Hell, Heaven or Hoboken (1958) User Reviews

A funny and fascinating story with a great lead from one of many wartime heroes

[bob the moo · 15 February 2004]

When the British intelligence service is faced with the challenge of convincing the Germans that they intend to invade from North Africa they are stumped - the attack is clearly going to come across the channel into France, they know it and the Germans' know it. However, when Major Harvey visits a theatre he happens upon an actor who impersonates General Montgomery as part of the show. Within days Corporal Clifton-James is recruited to impersonate Monty in the Mediterranean in order to trick the enemy into thinking an attack is due from that direction.

I only found out about this film after hearing the Goon show's spoof `I was Monty's treble'; at that time I was vaguely aware of the history, but not of the details and not of this film. The film is based on the memoirs of the events from the point of Clifton-James himself and are reasonably factual, despite the fact that the film has an enjoyably comic tone to it for the majority. What it does do very well is to portray him as a real person; his reluctance to take the job, his nerves, his insecurity and so on - at no point is he a strong-jawed, guns-blazing hero, instead he is a man doing what he needed to do in wartime. This really helps the film and is actually complimented by the comic tone.

What helps it even more is the presence of Clifton-James as himself. His performance is very normal - by which I mean he never plays to the fact that he is a hero, he comes across as a very unassuming gentleman, as I find those who serve in the military in a low/medium rank for some time tend to be. In both his book and this film he could have made himself look more heroic and less reluctant but he never does. Mills is excellent in the supporting role and enjoys a more comic touch than many of his war films allow him. The support cast are just as good and it is fun to see so many well known faces including Cecil Parker, Sid James, Leslie Philips and John Le Mesurier sending up the profession of acting! Of course it is Clifton-James who is the draw even alongside these big names; he is a true hero - and it's impossible to forget that as you watch this, these are not fictional risks, he lived this for the greater good.

And it is this that made the film so fascinating to me. Many flag waving films will miss this point, but heroism is often not natural; it often comes forced onto people and is found in the most unlikely of places. In this film we see first hand how an ordinary man with no real confidence or ability is called and rises to the challenge, not because it is his dream or desire but because his country needs him and needs must. Although he plays it quite light here, I will always remember what he did and who he was - I shall be looking for his book on the internet once I finish writing here.

Overall this is a tremendously fun war movie. It lacks action until the end and focuses on Clifton-James as a person as he goes from put upon little actor in the military to one of the most important people in the Normandy landings. A fascinating story, a real inspiration and a funny film to boot - should be seen by as many people for as long as possible. Lest we forget.

'Monty's' Grand Tour

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 22 August 2010]

With some considerable dramatic license the story of one of the best intelligence operations of World War II is told in I Was Monty's Double. The film is based on the book by actor F.E. Clifton James who plays himself and Bernard Law Montgomery as he did for a fateful few weeks in World War II.

John Mills and Cecil Parker two officers from British Intelligence become James's handlers in the terminology we would use today. Mills while attending a service variety show sees James do a walk on as Field Marshal Montgomery and is struck by the audience reaction to him. The germ of an idea comes to Mills to have the actor play Montgomery for the widest audience possible, to give him a grand tour of the various fronts of the war. This in order to divert Nazi attention from the United Kingdom where the cross channel invasion is being prepared and Montgomery very much a part of the planning. In fact you can see some of his real role there in the TV mini-series Ike and in The Longest Day.

Of course James carried the masquerade off beautifully. My favorite scene is James at a press conference in Cairo with allied war correspondents where he's at first hesitant with this cynical bunch, but grows in confidence and wins them over with a speech that you might have seen the real Bernard Law Montgomery deliver during his lifetime.

Two others who give noteworthy performances in the film are Michael Hordern as the Governor General of Gibraltar and Marius Goring who is a German agent whom Mills, Parker and James deliberately give misinformation to in order to confirm how effective the plan is working.

The whole business in the end is pure fiction which I won't reveal, but that doesn't detract from making this a first rate account of an amazing adventure. One even Stephen Spielberg would envy.

Aside from some sloppy use of stock footage, a smashing good film!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 23 September 2010]

This is a wonderful war film--mostly because it is NOT about fighting and shooting--we certainly have had a lot of that sort of film. I like films that show a different side--the seldom-known acts of heroism such as the film "Dam Busters" or "The Man Who Never Was". In "Hell, Heaven or Hoboken" (a badly renaming of "I Was Monty's Double"), you have the true story about a regular enlisted man and actor who was chosen to imitate General Montgomery--the leader of the British forces during WWII. The plan was to have the double go on a tour of North Africa around the same time as the Normandy invasion in Northern France--so that the Germans would assume the assault would come from the South as well as much later. This film is about the formation and execution of this ultra-top secret plan. It's filled with tension and is very, very watchable--much of it due to good writing, direction and excellent acting (it sure didn't hurt having John Mills and Cecil Parker along with the real-life double, M.E. Clifton-James in this leading role).

I say watch this interesting film--it's a dandy. However, I did have one problem with the film--albeit a minor one and one more for history buffs like myself. The film used a lot of stock footage--most of it reasonably good. However, some of it was way too grainy and scratchy and made the film look cheap in spots--such as the footage of Bf-109s and Spitfires scrambling. Also, SOME of this real-life story is NOT real-life--such as the very exciting finale involving Nazi commandos! Still, a lovely little film and there's an awful lot to like!

I'm glad Montgomery led the troops, but I'd rather have a good chat with Clifton-James

[Terrell-4 · 7/10 · 30 January 2008]

As improbable as it seems, Hitler sent a panzer division and 50,000 troops to the south of France just before the Normandy invasion. Hitler did it because he was so impressed by the performance of a second-string actor who up to May, 1944, was most proud of his lead role as Charley's Aunt in British regional rep. In this case, however, M. E. Clifton-James was playing Bernard Montgomery. Clifton-James bore an uncanny resemblance to the field marshall. When MI5 realized this, they organized one of the great WWII cons. Up until then, Clifton-James had been a middle-aged, low-ranking officer, in for the duration, who'd wound up in the Royal Army Pay Corps. He was pulled out of that, assigned for a few days to Montgomery's staff posing as an enlisted man so he could secretly study Montgomery's mannerisms and style, then sent as Montgomery first to Gibraltar and then to North Africa. Once there, posing as the field marshall, he attended high-level meetings, reviewed the troops, gave inspiring speeches...and all the while MI5 was insuring that his "secret" visits were being leaked to German intelligence. Would the Germans take the bait and believe Monty was prepping the field for a major landing at the underbelly of Europe? MI5 and Clifton-James had their answer when German fighters attacked the transport carrying the false Monty to another North African location. Then German commandos arriving by sub managed to kidnap "Montgomery" and move him to the beach before British soldiers (in the movie, two good-looking officers, one played by John Mills) daringly rescue the actor, who by now had fainted.

All true? Well, supposedly, most of it. I'd take the kidnapping and the rescue with a grain of salt. Clifton-James after the war wrote his auto-biography titled "I Was Monty's Double" and it sold briskly. He was 46 during the seven weeks of his training and impersonation. MI5 kept him in seclusion in Cairo until after the Normandy invasion, then returned him to duty in England in the Pay Corps. He probably never had a better role, and certainly never a more important one, in his life. He was 60 when the movie was made and died five years later. He carries off playing himself very well. He holds his own with John Mills as the fictional Major Harvey and Cecil Parker as the fictional Colonel Logan. Parker runs the scam; Mills makes sure Clifton-James doesn't lose his nerve and stays with him during training and in North Africa. This being a sort-of Mills war movie, Mills is cheery, competent and loaded with upper-class confidence, either when trying to rekindle an old love while on leave or gunning down a large group of tough German commandos.

The tone of the movie, with a screenplay by Bryan Forbes, is one of British insouciance, the undertaking of deadly serious actions with under-played bravery and deprecating humor. Some of the humor comes from cracks made by Mills as Major Harvey about actors' vanity. The last 20 minutes of the movie turns into a more standard war story with a midnight beach landing, silent knifings, an attack in the waves and bullets flying on the beach. The movie regains its footing of good cheer at the close.

I Was Monty's Double may not be an unknown war classic, but it's a well-made, well-scripted and well-acted movie. M. E. Clifton-James turns out to be a sympathetic and even endearing person, something that would never be said about Montgomery.

Operation False Leads

[Prismark10 · 8/10 · 20 October 2013]

Apparently using doubles as decoys to fool the enemy is nothing new. It takes place even now.

During World War 2 there were several Winston Churchill lookalikes in good employment.

I first saw this film as a kid and thought it was fantastically entertaining. The film takes place a few months before the D-Day landings are due to take place.

The British government wants to have a campaign of misinformation and spread rumours that the landings might take place at a locations other than Normandy

Clifton James was an actor who had an uncanny resemblance to General Montgomery and is enticed by John Mills to impersonate the man himself in order to dupe the Germans.

The film is a straightforward adaptation of James real life story although more tension and humour has been added as well as a kidnapping storyline at the latter part of the movie which did not actually occur.

Also in real life James was fond of a drink and smoke unlike the real Monty.

It is a shame that Clifton James did not get more acting roles after the war although this film does mark his contribution to the war effort.

Exciting, Serviceable.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 22 August 2010]

This is the somewhat true story of Lt. Clifton James who impersonated Gen. Bernard Montgomery at various Allied bases in order to mislead the Germans into thinking that the D-Day invasions would take place somewhere in the Mediterranean.

James is pretty convincing too. If he's not a bravura actor, he is at least an actor, which he was in civilian life. He's ably assisted by John Mills, who guides him through his various performances on stage and off, and by Cecil Parker, who is more or less in charge of all the fakery.

The British are extremely good at this kind of deceit. I mean, here they have the huevos to pass off some second-rate vaudevillian as a British field marshal and parade him around the high brass, both British and American, in Gibralter and North Africa. Then, too, there was "The Man Who Never Was," a carefully prepared scheme designed to persuade the Germans that the Allies would invade the Balkans rather than Sicily. Outrageous. I don't know who thought up putting General George Patton in charge of the fake FUSAG before Normany, with its inflatable rubber tanks and trucks and its wooden airplanes and concocted radio transmissions but I suspect that if Sherlock Holmes were to investigate he'd be able to sniff out the residual odor of fish and chips. Even during the Falkland Islands war, in 1982, just after the invasion by Argentine troops, the British were entirely candid about the ships and airplanes that were lost, but they'd immediately announced a blockade of the islands, maintained by British submarines -- that were not there. The lesson to be learned from these tricks is that the deceit must be plausible, infrequent, and strategic. Americans seem to do it differently. They lie recklessly. If an American sports figure dies in combat, he's given a decoration even if the death was the result of friendly fire. If a beautiful young woman is rescued from her Iraqi captors, she must have fought heroically and been abused before her salvation.

Wait. Someone is flapping a napkin at me from the other end of the table. Let me get back to the movie.

This is more of a comedy with some tense moments than it is a war-time drama. With Cecil Parker in a prominent role it could hardly be a heavy movie. Mills is his usual competent self, playing an officer with an eye for the girls. There's one scene that always cracks me up. A gorgeous blond secretary enters the room preceded by her bouncing breasts. She's holding a few pages in front of her. Mills' hand darts out towards her chest and just for a moment -- But, no. He grabs the sheets of paper and yanks them away. Nothing is made of it and the incident only last a second or two but it's emblematic of the movie.

Except for the climactic scene in which German raiders capture James, still thinking he's Montgomery, and try to pirate him away from his seaside base until they are foiled by Mills wielding a single Sten gun. Man, that's not only improbable. It's practically impossible. And in fact it never happened.

The direction is by John Guillerman, who has had his ups and his downs. One of his ups, in which I had the good fortune to appear, was the serene and majestic art house hit, "King Kong Lives." Here, sadly, his technique is pedestrian. Each important statement is filmed in close up. (That's so the statement's importance doesn't slip past you.) And some scenes are clumsily staged. However, I forgive him any of that because of the way he handled that breasts/papers incident.

I don't know if I'd want to watch this too often. We all appreciate Clifton James and his accomplishments but he's not a strong figure and the responsibility of carrying the film is largely his, although the script sticks with Mills and Parker as much as it can.

Still, enjoyable, exciting, and -- for some younger folk, I'm afraid -- highly educational.

A New Twist on the "How We Won the War" Movie

[JamesHitchcock · 7/10 · 24 October 2010]

"I Was Monty's Double" dramatises a remarkable true story from World War II. M. E. Clifton James, a Lieutenant serving with the Royal Army Pay Corps (the British Army's financial department) and an actor in civilian life, was recruited by military intelligence to impersonate General Bernard Montgomery, to whom he bore a close resemblance. The reason was that the Allies were attempting to deceive the Germans by spreading false rumours that the D-Day landings would take place in the South of France rather than Normandy. To make such rumours credible it was essential that the Germans should be led to believe that Montgomery, Britain's leading General, was in North Africa, the obvious launch-pad for any such invasion.

At the time it was essential that this scheme be kept secret, and Clifton James received no official recognition for his role. Ten years later, when the ban on public discussion of wartime operations had expired, he wrote an autobiography which revealed the story and became a best-seller. In the film he plays two roles- himself and Montgomery. This, unfortunately, means that one key scene, when Monty meets his double in order to encourage him, cannot be shown in the film. With modern computer trickery it would today be quite easy to have the same actor playing two different characters in the same scene, and even in 1958 it would probably have been technically possible. ("The Parent Trap", made by Disney only three years later, features several scenes in which Hayley Mills plays identical twin sisters and therefore appears to be in two places at once). Doubtless, however, the makers of a low-budget British film like this one did not have the same financial resources available to them as the Disney organisation.

In real life Clifton James was discovered by the actor David Niven, who was serving as a British Army officer at the time, but he does not appear in the film and no mention is made of his role. (Perhaps the producers couldn't afford him- by 1958 he had become a major international star and doubtless could command large fees). Instead credit for the operation is given to two fictitious intelligence officers, Colonel Logan and Major Harvey, played by Cecil Parker and John Mills. Mills was a regular star of British war movies, generally playing officer types.

"How-we-won-the-war" movies about true wartime episodes were a standard feature of the British cinema in the fifties, and varied greatly in quality. Most of these, however, featured combat operations of one type or another. "I Was Monty's Double" is a war film of a rather different type. Its one descent into standard heroics comes at the end, when Harvey has to foil an attempt by German commandos to kidnap Clifton James in the mistaken belief that he is the real Monty. (This is also the film's one major departure from historical facts. Although the Germans did have plans to assassinate Montgomery while he was in Alexandria, these were never put into effect). For most of its length the film's dramatic tension derives from Clifton James' own inner struggle to conquer his doubts and fears. Although he has little difficulty imitating Montgomery's voice and mannerisms, he finds it more of a struggle to convey the great man's personality. One particular difficulty he faces is that while he is both a heavy drinker and smoker, Montgomery was famously teetotal and a militant non-smoker, so he can never publicly be seen with a drink or a cigarette in his hand.

It is strongly implied in the movie that Clifton James was not a great success as a theatre actor and spent most of his career as an understudy. This film, however, was to provide him with one great success near the end of his life. (He was to die five years later). If not quite in the class of something like "The Dambusters", it is one of the better "How-we-won-the-war" movies, and gives an insight into the work of the vital role of military intelligence, something often overlooked in the cinema. 7/10

Trivia

[satwalker99-1 · 8/10 · 11 September 2009]

I was particularly tickled by the sight of James,as himself,during his training in a sequence where he observes himself,as Monty in order to study his demeanour,walk & mannerisms, before the real masquerade. Now that's acting! The news theatre at the end where Mills & James watch the newsreel was clearly the former Times by Baker St underground & close to Madame Tussauds. Would make a good double feature to support "The Man Who Never Was" - a similar intelligence con to mislead the Nazis on plans for the invasion of Europe. Probably the biggest laugh comes from the icy and withering remarks of John Le Mesurier (as James' adjutant)on his contempt for the acting profession, in a brief early scene where he initially reports for "duty" as a lowly corporal.

Entertaining film based on a true story

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 24 August 2010]

"I Was Monty's Double" is based on the book of the same name, by M.E. Clifton James, an Australian actor in the service who is drafted to impersonate General Montgomery. Though some dramatic license is taken, what makes the film fun is that James plays himself and the historical events are true.

In order to make the Nazis believe that D-Day is taking place in Gibraltor, James, who makes an appearance at the end of a show as Montgomery, is asked to impersonate the general. He bears a strong resemblance - so strong, in fact, that when he comes out onto the stage, he gets a standing ovation and rousing cheers. His recruiters, played by John Mills and Cecil Parker, are hoping the troops have the same reaction. They get him assigned as a driver so that he can observe Montgomery at close quarters and copy his mannerisms. James, however, finally tells Harvey and Logan (Mills and Parker) that he can't do it. He's never led a command. Logan is dumbstruck. "You won't be doing any actual commanding," he objects. A consummate actor, James replies, "You don't understand. I have to have it inside." However, he's so good that he is able to find the ego and leadership qualities internally to carry it off.

The film is directed by John Guillerman with emphasis on the humor. Marius Goring plays a Nazi spy who thinks he's in tight with the Allies on Gibraltor. "We feed him all kinds of garbage," the top brass says. "He's faster than calling Berlin." The whole bit at the end is fiction, but it doesn't deter from a fascinating story. Highly recommended.

Role of a lifetime

[shakercoola · 6/10 · 20 August 2018]

A British drama; A story about how jobbing actor Meyrick Edward Clifton James, seemingly with all the qualifications for a role, has to convince hundreds of people in a way more terrifying than any theatrical setting ever requires, and which would have huge import for the British war effort in World War II. Operation Copperhead would see James assigned to General Montgomery's staff in order that he may learn his speech and his mannerisms. James had to quit drinking and smoking and, having lost the middle finger of his right hand during the First World War, had to be fitted with a prosthetic one. While it is arguable the screenplay came up slightly short in impact in these and other ways, it has a good climax despite the the audience being aware the real M. E. Clfton James is playing the part. All in, a great little film that tells a terrific story about disinformation. It has excitement and the right amount of humour so it moves along at a good pace. As an aside, some aspects of the real-life story were interesting yet left out of the film; it was film actor and Lieutenant-Colonel David Niven who was the real life Army Film Unit contact James was sent to.

Engrossing true story

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 18 July 2019]

I WAS MONTY'S DOUBLE is another feather in the cap of director John Guillermin, who seemed to make some of the classiest films of the time (NEVER LET GO, EL CONDOR and THE TOWERING INFERNO are all established favourites of mine). This one tells the true story of a real-life soldier and actor who ends up impersonating General Montgomery in a real-life mission during WW2 due to his uncanny resemblance to the British army leader. A star-studded cast, plenty of wry humour and interesting situations make this a surprisingly engaging kind of biopic, one which only lapses into fantasy for a final-reel splash of excitement which closes the picture beautifully. With stiff upper lips all round, it's John Mills and Cecil Parker who are the scene-stealers with their continued double act lightening the mood considerably.

Modest hero

[Goingbegging · 9/10 · 5 January 2014]

At the fag-end of the 50's, a generation of long-demobbed soldiers were still trying to cut it in uniform, in a spate of cheap black-and-white war films. More convincing than most was the unknown star of this true story, a minor Australian actor who had been rejected by the entertainment services, and was reluctantly pen-pushing in the pay office, when someone noticed that he was a dead ringer for Montgomery.

This was in the run-up to D-Day, when the allies were desperate to draw enemy attention away from Normandy as the obvious invasion zone. Might a Monty-lookalike be able to fool German intelligence by touring North Africa, as though preparing for a big Mediterranean landing instead?

The actor in question, M.E. Clifton James, is secretly employed as a driver on Monty's staff, in order to get close enough to study his speech and mannerisms. But he doubts his own ability to replicate the character and personality of the great man, not least because 'Jimmy' is a chain-smoking alcoholic. Eventually, jolly optimist John Mills persuades him to go through with it, and suddenly he's stepping off a plane in Gibraltar, under scrutiny from enemy agents (one of them brilliantly sinister, as played by Marius Goring), as well as certain officers who remember Monty from before the war.

Defying many attempts on his life, Jimmy overcomes his desperate shyness, and learns to take massed salutes from whole armies. Then all too soon, D-Day has come and gone, his one brief star-performance is over, and it's back to the humble pay office. Except... they felt it necessary to bolt-on a false ending, about which we can reveal nothing, except that it never happened.

As for the real-life outcome, we have to face the disappointing fact that it was only part of a much larger decoy operation, which did throw the enemy into some confusion, but reports of Jimmy's own effort reaching Hitler's desk seem to be wishful thinking.

The film displays some recognisable weaknesses of those low-budget productions. The over-long opening section is taken up with John Mills' various flirtations, whose only consequence for the story is that his humourless boss (Cecil Parker) decides to replace their seductive secretary with the ugly-beautiful Barbara Hicks, in some ways more arresting. And the way Mills and Parker chat freely in public about top secret plans will grate on the ear of anyone who has worked in intelligence. No war-film of its day was complete without the stuffed-shirt spoilsport Allan Cuthbertson, who duly pops-up here, as does the perennial plug-ugly sergeant Anthony Sagar. Jimmy's one meeting with Monty is awkwardly dodged; we simply cut away from him on the steps of the general's caravan, although split-screen techniques had long since enabled an actor to shake hands with his own double (try the 1937 'Prisoner of Zenda').

None of this really detracts from the joy of the film, principally the deeply-believable performance of a professional actor, acting himself acting Monty. Sympathy and charm shine through this modest man, who seems to have been shabbily treated after the war, when he was reduced to the dole. Hopefully this popular film brought a little benison for the five short years that remained to him.

A well made film about real-life events.

[hedgehog-10 · 8/10 · 14 March 1999]

It helped in this film to have the actual person that really did impersonate Montgomery. Clifton James give a good performance as both himself and Montgomery. An excellent Bryan Forbes script that is well delivered by Cecil Parker and John Mills.

Perfect Sunday afternoon film

[Phil_Chester · 7 December 2020]

Exactly the sort of film they don't make any more. A fun tale of low-key derring-do. The always excellent John Mills is the main draw, but there are also fabulous turns from some of the best known British character players of the mid-20th Century. Overall, the film makes for perfect lazy Sunday afternoon viewing.

A riveting and sympathetic account of how an actor passed as General Bernard L. Montgomery

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 17 November 2021]

During World War II, a British actor (M A Clifton James who wrote and performed himself in the movie) is assigned by two Colonels (Cecil Parker , John Mills) to impersonate Field Marshal Montgomery in order to confuse and amaze the German intelligence in an attempt to make the Nazis believe that the invasion of Europe would come from North Africa . The Gigantic Hoax of World War II. You too , could have been fooled!

This is the true story of how an impersonator was recruited to impersonate Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery to mislead the Germans about their real intentions before the Normandy invasion . This great deception actually made Hitler hold a Panzer Division in the South of France . Interesting and compelling screenplay from Brian Forbes based on the book by M. E. Clifton James himself , it's a competently written piece of work . The only point in the scenario which may annoy to scholars of history turns out to be the fictional attempted kidnapping of Montgomery by the Nazis . The actual final was more amazing : James who had been seconded from an Army office went back to his base and he was arrested as a deserter . The main entertainment of the movie results to be to discover who notorious British seconday actor is appearing here and there , including the following ones : Patrick Allen , Patrick Holt , Leslie Phillips, Michael Hordern , Marius Goring , Barbara Hicks , Duncan Lamont , James Hayter , Sidney James, Bill Nagy , Edward Judd , Victor Maddern , Vera Day , Brian Forbes , Alfie Bass , John Le Mesurier , Walter Gotell , Allan Cuthbertson and Steven Berkoff who nowadays goes on playing .

This fascinating WWII movie was compact and professionally directed by John Guillermin . He had a long career , as John directed all kinds of genres , such as : Disaster films ( Skyjacked , King Kong, Kong lives ) , Airplane movies (Blue Max) , adventures ( Tarzan in India , Tarzan's greatest adventure , Sheena ) , Wartime ( Bridge of Remangen , Guns at Batasi , I was Monty's double ) and intrigue ( Death on the Nile , Shaft in Africa , The whole truth ) . John Guillermin usually worked with George Peppard in various films ( such as P. J , House of cards and Blue Max) and Peter Sellers (Never let go , Walz of the Toreadors) , being his last one , a Western title The Tracker (1988) with Kris Kristofferson . Rating : 7/10. Better than average , well worth watching . Essential and indispensable seeing for WWII enthusiasts.

" A Cracking Good Film "

[PamelaShort · 8/10 · 28 October 2013]

I Was Monty's Double is based on the real events of actor M.E.Clifton James who is hired to impersonate General Montgomery and so confuse the Germans by having him popping up in odd places, thus misleading the enemy into thinking the D-Day invasion just might take place at a location other than Normandy. The film itself broadly follows the account by Clifton James in his book of the same name, with the exception of a fictitious attempt to kidnap him. This story is extremely enjoyable watching the real life-double James as he learns to copy General Montgomery's mannerisms and style. John Mills is excellent in his role as James guide and supporter. The story is portrayed with a lot of good humour and is very well-done and well-acted by all, but it is the performance by M.E.Clifton James himself that makes this film extremely fascinating and most entertaining to watch.

An almost perfect production

[g-hbe · 10/10 · 13 January 2012]

I love this film and even though I have now bought it on DVD I never miss it when it turns up on TV. The writing, script and direction are bang on the nail, and the blend of tension, drama and gentle humour is perfectly judged. There are also several short moments of genuinely touching human warmth which are often missing from films of this nature. The one or two historical inaccuracies in the script do not detract at all from the sheer excellence of this marvellous picture.

Even the theme music is beautifully matched to the content - a mixture of swaggering triumph and comedic undertone. The fact that the film is based (mostly!) on a real story is the cherry on the cake.

Fascinating and unique British war film

[maccas-56367 · 9/10 · 29 March 2020]

I really enjoyed this one. It felt unique among British war films. It's the true life story of a British actor impersonating Field Marshal Montgomery in order to confuse German intelligence. M.E Clifton James plays himself as the actor who undertook this role in WWII. I thought this aspect was great!

It's also one of the best John Mills roles I've seen. I Was Monty's Double is often a quirky little film. It has a unique vibe that is somewhere between comedy, autobiography and action/adventure. It made me laugh out loud numerous times.

M.E Clifton James was an easy character to root for. Immensely likeable and down to earth. The whole story was incredibly fascinating and I was engaged throughout the whole film - often watching with a smile across my face.

The third act felt a little 'tacked on' and slightly out of place among the rest of the film. I later discovered this was one of a few 'embellishments' and diversions from the real story. Nevertheless, I found I Was Monty's Double a good time and worthwhile war film!

B.B. (Before Bond)

[ilprofessore-1 · 7/10 · 12 May 2008]

It's hard not to imagine that Bryan Forbes who wrote the script for this 1958 film was not influenced by the James Bond character who first appeared in the Ian Fleming book "Casino Royale" published in England in 1953. As the first Bond film was not released until 1962, the character John Mills plays --cheeky, disrespectful of authority, as adept with women as he is in intelligence work-- is either a predecessor to 007 or an affectionate borrowing from Fleming's novel. Up until then, British men were usually depicted on screen as stiff-upper lip, decent chaps who did their jobs without complaining; surely never distracted from defending the Empire by a pretty face. Mills, with his enormous charm and good looks, introduced a new type of Brit to cinema audiences --sexy, funny and sometimes outrageous-- a character which Sean Connery was to play to perfection many years later.

Who do you think you are?

[tieman64 · 1 July 2013]

A classic of British cinema, John Guillermin's "I Was Monty's Double" stars Clifton James as a WW2 soldier who is used to double General Montgomery during the Allied invasion of Europe. The film's based on a true story and stars Clifton James – Monty's real life double – as himself.

The film's first act plays like a spy movie, we the audience watching as British intelligence officers cook up elaborate schemes to confuse German surveillance networks. It's middle portion then becomes a farcical comedy, James repeatedly popping up in odd places, much to the befuddlement of German Intelligence. The film then becomes a love-letter to the heroism and bravery of ordinary folk during war-time, before ending with some abrupt action sequences.

Whilst essentially a propaganda flick, "I Was Monty's Double" is nevertheless one of the more original films of its ilk. Guillermin's script is witty, flows fast, and James wins us over with his frail frame and nervous disposition.

8/10 – Worth one viewing.

Flimsy plot

[dierregi · 4/10 · 10 March 2022]

In real life, Clifton James, an actor who looked a lot like Montgomery was asked by the secret service to play Monty's part for a week. It was the eve of D-Day and the British wanted to fool the Nazis, or at least confuse them as much as possible, by having Monty visiting southern posts like Gibraltar.

Apart from the fact that probably the Germans did not buy 100% the possibility of the invasion coming from Southern France, there is not much of a story to tell.

In the movie, Clifton James plays himself, but the film was made over 15 years after the events and the guy looks very old, albeit still a believable Monty lookalike. To pad the flimsy script, John Mills plays a horny major who sets the plan in motion and to give some thrills, a fictional kidnapping of Monty by the Nazis takes place at the very end.