and save Germany. Kate Nelligan magnificently plays the role of a woman torn between "romance" and "duty to her country."

This is not your typical James Bond or Matt Helm flicks with all the well-shaped, beautiful women; fancy gadgets, and explosive action. Instead, Eye of the Needle is a good, old fashioned (dare I say it!) "Hitchcockian" suspense thriller that will keep you at the edge of your seats.

This is an excellent movie. . . well worth watching more than once. This film rates more than a five. . . Its a perfect 10.