Eye of the Needle (1981)
Reference View | Change View
- R
- 1h 52min
- Romance, Thriller
- 24 Jul 1981 (USA)
- Movie
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.
Director:
Writers:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Donald Sutherland | ... |
Faber
|
|
| Stephen MacKenna | ... |
Lieutenant
|
|
| Philip Martin Brown | ... |
Billy Parkin
|
|
| Kate Nelligan | ... |
Lucy
|
|
| Christopher Cazenove | ... |
David
|
|
 |
George Belbin | ... |
Lucy's Father
|
| Faith Brook | ... |
Lucy's Mother
|
|
|
|
Barbara Graley | ... |
David's Mother
|
|
|
George Lee | ... |
Constable
|
|
|
Arthur Lovegrove | ... |
Peterson
|
|
|
Colin Rix | ... |
Oliphant
|
| Barbara Ewing | ... |
Mrs. Garden
|
|
|
|
Chris Jenkinson | ... |
German SS Officer
|
|
|
William Merrow | ... |
German Radio Operator
|
|
|
Patrick Connor | ... |
Inspector Harris
|
| David Hayman | ... |
Canter
|
|
| Ian Bannen | ... |
Godliman
|
|
| Rupert Frazer | ... |
Muller
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Nicholas Haley | ... |
Jo
|
| Alex McCrindle | ... |
Tom
|
|
| John Bennett | ... |
Kleinmann
|
|
| Sam Kydd | ... |
Lock Keeper
|
|
|
|
John Paul | ... |
Home Guard Captain
|
|
|
Stephen Phillips | ... |
Home Guard Corporal
|
| Richard Graydon | ... |
Home Guard Private
|
|
| Michael Mellinger | ... |
Portuguese Man
|
|
|
|
Allan Surtees | ... |
Colonel Terry
(as Alan Surtees)
|
| Don Fellows | ... |
American Colonel
|
|
|
|
Stewart Harwood | ... |
Sailor
(as Stuart Harwood)
|
| Rik Mayall | ... |
Sailor
|
|
|
|
Rory Edwards | ... |
Sailor
|
|
|
Ellis Dale | ... |
Station Master
|
|
|
Bill Fraser | ... |
Mr. Porter
|
|
|
Michael Josephs | ... |
German Naval Captain
(as Michael Joseph)
|
|
|
John Rees | ... |
German Naval Operator
|
|
|
John Grieve | ... |
Inspector Kincaid
|
|
|
Bruce White | ... |
Oban Policeman
|
|
|
David Ashton | ... |
Oban Radio Operator
|
| Bill Nighy | ... |
Squadron Leader Blenkinsop
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
|
Lewis Alexander | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
|
|
|
Sean Barry-Weske | ... |
U-Boat Officer (uncredited)
|
|
|
Russell Brook | ... |
Polish Solider (uncredited)
|
| Tony Clarkin | ... |
Sergeant Major (uncredited)
|
|
| Derek Lyons | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
|
|
| Chris Parsons | ... |
Local Islander (uncredited)
|
|
| Rochelle Rose | ... |
Young Girl on Train (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Peter Ross-Murray | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
|
| Guy Standeven | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Rita Tobin-Weske | ... |
Landlady (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Richard Marquand | ||
Written by
| Ken Follett | ... | (based on the novel by) |
| Stanley Mann | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Stephen J. Friedman | ... | producer (as Stephen Friedman) |
Music by
| Miklós Rózsa | ... | (as Miklos Rozsa) |
Cinematography by
| Alan Hume | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Sean Barton | ||
Editorial Department
| Nicholas Hosker | ... | assistant editor (as Nick Hosker) |
Casting By
| Celestia Fox | ||
Production Design by
| Wilfred Shingleton | ||
Art Direction by
| Bert Davey | ||
| John Hoesli | ||
Set Decoration by
| Hugh Scaife | ||
Costume Design by
| John Bloomfield | ||
Makeup Department
| Joan Carpenter | ... | hairdresser |
| Beryl Lerman | ... | makeup artist |
| Mark Nelson | ... | hairdresser |
| Wally Schneiderman | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| John Comfort | ... | production manager |
| Claude Hudson | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Roger Simons | ... | assistant director |
| Anthony Squire | ... | second unit director |
Art Department
| Brian Morris | ... | Set Painter |
| Ken Pattenden | ... | construction manager |
| Rosalind Shingleton | ... | assistant art director |
| Ken Softley | ... | construction manager |
| Kit Surrey | ... | assistant art director |
| John Chisholm | ... | property master (uncredited) |
| Dennis Murray | ... | plasterer (uncredited) |
| Paul Wolstencroft | ... | stage hand (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Graham Harris | ... | dubbing editor |
| Claude Hitchcock | ... | sound recordist |
| Gerry Humphreys | ... | re-recording engineer |
| Stan Fiferman | ... | footsteps (uncredited) |
| Eddy Joseph | ... | foley editor (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| George Gibbs | ... | special effects supervisor |
| Richard Conway | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
| Steve Hamilton | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
| Tad Krzanowski | ... | special mechanical effects (uncredited) |
| David Watson | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
| Michael White | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Eddie Stacey | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Bob Bremner | ... | gaffer |
| David Farrell | ... | still photographer |
| Mike Frift | ... | focus puller |
| Jack Lowin | ... | cameraman: second unit |
| Alec Mills | ... | camera operator |
| George Binnersley | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Paul Borg | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Ron Green | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| Russell j Lyster | ... | lighting technician (uncredited) |
| Miki Thomas | ... | focus puller b camera (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Lee Bolon | ... | location manager |
| William Lang | ... | location manager (as Bill Lang) |
Music Department
| Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | ... | music played by (as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Angela Allen | ... | continuity |
| Valerie Booth | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| John Beharrell | ... | production accountant |
| Marilyn Clarke | ... | production assistant |
| Maurice Dunster | ... | assistant to the producer |
| Penelope Forrester | ... | assistant accountant |
| Anna Hall | ... | assistant to the producer |
| Leila Kirkpatrick | ... | assistant to the director |
| Jennifer Patrick | ... | dialogue coach (as Jenny Patrick) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1981) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (France) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (Japan) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- United Artists (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1981) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1982) (Argentina) (theatrical) (as Artistas Unidos)
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Rank Filmes de Portugal (1981) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- United Artists (A-Asia) (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
- United Artists Corporation (1982) (India) (theatrical) (Bombay)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Video (1982) (United States) (VHS)
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ARD) (1987) (West Germany) (tv)
- Argentina Video Home (1982) (Argentina) (VHS)
- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1986) (United Kingdom) (tv) (BBC1)
- CBS/Fox (1984) (United States) (VHS)
- Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
- Image Entertainment (1997) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc) (for MGM)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- MGM Networks (2011) (India) (tv) (Chennai)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- SET India (2006) (India) (tv) (Chennai)
- Scanvideo (1984) (Finland) (VHS)
- StudioCanal (2018) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- TV3 (1992) (Finland) (tv)
- Televisie Radio Omroep Stichting (TROS) (1992) (Netherlands) (tv)
- Twilight Time (2016) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Warner Home Video (1982) (Australia) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1982) (Sweden) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1982) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1991) (Germany) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Abbey Road Studios (music recorded at)
- Helicopter Hire Ltd. (aviation facilities)
- Lee Lighting (grip and lighting equipment)
- The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (original music performed by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A German spy carrying information that will reveal the target of Operation Overlord becomes involved with the wife of a crippled man on an isolated island off the Scottish coast while he waits to be picked up.
Written by Keith Loh |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Codename: "The Needle". Only one person can stop him: The woman who loves him ! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
|
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Official Sites | |
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Did You Know?
| 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. See more » |
| 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Eye of the Needle (1981) (2022). See more » |
| Soundtracks | For He's a Jolly Good Fellow See more » |
| Quotes |
Faber:
[calling on radio to submarine]
Singvogel. Hier ist die Nadel. Kommen. ["Songbird. This is the Needle. Come."] See more » |