Jack Higgins novel is a classic, a cracker of a yarn. This adaptation has a strong cast and good things about it but misses the mark - it's overlong (at more than two hours) and takes too long to get going on the mission. Also not enough time is spent on the German soldiers who aren't Michael Caine - they don't have the feel of individuals, and if they did their final sacrifice might've meant more.
Donald Sutherland isnt entirely convincing in a part that clearly should've been played by Richard Harris. Caine is fine. Larry Hagman as a nutty colonel is heaps of fun as is Jean Kent as a treacherous lady; I also liked Treat Williams as a competent American soldier and Jenny Agutter is lovely as always. Robert Duvall and Donald Pleasance are excellent Nazis.
Not well directed. Tom Mankiewicz's screenplay is fairly faithful to the book.
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