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Neulansilmä

Original title: Eye of the Needle
  • 19811981
  • K-16K-16
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Donald Sutherland and Kate Nelligan in Neulansilmä (1981)
A ruthless German spy, trying to get out of Britain with vital information about D-Day, must spend time with a young woman and her crippled husband.
Play trailer1:50
2 Videos
33 Photos
RomanceThrillerWar

A ruthless German spy, trying to get out of Britain with vital information about D-Day, must spend time with a young woman and her crippled husband.A ruthless German spy, trying to get out of Britain with vital information about D-Day, must spend time with a young woman and her crippled husband.A ruthless German spy, trying to get out of Britain with vital information about D-Day, must spend time with a young woman and her crippled husband.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Marquand
  • Writers
    • Ken Follett(based on the novel by)
    • Stanley Mann(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Donald Sutherland
    • Kate Nelligan
    • Stephen MacKenna
  • Director
    • Richard Marquand
  • Writers
    • Ken Follett(based on the novel by)
    • Stanley Mann(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Donald Sutherland
    • Kate Nelligan
    • Stephen MacKenna
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 81User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:50
    Official Trailer
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 39
    Video 15:49
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 39

    Photos33

    Donald Sutherland in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Christopher Cazenove and Kate Nelligan in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Donald Sutherland, John Paul, and Stephen Phillips in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Donald Sutherland and Kate Nelligan in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Kate Nelligan in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Christopher Cazenove in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Donald Sutherland in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Donald Sutherland, Christopher Cazenove, Kate Nelligan, and Jonathan Nicholas Haley in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Donald Sutherland in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Kate Nelligan and Jonathan Nicholas Haley in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Christopher Cazenove and Kate Nelligan in Neulansilmä (1981)
    Kate Nelligan in Neulansilmä (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Faber
    Kate Nelligan
    Kate Nelligan
    • Lucy Rose
    Stephen MacKenna
    Stephen MacKenna
    • Lieutenant
    Philip Martin Brown
    Philip Martin Brown
    • Billy Parkin
    Christopher Cazenove
    Christopher Cazenove
    • David Rose
    George Belbin
    • Lucy's Father
    Faith Brook
    Faith Brook
    • Lucy's Mother
    Barbara Graley
    • David's Mother
    George Lee
    • Constable
    Arthur Lovegrove
    • Peterson
    Colin Rix
    • Oliphant
    Barbara Ewing
    Barbara Ewing
    • Mrs. Garden
    Chris Jenkinson
    • German SS Officer
    William Merrow
    • German Radio Operator
    Patrick Connor
    • Inspector Harris
    David Hayman
    David Hayman
    • Canter
    Ian Bannen
    Ian Bannen
    • Godliman
    Rupert Frazer
    Rupert Frazer
    • Muller
    • Director
      • Richard Marquand
    • Writers
      • Ken Follett(based on the novel by)
      • Stanley Mann(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A cottage and lighthouse were constructed on the The Isle of Mull for the production of this movie. The set building utilized the skills of a seventy-two year old master thatcher, a local of the island.
    • Goofs
      Other then in Burma, and a bit of Coast Guard work, Helicopters were not around in Military use (or few others for that matter) in 1944. That model was not flown by the RAF until 1953.
    • Quotes

      Faber: [calling on radio to submarine] Singvogel. Hier ist die Nadel. Kommen.

      ["Songbird. This is the Needle. Come."]

    • Alternate versions
      NTSC DVD R1 and PAL DVD R2, have different endings. European PAL DVD version ending is approx. 1.5 minutes longer. In the last scene, the helicopter arrives and lands, there is a conversation with the commander about the radio transmission being interrupted and finally the child arrives and reunites with his mother. it's sort of a happy end. This ending was cut from NTSC DVD version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Vintage Video: Eye of the Needle (1981) (2022)
    • Soundtracks
      For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Sung by wedding guests with modified lyrics ("For They Are Jolly Good Fellows")

    User reviews81

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    EYeeee Of The Needle
    Eye Of The Needle is one of those films that I saw when I was a wee lad, which I watched again recently, to find out I enjoyed it as much as the first time (which rarely happens). Donald Sutherland plays the Needle, a German top spy who has a nasty habit with a knife. After taking pictures of a supposed American military base to spoil the chances of an American blitz, his plans are temporarily diverted when the boat he steals while getting away from those dang Allied forces, washes away on a beach, where Kate Nelligan and her husband lives. But they don't know his secret, and Sutherland must somehow make contact with a German U-Boat before Time Runs Out!! Everyone is wonderful in this. The plot sort of reminds me of I know Where I'm Going! mixed in with Breaking The Waves. Lots of twists and surprises to keep you going, A great popcorn movie!
    helpful•8
    1
    • Spuzzlightyear
    • Aug 10, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 23, 1981 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Nålens öga
    • Filming locations
      • Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK
    • Production company
      • Kings Road Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,583,634
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,583,634
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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