- Actors: Clifton Webb, Gloria Grahame, Robert Flemyng, Josephine Griffin, Stephen Boyd
- Directors: Ronald Neame
- Writers: Ewen Montagu, Nigel Balchin
- Producers: André Hakim, Bob McNaught
- Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, DVD-Video, NTSC
- Language English, French, Spanish
- Subtitles: English, Spanish
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: Unrated (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: 20th Century Fox
- DVD Release Date: 7 Jun 2005
- Run Time: 103 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0007ZEOQE
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 22,909 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In the Fifties Britain produced a number of well made WWII movies that recaptured the valor and victories of British arms. The war was past and the civilian deprivations that had lasted well after the war were going away. It was time to celebrate what Britain had accomplished. The Man Who Never Was is among these movies. It tells the true story of Lt. Cmdr. Ewen Montague (Clifton Webb), a barrister who now is in Naval Intelligence, who has been charged to come up with a scheme that will convince the Germans that the Allies will not mount a major effort to invade Sicily. His solution is named Operation Mincemeat, and involves using a body as a decoy. I won't go into the details because the fun is in seeing just how Montague and his small staff, an aide and a secretary, go about it. But having accomplished their assignment, they are faced with the likelihood that the Germans will try hard to verify what they are being led to believe. The second half of the movie is a tight little drama where Montague has to outwit an Irishman who has become a German agent.
Webb is quite effective playing Montague. There's almost none of the prissiness he brought to most of his roles. He's quiet, determined and smarter than many around him. He has a sharp tongue but seldom shows impatience. It's a nice job. Gloria Grahame plays a young woman who provides an important piece of evidence establishing the body's history, and then unknowingly faces the Irish agent.
In my view, this is a very watchable film that keeps moving at a good pace. Ronald Neame was an experienced, effective director who knew what he was doing. Two of his best films and well worth watching are The Horse's Mouth and Tunes of Glory.
And for those who appreciate a stiff upper lip and immaculate British manners, here are some of those Fifties WWII movies to track down: The Colditz Story, Ice Cold in Alex, The Battle of the River Platte, Ill Met by Moonlight, I Was Monty's Double, Above Us the Waves, The Cruel Sea. I like them all.
There are no extras to speak of. The DVD picture looks very good
Webb is quite effective playing Montague. There's almost none of the prissiness he brought to most of his roles. He's quiet, determined and smarter than many around him. He has a sharp tongue but seldom shows impatience. It's a nice job. Gloria Grahame plays a young woman who provides an important piece of evidence establishing the body's history, and then unknowingly faces the Irish agent.
In my view, this is a very watchable film that keeps moving at a good pace. Ronald Neame was an experienced, effective director who knew what he was doing. Two of his best films and well worth watching are The Horse's Mouth and Tunes of Glory.
And for those who appreciate a stiff upper lip and immaculate British manners, here are some of those Fifties WWII movies to track down: The Colditz Story, Ice Cold in Alex, The Battle of the River Platte, Ill Met by Moonlight, I Was Monty's Double, Above Us the Waves, The Cruel Sea. I like them all.
There are no extras to speak of. The DVD picture looks very good
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I agree with the previous reviewers. This is my favourite war movie. B.Chalmers' review mentions detachable collars: they are sold in the film by Richard Wattis (camping it up as usual). There is also a brief but very typically enjoyable appearance by Miles Malleson, and not least, the unlikely (and uncredited) Winston Churchill voice (heard through an open door) by, of all people, Peter Sellers.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It has an eerie quality which perfectly suits the subject matter, and an emotional kick that delivers in every way. Whatever you think of war and the futility of war, and the waste of dying for your country, this movie reminds one that sometimes small sacrifices change the course of fate. It doesn't shy away from the awfulness of what was required. A beautiful film which captures the meaning of life quite perfectly.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Man Who Never Was
I always remember this as being a terrifc movie particularly as it portrayed the true story with accuracy, the bonus was that this item was in glorious colour. Read more
Published 1 month ago by C. F. Carron
Very solid and entertaining
Handsome movie, made in the 1950s, about Operation Mincemeat, the successful deception plan concocted by the British during World War II to send a corpse to the Mediterranean with... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Andres C. Salama
Rubbish review
This dvd was rubish as it said on screen that it would not work in my region. The packaging was poor and it looked like a pirate.
Published 10 months ago by ellioittness39
Now I Know!
A really good film, Espeacially as I had recently visited Helvue where the stories caharacter was buried. Well worth a watch
Published 15 months ago by Blue nose
No longer "unknown"
It is important to remember that the script was written without the benefit of recent research, and some of the facts about the source of the body are now known to be wrong. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Daniel H. Mitchell
a decent film.....
little to add really! but it is a great film - in colour - well made and with superbly shot scenes. No shaky wobbly trendy camera work here! Read more
Published 17 months ago by F. P. Samuelson
Excellent British war film
It is an excellent British was film (even if American made). BUT I recall seeing it in Cinemascope on the big screen. Why oh why cannot they release a wide-screen version. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Bob of Canberra
The Man Who Never Was
This is an excellent story about an actual event. It is very well written and acted by known respected actors who all give very credible and creditable performances. Read more
Published 18 months ago by agincourt
Great movie
Great old movie based on a true story with just a tiny bit of poetic license ! Well worth buying.
Published 18 months ago by sheepdog
The Man Who Never Was
Just as rember it from the silver screen. A true story. I would like to visit the grave in Portugal to pay my respects.
Published 18 months ago by denmenace
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