Category Archives: War

Drama, War

Operation Mincemeat

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Date watched: May 22, 2022
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2022

Review

I happened to stumble upon this film by chance. It was when I went to see The Drover’s Wife that on my out I noticed a poster for this film at the cinema. Having just watched The Man Who Never Was only a couple of days beforehand, what were the odds! A quick google confirmed that this was the same story. I immediately let the family know and we went along to the cinema yesterday to go check it out.

Unfortunately this telling of the story has missed the mark. I was hoping that as more time has passed since the events in 1943, there might be more about the story that could not have been included in 1956. While the two films have the same deception operation at heart, they are very different films. Both based on different books with quite a lot of details different, including fictional elements.

The thing that I liked about the 1956 film was the smaller cast, this newer film added some additional characters into the mix and what it has achieved is a confused mess where the true incredible story of Operation Mincemeat falls into the background. It felt as if the film was trying to tell too many stories, which may have suited better to a limited series than a film. They may have been aiming to flesh out the characters, giving them a more rounded tale of who they are but it didn’t pay off.

For example, Ewen Montagu’s brother was a communist activist for a brief time. It feels like someone thought that was an interesting fact and they have tried to jam it into this film. However in order to make it work they have fabricated a story to cause some tension between the two lead characters. The two men in real life had different backgrounds and I am sure may not have gotten along at times, as is human nature, I just can’t see why that storyline was added in.

One of things that was included in this film was the name of the man who become Major William Martin, as in 1997 his real name was finally released; Glyndwr Michael. While this film uses his real name in the search for a body, I felt the use of the actor in some scenes was disrespectful. There is a scene where they are attempting to take a photo for the false identification papers by propping up the dead body on a chair and in all photographs he looks dead. I’m not sure if this actually happened or was made up for the film but to use that for some comic element doesn’t feel right.

What I did like was the use of Ian Fleming as a character. It also feels like when the tele-movie of Fleming was put together this story was resurfaced and perhaps a catalyst for a new film. I do find it really interesting that a lot of intelligence officers at the time wrote espionage novels which is referenced in this film. There is a hilarious line where Cholmondeley states “they’re everywhere” and when questioned if Germans, he states “No, writers”. There are also a few James Bond references including a visit to Q-Branch.

We’ll probably never know exactly everything that happened given it was an intelligence operation and most of the key parties involved have since passed away. I enjoyed this version for the inclusion of Ian Fleming’s involvement and I liked the casting (who doesn’t like having two Mr Darcy’s in one film!). The use of narration in this film was also a highlight. I enjoyed the 1956 version for the use of tension on whether the operation would work and the respect to Glyndwr Michael.

Review:  Alright

Drama, War

The Man Who Never Was

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Date watched: April 29, 2022
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2022

Review

Last month’s family movie night was my uncle’s pick with this film that I hadn’t heard of before….and it was terrific!

It was a well told drama based on an incredible true story during the second world war. Based on the book Ewen Montagu wrote of his leading role in the British intelligence deception operation code named “Operation Mincemeat”. As the admiral says in the film when being briefed of the details “It’s the most outrageous, disgusting, preposterous, not to say barbaric idea. But work out full details and be on hand at the War Cabinet Offices at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon.”

What I liked was the way the narrative is told by use of five main principal actors. As it is based on a delicate intelligence mission, you don’t need the distraction of a large cast. The story is more than enough to keep you engaged. It’s also one of those films that creates an element of suspense where it fools you into thinking there might be a different outcome – they wouldn’t have made a film if the operation failed right?

Of the main cast it is Clifton Webb and Gloria Grahame’s performances as Ewen Montagu and Lucy Sherwood that shine. Webb brings an authority to the role without coming across as arrogant, while Grahame’s performance is so emotionally powerful. Their names are billed first in the credits and deservingly so.

While there are some laughs along the way, including the idea to start with and all the possible things that could go wrong with its execution, the film pays respect to the story and the man who became Major William Martin. The way that the seriousness of the situation really hit home for me was in the scene when the body is being dressed. Each item is meticulously being placed across different pockets to build up the identity of this fictional officer. While this is happening there are bombs being dropped around the city. This just adds to the level of urgency and desperation to win an advantage in the war.

You also never see the face of the actor playing the dead man, in fact you don’t see too much of him on screen. I’m not sure if this was a conscious decision made or perhaps related to budget or makeup that might have not looked realistic on screen, given when the film was made. Whatever the reason I think this worked really well in favour of the film, as it feels to add an additional level of respect.

It was a story that I wasn’t familiar with and I’m glad to have seen this film. One of the reasons my uncle chose this film is because of the connection to author Ian Fleming, best known for writing the James Bond novels. Fleming was a naval intelligence officer and Operation Mincemeat was based off an idea he wrote in what was called the “Trout Memo”, which was a document comparing deception methods in wartime with fly fishing. There you go – your fact for the day!

Review:  Great