MovieChat Forums > Eye of the Needle (1981) Discussion > She couldn't use the radio?

She couldn't use the radio?

posted 11 years ago by NBborn
2 replies | jump to latest

I can't believe no one has raised this point. I just re-watched this film for the first time in years and while I LOVE it, it might be my favourite war film, the fact that she doesn't know how to use the radio makes me nuts. She's been on the island for 4 years (if memory serves), someone has taught her to shot obviously but not how to use the radio? What with Tom's age, her husband unable to walk and both of them drinking too much you would think that she would insist on being shown how to use the radio in event of an emergency. A more regular emergency than an amorous Nazi dropping in to chat that is. And she's not panicking, I watched it twice to make sure. She doesn't know which dial to turn. Minor point but honestly, it wouldn't have changed much, if anything, in the film to let her know something that basic. They could still have had interference from the weather, the antenna, etc.

[–] JoeyD8 10 years ago

Kate also fell down while running with her son in her arms, ran the vehicle she was escaping in right into a ditch, unknowingly dropped the gun, managed to load a shotgun only to miss when firing at the bad guy, unsuccessfully tried to put out a fire, then fired multiple times while waving her arms around like an intoxicated teenager. Did I leave anything out? To Kate's credit, she did manage to find an axe and chop off some fingers.
Ken Follett wrote and released his novel 'Eye of the Needle' in the 1970's. Thankfully, female characters are now rarely portrayed as inept and helpless. Virginia Slims put it best: You've come a long way, baby.

[–] ncdwbmk6 (81) 5 years ago

Any why didn't she and David have a second radio in their own house? David's father was wealthy (he owned the island), so there was no money issue. But that would have interfered with the plot.