The Man Who Never Was (1956)

True story of a British attempt to trick the enemy into weakening Sicily's defenses before the 1943 attack, using a dead man with faked papers.

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Ewen Montagu (book) (as The Hon. Ewen Montagu C.B.E. D.L. Q.C.), Nigel Balchin (screenplay)

Stars:

Clifton Webb, Gloria Grahame, Robert Flemyng

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clifton Webb	...	Lt. Cmdr. Ewen Montagu
Gloria Grahame	...	Lucy Sherwood
Robert Flemyng	...	Lt. George Acres
Josephine Griffin	...	Pam
Stephen Boyd	...	Patrick O'Reilly
Laurence Naismith	...	Adm. Cross
Geoffrey Keen	...	Gen. Nye
Moultrie Kelsall	...	The Father
Cyril Cusack	...	Taxi Driver
André Morell	...	Sir Bernard Spilsbury
Michael Hordern	...	Gen. Cockburn
Allan Cuthbertson	...	Vice-Admiral
Joan Hickson	...	Landlady
Terence Longdon	...	Larry (as Terence Longden)
Gibb McLaughlin	...	Club Porter

Storyline

British Intelligence during World War II is trying to get the German High Command to shift its forces away from Italy prior to the invasion. To create the illusion that Britain is in fact planning to invade Greece, they plan to procure a dead body, plant secret papers on it, and arrange for the Spanish authorities to find it and send the papers on to the Germans. That's the plan, anyway. First they have to find a body that will look drowned, then create an identity for it that will pass German scrutiny. Based on a true story.

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Plot Keywords:

dead body | world war two | based on true story | europe | espionage | 

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Taglines:

A dead man goes to war!

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Genres:

War | Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

As noted above Clifton Webb wore a mustache and beard to conform to Royal Navy regulations. But, apparently Webb refused to do the role unless he could keep his mustache. Consultation with the Royal Navy indicated that a mustache and beard were acceptable. Thus Webb grew the beard.

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Goofs

Though the film is set in 1943, contemporary cars can be seen in a couple of location shots in London: when Montagu and Admiral Cross come out from their meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1950s cars parked in the background); and again when O'Reilly is sitting on the park bench ('50s cars pass on the street behind).

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Quotes

Lieutenant Commander Ewen Montagu: Suppose I wanted to put a dead body in the sea, and let it float ashore, and have it accepted by the people who find it as the victim of an air crash at sea. What sort of body would I need?

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Crazy Credits

Military security and respect for a solemn promise have made it necessary to disguise the identity of some of the characters in this film; but in all other essentials this is the true story of "Major William Martin"

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Connections

Referenced in El ministerio del tiempo: Tiempo de espías (2017)

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Soundtracks

Bless 'em All
(uncredited)
Written by Fred Godfrey (1917)
Revised lyrics by Jimmy Hughes and Frank Lake (1940)
Additional lyrics by Al Stillman (1941)
Sung by the patrons of pub

User Reviews

Based on a true story, and very well done

Interesting, absorbing tale based on an actual British Intelligence operation during World War II. The casting (Clifton Webb is perfect in the lead role) was top notch, and the impeccable attention to even minor details was extraordinary. A fan of 'blood and guts' movies would be well advised to look elsewhere...this well-crafted little gem is for the connoisseur.

Stephen Boyd gave a very good performance as an Irish secret agent working for the Nazis. In several scenes, he could barely contain his contempt for the English people he encountered during his mission in London. At one point, after setting himself up for capture by counter-intelligence agents, he awaits their arrival with his Luger pistol, obviously hoping for a bloody showdown, and when the agents fail to appear, he is both relaxed and also angry at not getting to kill anyone. Subtle, yet amazing.

9 out of 10.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English German Spanish Latin

Release Date:

9 May 1956 (France)

Also Known As:

The Man Who Never Was

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sumar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1