As part of the television series Robert Montgomery Presents, David Niven starred in an hour-long filmed play called "The Sheffield Story". It takes place during WW2, and in the beginning, Niven is seen talking strategy with heads of the British army. In the next scene, German bigwigs are discussing their own strategy. A man enters the meeting, gives the Nazi salute, and then presents his information-information about what he knows the British are planning. Then we see his face: it's David Niven!
Despite the heavy amount of makeup applied to transfer over the television, it's not obvious that this is a tv special. Had the running time been expanded a bit with a couple of side plots, it could have been released in the theaters to rave reviews! While it's difficult to believe David Niven would do anything bad, it's fascinating to see him act as a double agent, reporting British secrets back to Nazi headquarters. If I didn't love him so much, I might think he was equally convincing in the British and German scenes, but I just refuse to see The Niv as a bad guy. Even when I watched him in Eye of the Devil, when he belonged to a Satanic cult, I still didn't think he was the bad guy!
If you like double-agent spy films, or strategy-heavy WWII flicks, or David Niven, check out "The Sheffield Story". Pair it with Court Martial to see even more of Niven's acting chops!
Despite the heavy amount of makeup applied to transfer over the television, it's not obvious that this is a tv special. Had the running time been expanded a bit with a couple of side plots, it could have been released in the theaters to rave reviews! While it's difficult to believe David Niven would do anything bad, it's fascinating to see him act as a double agent, reporting British secrets back to Nazi headquarters. If I didn't love him so much, I might think he was equally convincing in the British and German scenes, but I just refuse to see The Niv as a bad guy. Even when I watched him in Eye of the Devil, when he belonged to a Satanic cult, I still didn't think he was the bad guy!
If you like double-agent spy films, or strategy-heavy WWII flicks, or David Niven, check out "The Sheffield Story". Pair it with Court Martial to see even more of Niven's acting chops!