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The Eagle Has Landed

Directed by John Sturges and based on the bestseller by Jack Higgins, The Eagle Has Landed (1976) is a classic WWII thriller. The story follows a daring German plot to kidnap Winston Churchill during a visit to a remote Norfolk village. Disguised as Polish paratroopers, a crack team led by Colonel Kurt Steiner (Michael Caine) infiltrates the community, aided by an IRA mole, Liam Devlin (Donald Sutherland).

The film is celebrated for its tension and its sympathetic portrayal of its German protagonists. The plot takes a dramatic turn when a soldier's heroic act during a village accident reveals their true identity, leading to an intense standoff against American paratroopers stationed nearby.

Locations

While set in the fictional Norfolk village of 'Studley Constable,' the film was primarily shot in the picturesque villages of Berkshire and the rugged coast of Cornwall.

Mapledurham, Berkshire

The village of Mapledurham served as the primary setting for Studley Constable. Real locations used include the Church of St Margaret, where the villagers are held hostage, and the village's 15th-century watermill, which is still operational today. Map Location

Charlestown Harbour, Cornwall

The Cornish harbor of Charlestown was used to recreate the German-occupied Channel Islands. The 'Bell and Dragon' pub, from which Liam Devlin is ejected, is actually the town's Pier House Hotel. Map Location

Rovaniemi, Finland

The opening sequence, where Colonel Steiner attempts to save a Jewish girl from a train bound for a concentration camp, was filmed in the snowy goods yard of Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. Map Location

Director

John Sturges

Cast

Michael Caine

Donald Sutherland

Robert Duvall

Full Cast

IMDB

View the official IMDB page

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