In 1943 sixteen German paratroopers landed in England. In three days they nearly won the War.

Starring: Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland, Robert Duvall, Jenny Agutter, Donald Pleasence, Jean Marsh, Sven-Bertil Taube, John Standing, Treat Williams, Larry Hagman, Siegfriend Rauch, Jeff Conway

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"There is an old poem I know, which freely translated from the Irish says, "I realized fear one morning, when the blare of the fox-hunters sound. When they are all chasing after the poor bloody fox, it's safer to be dressed like a hound." - Liam Devlin

Why watch this? This very watchable war film covers a German plot to kidnap Winston Churchill. 

Plot Summary: In World War II, a German parachute unit is assembled to undertake a seemingly impossible mission: kidnapping British Prime Minister Winston Churchill from a quiet English village. Led by the seasoned Colonel Steiner, the team infiltrates the unsuspecting town, posing as Polish paratroopers on maneuvers. As the operation proceeds, a sudden incident reveals their true identities to the villagers, putting their dangerous plan and their lives at risk.

Dad's Preview: The 60's and 70's produced many great war films, and this gem is set apart for two reasons. First, it's shown from the German perspective, so convincingly that a person might even root for their mission to succeed. Michael Caine, as Steiner, is a loyal German officer, yet he openly shows his disdain for Hitler's methods. Second, very little of the film is actual warfare. It spends the perfect amount of time developing characters and setting up the film's exciting, plot-twist ending. This would also mark the last film for director John Sturges, who gave us such manly films as Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), and The Great Escape (1963).

ITC Entertainment; Cinema International Corp.