The Man Who Never Was
Directed by Ronald Neame
Written by Nigel Balchin from a book by Ewen Montagu
1956/UK
Sumar Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Adm. Cross: It’s the most outrageous, disgusting, preposterous, not to say barbaric idea I’ve ever heard, but work out full details and get back to me in the morning![/box]
Here’s an OK true-life WWII thriller.
The Allies have defeated Germany in North Africa. Everyone expects that the army will advance through Sicily. This is the correct assumption but the British are seeking a way to divert Nazi troops to defend a false location. Lt. Comdr. Ewen Montagu (Clifton Webb) is tasked with coming up with a plan. He decides on planting a dead body near the coast of Spain carrying “top secret” documents saying the attack will be in Greece.
The rest of the film focuses on the elaborate execution of this plan. With Gloria Grahame cast against type as the deadman’s “fiancee” and Stephen Boyd as a German spy.
I found this a bit plodding but generally enjoyable. Always nice to see Webb in a serious role. He is acerbic but not a bit fey. Grahame is good too.
Trailer
