Stories about wars within wars, like this one, can be fascinating. What motivates a person to go undercover and behind enemy lines to obtain intelligence or complete a tactical mission? The risks are so great, who could ask another person to do so? When the tale is based upon a true story, it is even more compelling."Carve Her Name" is the true story of Violette Bushell (Virginia McKenna) a widowed mother who joins the British SOE. Like many such stories, it details some of her training. It is always interesting to know what transforms an "average" person into a trained expert in the various crafts of deception and warfare. The film does not feel contrived or reinvented for dramatic effect. The truth is dramatic enough and director Lewis Gilbert does a good job of employing camera angles that emphasize the action without seeming overly dramatic.What makes this film resonate well with the viewer is its focus on the human story, not the overall war effort or some clash of wills. Violette is anyone of us ordinary people who might do something extraordinarily brave in a time of crisis.

During WWII, a British woman marries a wimpy French soldier after a courtship of about three days. He then dies and she goes off to fight the Germans in his honor, leaving behind their little girl. McKenna is much too cheerful for someone experiencing so many hardships. The film consists of random scenes and veers from dull to corny to ridiculous. There's a scene where McKenna, hopping around on one good leg, engages in a machine gun battle with dozens of German soldiers. She manages to mow down half of them before they are able to capture her. Gilbert, who provides the uninspired direction here, went to on to direct films featuring another British agent, James Bond.

When I first saw Carve Her Name with Pride recently, I have to say I was really moved. This film is truly remarkable, I do agree one of two of the characters are somewhat clichéd, but on the whole there is very little wrong I can say about Carve Her Name with Pride.The film is beautifully shot, with stunning cinematography effortlessly capturing the scenery. The score is also highly effective, while the script is honest and truthful, with some humorous and romantic spots, and the story, which is based on truth, is a remarkable one. The direction is excellent, the film does move at a reasonable pace and the ending had me deeply moved. And I have to say the acting is really good, Virginia McKenna especially is outstanding in the lead role, while Jack Warner and Paul Scofield are both excellent.All in all, it is a great film, underrated and somewhat affecting. See especially for McKenna. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Central and RADA actors provided the backbone of British cinema during the 50s and were noted for their awful "cockerney" accents. McKenna is no exception and she is a bit all over the place where she might have been better sticking to her own voice. However she and Schofield along with Jack Warner give good performances.The development of the back story is overly long by modern standards and the scene in France rushed and lacking in action. The rebuilding of the resistance network and the operations in her first drop seem to have been more extensive. In the film you almost feel like she's done a weekend Eurostar shopping trip to Paris.