The Man Who Never Was - WWII Espionage Thriller Book | True Story of Operation Mincemeat | Perfect for History Buffs & Military Enthusiasts

This particular Motion Picture shares distinction with the very ordinary and the very suspensefull.It is a story that I have viewed more than once because this time consuming effort required to produce one Major William Martin of the Royal Marines was worth watching more than once.As everybody belongs to somebody,"The Man Who Never Was" provided such a success story that "Operation Mincemeat" was the code named operation with which Major William Martin of the Royal Marines helped to persuade Nazi German Officials that the documents found on Major Martins Body were to be believed.It appears as if German forces responded to this proposed threat of an invasion coming from Greece rather than Sicily thereby relocating some percentage of there forces in Italy to Greece.This had the desired affect of lowering the overall ability that could be offered by German forces when the Invasion of Sicily commenced.The film produces some tedious if a bit overstated positions as would be if we can re-locate just one battery.The tediousness of such positioning may of in fact been un-necesary as there was a loss of dramatic story telling ability as a result.Both Ewen Montagu(played by Clifton Webb) and an assistant played by Robert Fleming moved with deligence towards this films overall story.These very same offices whereby much of the intelligence discussions occurred were the very same offices that Ian Fleming was attached to.This is mentioned as both attention to detail could be overstated and otherwise as commonplace occurences. There were two women,one played Ewen Montagu's Secretary(Josephine Griffin) and the other(women) was a librarian(Gloria Grahame), the two women lived together.It can not be stated enough that these two women were instrumental in making this film work.Excellent performances as both clever and intelligent theater was very interesting to watch unfold.When these women were on their own in the presence of Nazi German Agent O'Reilly(played by Steven Boyd) there dramatic storytelling ability was pretty darn good.This film had that about it that as the film progressed it became more and more suspenseful.It seems further that the war had taken a toll which the feminine psyche had some problems with,however it was not only the feminine psyche that had a problem with the toll the war was taking.It had the desired effect of convincing an otherwise wiser man in The German Agent played by Stephan Boyd.A matter perhaps worth mentioning is that both the German Agent(played by Stephan Boyd)and the unidentified "Man Who Never Was" were claimed to be Scottish.A understated complaint was made to Ewen Montagu(played by Clifton Webb) by the father to this particular individual(the unidentified "Man Who Never Was")that they were Scottish and proud of it.Scotland was as well a Neutral Nation during World War II and should not necessarily be considered part of the United Kingdom.Politics is here mentioned as a understated strain in Scotlands relationship with Great Britain.These moments did as it were add up,they added up to credible storytelling .I'am not so easily convinced however the scene occurring which convinced me that German Agent O'Reilly was a wiser man then we were lead to believe occurred in the officers club as he actually expressed a sincere ability that I paid attention to.I do not know if in fact German agents were so skilled but it might very well un-nerve some very resolute fellows when confronted by such sincerity.I'am reminded of a number of 00 accounts whereby Agents were to lose their lives as a result.The particular offices that were involved were in fact associated with and almost exclusively dealt with the double 00 field agent. Ewen Montagu was himself a 00 field agent with there command centralized out of office 39.This effort had people like Ian Flemming attached to its operations.This was a very real War time effort."Operation Mincemeat"was also part of a larger operation.We do not know these things as such but perhaps it is well and good that such things are more properly handled than being the province of hucksters of a sort.This film had that degree of involvement whereby the success or failure of one particular item could doom the believability of Major William Martin of the Royal Marines.This particular mention was worth considering as there was a difference between a Motion Picture and the reality of this war time account of "Operation Mincemeat".This was as it were a good try.I wish to remind the reader that "Operation Mincemeat" was not a well made Motion Picture,it was a real time War Operations plan conducted in 1943.The very detail offerred here was not the detail that was offerred in reality.There are to be certain differences as things may actually have happened and the things that are portrayed in "The Man Who Never Was".There was a story told elsewhere as it involved Irwin Rommel's "Africa Corp".A blown up jeep with a dead soldier behind the wheel had on his person papers that showed a way around a mine field.Rommel's forces discovered the documents and a while later were found to be bogged down in quick sand like desert.There was a-lot at stake with this undertaking both as it were on film and most certainly when it counted.The Film portrays Ewen Montagu in Civilian clothes.He goes to the grave site of Major William Martin and places a Medal,a Medal that Montagu has been awarded upon a wreath which adorns the grave of Major William Martin.It may very well be suggested that such a scene was all the more appropiate given the importance of the life of Major William Martin. "The Man Who Never Was" was as a result of real effort.This film was that to me both a real effort and worth as it were in mentioning the films opening narrative,"Last Night I Dreamed A Deadly Dream Beyond the Irish Sky.I saw a Dead Man win the fight and I think that Dead Man was I".