Alternate versions for
The Eagle Has Landed (1976) More at IMDbPro »

• The Carlton distributed DVD "Michael Caine double bill" is the full uncut version incorporating all the cut scenes, including the blood from Colonel Pitts' head and the shot in the back of the soldier. However on the description of the film it has the wrong film length info, it is about 12 minutes longer than shown.
  
  
• The UK video version of this movie (once available on Channel 5/Spectrum sell thru) is missing roughly 12 minutes of footage. This material can be found in the version screened by the BBC, although the 'beeb' decided to censor two brief scenes of violence (after Grey shoots Pitts, there's a quick shot of blood covering his face and a U.S. soldier having his shoulder shot while a colleague pronounces "son of a bitch"; both of these are in the shorter video version). The following omissions occur in the video:
  • Radl and Karl walking to map room, putting map on wall (this follows Radl saying "where is Studley Barnett")
  • Liam walking into churchyard, then church, meeting Father Vereker and Pamela (following the pub scene)
  • Long, important dialogue scene with Liam, Grey and Steiner discussing their motives (following the manouvres scene)
  • Pitts telling his men to "put that windshield down, and give me some hand grenades" (following the war office disagreement)
  • Pitts looking through binoculars, putting white flag on jeep and negotiating with a nazi, whilst his men get into position (after Clark stops Churchill)
  • Brief shot of nazi playing theme music on church organ
  • Brief shot of above nazi, dead slumped over organ
  • Radl and Karl outside in Alderney (after Steiner and Devlin depart)
  • Two U.S. soldiers send dogs into a hut after Devlin, then Devlin using his dog whistle trick (after Steiner knocks soldier unconscious).
  
  
  
• The new Artisan region 1 DVD has some of the above scenes re-instated. Unfortunately the first six scenes listed are still absent, making the BBC broadcast version(shorn of a few secs.of violence) still the definitive choice.
  
  
• The UK video version of this movie (once available on Channel 5/Spectrum sell thru) is missing roughly 12 minutes of footage. This material can be found in the version screened by the BBC, although the 'beeb' decided to censor two brief scenes of violence (after Grey shoots Pitts, there's a quick shot of blood covering his face and a U.S. soldier having his shoulder shot while a colleague pronounces "son of a bitch"; both of these are in the shorter video version and the Artisan Region 1 DVD). The following omissions occur in the video:
  • Radl and Karl walking to map room, putting map on wall (this follows Radl saying "where is Studley Constable")
  • Liam walking into churchyard, then church, meeting Father Vereker and Pamela (following the pub scene)
  • Long, important dialogue scene with Liam, Grey and Steiner discussing their motives (following the maneuvers scene) (Part of this scene is on the Artisan DVD Region 1, but it's very short)
  • Pitts telling his men to "put that windshield down, and give me some hand grenades" (following the war office disagreement) (This scene is on the Artisan DVD Region 1)
  • Pitts looking through binoculars, putting white flag on jeep and negotiating with a German, whilst his men get into position (after Clark stops Churchill) (This scene is on the Artisan DVD Region 1)
  • Brief shot of a German soldier playing music on church organ (This scene is NOT on the Artisan DVD Region 1)
  • Brief shot of above German soldier, dead slumped over organ (This scene is on the Artisan DVD Region 1)
  • Radl and Karl outside in Alderney (after Steiner and Devlin depart) (This scene is on the Artisan DVD Region 1)
  • Two U.S. soldiers send dogs into a hut after Devlin, then Devlin using his dog whistle trick (after Steiner knocks soldier unconscious). (This scene is on the Artisan DVD Region 1)
  
  
  
• The new Artisan region 1 DVD has some of the above scenes re-instated. Unfortunately the first three scenes listed are still absent, making the BBC broadcast version (shorn of a few secs.of violence) still the definitive choice.
  
  
• The version of the film screened on Sky Cinema in the UK is the full-length uncut version in its full widescreen ratio (2.35:1)
  
  
• A new Region 2 Special Edition 2 Disc DVD set was released in June 2004 to coincide with the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. It contains both the full Theatrical version running 130 mins (25 fps), and the Extended version running 145 mins (25 fps). Both versions have been fully restored and are presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The Theatrical cut has a 5.1 surround mix and the Extended cut has a Stereo surround mix, despite the packaging incorrectly stating that it is a mono track.
  
  
• The new Region 2 DVD contains an extended cut of the film with a running time of 145 mins (25 fps). The additional scenes are:
  • 1. Different pre-title sequence with Himmler arriving at the castle seen in the opening credits. Himmler, Canaris and Hitler exit a meeting, where Himmler suggests the feasibility study of the Churchill kidnap plot to Canaris. This runs into the title sequence.
  • 2. After the scene between Radl and Canaris, Radl goes to his own office to find his doctor waiting for him. A conversation follows which suggests that Radl is terminally ill.
  • 3. Extension of the scene between Devlin and Joanna Grey where she gives him money for the trucks, warns him about stolen petrol and they toast the success of the mission. This is followed by Devlin riding through the village on his motorcycle, across the marsh, arriving at his cottage and looking around. This runs into the scene of Devlin arriving at the village pub.
  • 4. After the scene in the dunes between Devlin and Molly Prior, there is a scene between Steiner and Von Neustadt at the airfield where they discuss their chances of success.
  • 5. That scene runs into Devlin arriving at his cottage. He is joined by Molly Prior. They talk and Devlin reads poetry to her.
  • 6. After Devlin takes delivery of the trucks, he re-enters the cottage to find Molly there. She confronts him, mistakenly thinking he is a black marketeer. These two scenes make more sense of her later declaration of love for Devlin to Arthur Seymour.
  • 7. Directly after Himmler rips up Radl's letter, there is a short scene with Father Verecker reading a newspaper in the vestry of the church. He is surprised by Laker Armsby who enters via the tunnel (used by Devlin and Steiner later). This basically explains where it comes and goes to.
  
  
  
• The film was originally classified by the BBFC in November 1976 with a running time of 135 mins. This was cut to 123 mins for its US release. It was this version which was released in the UK on VHS/DVD (118 mins 25 fps), until the new 2 Disc Special Edition arrived in June 2004. There is also a 131 min cut in circulation. It is this version which is currently available from Artisan on Region 1 DVD
  
  

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