All the Queen's Men (2001)

A mismatched team of British Special Services agents led by an American must infiltrate, in disguise, a female-run Enigma factory in Berlin and bring back the decoding device that will end the war.

Director:

Stefan Ruzowitzky

Writers:

Digby Wolfe (story), Joseph Manduke (story)

Stars:

Eddie Izzard, Matt LeBlanc, Udo Kier

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matt LeBlanc	...	O'Rourke
Eddie Izzard	...	Tony
James Cosmo	...	Archie
Nicolette Krebitz	...	Romy
David Birkin	...	Johnno
Edward Fox	...	Aitken
Udo Kier	...	General Landssdorf
Oliver Korittke	...	Franz
Karl Markovics	...	Hauptsturmführer
Sissi Perlinger	...	Paloma
Holger Speckhahn	...	Corporal / Truck
Pip Torrens	...	British Major
Maria Petz	...	Girl
Heinrich Herki	...	Librarian
Paul Williamson	...	McCinley

Storyline

Late in World War II, the Brits still want their hands on a German Enigma, the typewriter-like machine that constructs and sends coded messages. Parachuting behind enemy lines - with two days to find the factory where Enigmas are made, grab one, and get out - are an unlikely quartet: a queen, a pencil pusher, a bookworm, and an almost secret agent. Plus they are all dressed as women, with only a crash course from the queen. They reach their destination, rendezvous with their German contact, a lovely librarian, and start their search. They seemed doomed to fail; is this a fool's errand?

---

Plot Keywords:

behind enemy lines | punctuation in title | apostrophe in title | gay interest | spy | 

---

Genres:

Action | Comedy | Drama | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, violence and sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

Germany Austria USA

Language:

English German Italian

Release Date:

13 December 2001 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Agenci w spódnicach

Filming Locations:

Austria

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,026, 27 October 2002

Gross USA:

$22,723

Company Credits

Production Co:

Atlantic Streamline, B.A. Filmproduktion, Dor Film Produktionsgesellschaft

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In this film, comedian Eddie Izzard plays an English soldier who cross-dresses. Eddie is a transvestite himself, and one of his stand-up routines (concerning transvestites in the armed forces) goes, "The main element of attack is the element of surprise. So what could be more surprising than the first battalion transvestite brigade?" (See Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill (1999)).

---

Goofs

Nicolette Krebitz tells Matt LeBlanc that she got him a long-sleeved dress because "German women don't shave their underarms" (and Matt had shaved). However, she introduces Matt as an Italian, not a German.

---

Quotes

Johnno: [upon seeing O'Rourke walk into the room, covered in mud and sewage] Holy moly.
Tony Parker: I didn't know we had to DRESS for dinner.

---

Connections

References Hogan's Heroes (1965)

User Reviews

Quite a surprise

After all the bashing it received elsewhere, I'd like to join the majority here saying this is a vastly underrated flick. It's a WW-II-comedy in "Some-like-it-hot-"drag, tinted by a touch of tragedy.

Though LeBlanc is not that convincing, the self-finding of the young decoder and the love story of Eddie Izzard are deeply emotional and worthwhile throughout. Beautiful Krebitz' character is one of the witty girls often found in war-times Germany, though her banter is toned down in speed to let even Austrians understand the meaning of her lines.

Great cast, good story with only minor plot holes (yes, you should watch it till it's over) and some really funny gags. Good blend of war drama and comedy.