MovieChat Forums > The Eagle Has Landed (1976) Discussion > Jack Higgin's films in general

Jack Higgin's films in general

posted 19 years ago by whitecrane
10 replies | jump to latest

The Eagle Has Landed is certainly okay as far as book interpretations go. {the novel is of course infinitely superior...} But how come they seem incapable - or unwilling - to take a real crack at one of his later efforts? The Sean Dillon series is really a lot of fun; look what they've done with it so far. Crapola.
I'm waiting for a serious, true to novel interp. of one of the series. It is hard to imagine who could play Dillon, though. A young Richard Harris might have been good. Oh, well....

Whitecrane

p.s. Subsequent to this posting I've just read {on IMDB} that Donald Sutherland
replaced Richard Harris as Liam Devlin in TEHL. Devlin and Dillon are nearly the same character, if you've read the books. Cool.

[–] timhoult 19 years ago

I never saw Sutherland in "TEHL" but I must admit Richard Harris would have been remarkably astute casting for Devlin. It might have been the fact he already played an Irishman in Patriot Games, but I think he could have played Devlin as a wise old head during the Dillon novels well.

I completely agree with the lack of decent Higgins films; however, in recent years his output has deteriorated substantially. It probably has to do with the recent relenting of the Troubles in Ireland, for his more recent books have been striving to hit a more international tone.

"Fried cheese...with club sauce."

[–] The_Khazi 19 years ago

I enjoyed the book & the film is pretty decent but did Higgins write a sequel to it?

[–] 4coleman 19 years ago

Yes! Higgins follow-up book is titled "The Eagle Has Flown". (Interesting book.)

There was a movie sequel made as well, also called "The Eagle Has Flown", and also starring Michael Caine in the role of Steiner. (I think Sutherland returned as Devlin, but it has been so long since I saw it that I can't recall any other details.)

However, Good Luck finding any information online about it.
imdb has no info, and neither do several other online movie databases I have checked. It isn't even listed in a filmography of Michael Caine, which seems really weird.

But I think it would be a terrific idea if they released a dvd set with both The Eagle Has Landed and The Eagle Has Flown.

Who do you think we should email to get that idea going?

[–] perseus71 19 years ago

I was searching for that movie as well and couldn't find it. Strange isn't it ? IMDB generally does cover most of the movies though or so I thought...

Ah Well, I sent a mail to IMDB. Let's see if they will do anything about it. Don't count on it. They are known to ignore requests..

[–] The_Khazi 18 years ago

Now I`m really curious.What`s the basic plotline of this sequel & how can Michael Caine be in it unless he was wearing a bullet- proof vest?Is it a prequel & when was it made?Any info would be greatly appreciated-thanks(must locate the book as well)

[–] 4coleman 18 years ago

Ah, The_Khazi, wouldn't that be telling? Where's the fun in that?

If you like Higgin's books, The Eagle Has Flown is an interesting sequel to The Eagle Has Landed (yes, sequel, and aren't you glad you didn't know that before you saw the ending of TEHL!) and though it was years ago that I saw the movie The Eagle Has Flown, I recall it was decent.

As to how it might be possible that Michael Caine/Col. Steiner survived, just another secret military operation.

[–] lechacal027 18 years ago

I'm a bit troubled by your reference to a movie of "Eagle has flown" when their is no evidence that any such movie ever existed. I didn't like the novel of Eagle has flown, because it seemed like more of a forced project then something that offered any real merit. Their was no hint of suggestion in the book or movie that Stiener would have survived after having assasinated the Churchill impersonator. Higgins has put out a lot of lousy novels post 1990, "On Dangerous Ground" was probably my favorite Higgins novel however, and while I love watching movie versions of the books I read, ODG is the only such movie that I have ever turned off due to boredom despite reading the source novel. Lesson to be learned when casting for a movie which is set in a European country is never send a Yank to do a Brit's job. Or for that matter... an Italian's (See Christopher Lambert in "The Sicilian")
If I could meet Jack Higgins I would tell him he has written a number of books which deserve a clap of the hand for a job well done. But he should have quit long ago because he does not seem capable of surprising or captivating his readers with any new novels that might offer new themes that older novels did not.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Nautical_Rudie 18 years ago

I quite like Higgin's books thought the majority of them are quite similar. I think either Pay The Devil, Toll For The Brave or Hell Is Always Today might make interesting films. I havent seen any of the made-for-TV films of Dillon books though, i hear they had Kyle Machlaclagn or Rob Lowe in the title role, which seems stupid as Dillon is a short, charming, white-blonde irishman! Ah well.

[–] 18 years ago

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