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Henry Faber is a cold and emotionless [[Germany|German]] [[Nazi]] [[sleeper agent]] nicknamed "the Needle" because he prefers to kill with a [[stiletto]]. While spying in England, he obtains critical information about the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]]' plans for the [[Invasion of Normandy]] but is unable to transmit the information. After narrowly escaping [[British intelligence]] in [[London]], Faber heads to Scotland for a rendezvous with a German U Boat. But fierce weather strands him on Storm Island. On the island he meets Lucy, her disabled husband, David, their son; and a shepherd named Tom.
Henry Faber is a cold and emotionless [[Germany|German]] [[Nazi]] [[sleeper agent]] nicknamed "the Needle" because he prefers to kill with a [[stiletto]]. While spying in England, he obtains critical information about the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]]' plans for the [[Invasion of Normandy]] but is unable to transmit the information. After narrowly escaping [[British intelligence]] in [[London]], Faber heads to Scotland for a rendezvous with a German U Boat. But fierce weather strands him on Storm Island. On the island he meets Lucy, her disabled husband, David, their son; and a shepherd named Tom.


A romance develops between Faber and Lucy because of the estrangement she has with her husband after an accident on their honeymoon which left him embittered and physically confined to a wheelchair. David becomes suspicious of Faber when he discovers he is carrying military information. When challenged about the documents, Faber ruthlessly kills David by throwing him off a cliff. However, Lucy finds his body and decides to flee. When Faber finds her missing, he realises she knows and pursues her. Kate finds Tom's dead body. She radios the mainland but is told that help will be sent immediately, but in the meantime, it is vital for her to destroy the island's radio transmitter.
A romance develops between Faber and Lucy because of the estrangement she has with her husband after an accident on their honeymoon which left him embittered and physically confined to a wheelchair. David becomes suspicious of Faber when he discovers he is carrying military information. When challenged about the documents, Faber ruthlessly kills David by throwing him off a cliff. Faber lies to Lucy to explain David's absence, claiming David had been drinking with Tom. However, Lucy finds her husband's body and decides to flee. When Faber finds her missing, he realises she knows and pursues her. Lucy finds Tom's dead body. She radios the mainland but is told that help will be sent immediately, but in the meantime, it is vital for her to destroy the island's radio transmitter.


Faber appears and threatens to kill her son if she does not do as he says. He tries to use the radio to report where the exact location of the D-Day invasion will happen but just as he is about to impart the information. Lucy blows the house's fuses rendering the transmitter useless. Faber expresses admiration for what Lucy has done, telling her that the war has come down to both of them. Considering her no longer a threat, he heads towards the beach to be picked up by the previously-arranged U-boat.
Faber appears and threatens to kill her son if she does not do as he says. He tries to use the radio to report where the exact location of the D-Day invasion will happen but just as he is about to impart the information. Lucy blows the house's fuses rendering the transmitter useless. Faber expresses admiration for what Lucy has done, telling her that the war has come down to both of them. Considering her no longer a threat, he heads towards the beach to be picked up by the previously-arranged U-boat.

Revision as of 06:52, 22 December 2021

For the 1962 comedy-drama film, see The Eye of the Needle (film).
Eye of the Needle
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard Marquand
Screenplay byStanley Mann
Based onEye of the Needle
1978 novel
by Ken Follett
Produced byStephen J. Friedman
Starring
CinematographyAlan Hume
Edited bySean Barton
Music byMiklós Rózsa
Production
company
Kings Road Entertainment
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • 24 July 1981 (1981-07-24) (U.S.)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$17.5 million

Eye of the Needle is a 1981 British spy film directed by Richard Marquand and starring Donald Sutherland and Kate Nelligan. Written by Stanley Mann, it is based on the 1978 novel of the same title by Ken Follett.

The film is about a German Nazi spy in the United Kingdom during World War II who discovers vital information about the upcoming D-Day invasion and his attempt to return to Germany while he is stranded with a family on the isolated (fictional) Storm Island, off the coast of Scotland.

Plot

Henry Faber is a cold and emotionless German Nazi sleeper agent nicknamed "the Needle" because he prefers to kill with a stiletto. While spying in England, he obtains critical information about the Allies' plans for the Invasion of Normandy but is unable to transmit the information. After narrowly escaping British intelligence in London, Faber heads to Scotland for a rendezvous with a German U Boat. But fierce weather strands him on Storm Island. On the island he meets Lucy, her disabled husband, David, their son; and a shepherd named Tom.

A romance develops between Faber and Lucy because of the estrangement she has with her husband after an accident on their honeymoon which left him embittered and physically confined to a wheelchair. David becomes suspicious of Faber when he discovers he is carrying military information. When challenged about the documents, Faber ruthlessly kills David by throwing him off a cliff. Faber lies to Lucy to explain David's absence, claiming David had been drinking with Tom. However, Lucy finds her husband's body and decides to flee. When Faber finds her missing, he realises she knows and pursues her. Lucy finds Tom's dead body. She radios the mainland but is told that help will be sent immediately, but in the meantime, it is vital for her to destroy the island's radio transmitter.

Faber appears and threatens to kill her son if she does not do as he says. He tries to use the radio to report where the exact location of the D-Day invasion will happen but just as he is about to impart the information. Lucy blows the house's fuses rendering the transmitter useless. Faber expresses admiration for what Lucy has done, telling her that the war has come down to both of them. Considering her no longer a threat, he heads towards the beach to be picked up by the previously-arranged U-boat.

Lucy, now fully aware of the stakes that are involved, follows Faber to the shore shooting wildly at him with her husband's pistol. As he tries to launch a small rowing boat to reach the waiting U-boat, one of her shots strikes Faber in the leg. He struggles to launch the boat but she shoots him again in the abdomen and he dies in the rowing boat.

Cast

Production

The Storm Island scenes were shot over eight weeks on the Isle of Mull, in the Inner Hebrides.[1] The distinctive Connel Bridge appears in the film, and some of the location filming was shot at Blackbushe Airport, Yateley, and also in London.

Reception

Roger Ebert "admired the movie" and stated that it "resembles nothing so much as one of those downbeat, plodding, quietly horrifying, and sometimes grimly funny war movies that used to be made by the British film industry, back when there was a British film industry."[2] On Rotten Tomatoes, 83% out of 18 critics gave the film positive reviews.

References

  1. ^ Hume, Alan; Owen, Gareth (2004). A Life Through the Lens: Memoirs of a Film Cameraman. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 130. ISBN 9780786418039.
  2. ^ Roger Ebert (January 1, 1981). "Eye of the Needle". Retrieved February 27, 2015.
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