The Eagle Has Landed

The Eagle Has Landed is a 1976 film based on the book of the same name by Jack Higgins, detailing a fictional plot to capture or kill Winston Churchill by a group of German commandos. Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall star as the leader of the squad, their Irish nationalist liaison, and the German colonel in charge of masterminding the mission.


 * All Germans Are Nazis: Averted. Steiner and his unit are depicted as chivalrous men of honor, and they are opposed to the persecution of Jews.
 * Anti Villain: All of the German's and their allies are Punch Clock Villains who seek to avoid unnecessary casualties  and in some cases feel they have legitimate grievances against the British. The exception is Heinrich Himmler, who signed off on the mission and is pretty much as much a bastard as he was in Real Life.
 * The Bad Guy Wins:
 * Critical Research Failure / History Marches On/ Rule of Cool:
 * Curb Stomp Battle: Once the regular troops kick in, they don't let any chance to the German commando.
 * Doomed By Canon: If you know history, you will know that the Germans' do not succeed,
 * Fake Nationality: Almost all Germans are played by British actors. Also, Robert Duvall.
 * It Has Been an Honor:
 * Historical Villain Upgrade: Admiral Canaris was in fact a member of the German Resistance, involved in several plots to kill Hitler, and shared information with British intelligence, and is unlikely to have signed off on a plot like this or at least done something to sabotage it. Men like Adler would likewise have been chosen for their Anti-Nazism as much as their competence. Subverted somewhat since they are still presented as sympathetic, sane and reasonable men, compared to Hitler and Himmler, and in the end
 * No Celebrities Were Harmed: Devlin and Steiner are both composites of numerous real life people, most of whom had much colder relations with the Nazi's. Averted with Heinrich Himmler, played to perfection by Donald Pleasance, and Admiral Canaris who in reality was involved in several plots to assassinate Hitler.
 * Xanatos Gambit: