This film would not have been made, until decades later, had someone not blown the whistle, while it was still meant to be classified. It had worked so well, that they wanted to reserve the right to use it again, if there was a similar war any time in the near future. Since it was made, though, I think they did an excellent job on the film, starting with casting Clifton Webb as the mastermind of the operation. Gloria Graham added a great deal, too, although her character was mostly fictitious. Stephen Boyd as the German spy also added strength to it. I loved the way they demonstrated respect to the corpse, and the extreme care they took to cover every base. How many Allied troops were saved, just that one landing, is unknown, but would certainly have been in the thousands. To sum it up, I feel this was an excellent telling of a brilliant and dramatic event in history!

Right off the bat, this marginally entertaining (but decidedly morbid) WW2 drama lost itself 4 stars for featuring in its cast that total cow, American actress, Gloria Grahame, as one of the story's principal players.It then lost itself yet another 2 stars for claiming that its story was, indeed, true, when, in reality, only the first half of this tale could make that claim, while the last half was nothing but a complete fabrication.On top of all of that - I also found that there was, yet again, another actor who had a major part in the story whose unconvincing performance as Commander Montagu quickly began to grate on my nerves, big-time - And that was the priggishly effeminate, Clifton Webb (a real-life "Momma's Boy").With so much already going against this picture, I'm really surprised that I actually had the patience to sit through its 103-minute running time.But, as it turned out - Actor Stephen Boyd (whom I do like) appeared in a pivotal role (as an Axis agent) in this picture's latter half (its untrue part) and so I tolerated the rest of the show just to see what sort of shenanigans his character would get up to.For anyone who's interested - The Man Who Never Was is one of those truly rare war pictures that completely avoided battle scenes and big bomb explosions.*Special Note re. Gloria Grahame* - In real-life Grahame was something of a sexual predator and paedophile. It's true.As the story goes - In 1948 Gloria married director Nicholas Ray. (She was 25. He was 37) 2 years into this marriage Ray caught Grahame in bed with his 13 year-old son, Tony, from a previous marriage.Sure enough, Ray did divorce Grahame. But, (get this!) 8 years later Grahame actually married Tony, who was now 21.It sure looks to me like Grahame was something of a "Mommie Dearest" type, even more dangerous than the likes of Joan Crawford.

Clifton Webb is the embodiment of the stiff upper lip, never displaying undue emotions even at a sidesplitting London play. He doesn't just walk across a room, he marches. His impeccably trimmed, reddish beard looks particularly unruffled even while driving his classic, British-made MG roadster.The sets and locations are excellent. The care with which they are chosen and the way they are lighted and shot is reminiscent of Neame's The Odessa File (1974). That Oswald Morris was director of photography on both films is probably not a coincidence.A definitive scene takes place in a claustrophobic basement morgue lined with glistening white tiles. A body is being dressed. While they work, somewhere above them an air raid begins, moves closer, passes and ends. A woman screams. A dog barks. Very little is said and only the slightest gestures indicate their concern for the events going on above. But it is clear that they are very aware of the raid and of how what they are doing could alleviate some of the atrocity of the war.These are a different kind of man. Not gung-ho, hell-for-leather GIs but thoughtful men who remain rational and well-grounded. This is what will get them through this project and this war.

Really enjoyed "The Man Who Never Was", another good WW II picture made by the Brits even though it was released by 20th-Century Fox. Why do British WW II movies often seem better than our own? Let me answer that one; I think it's because they were fighting a home game, whereas we were 'on the road'. Try "Went The Day Well?" or "One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing" (both 1942), for movies with a realism that is palpable.This one is taut and suspenseful and superbly well-acted. Cinematographer/ Director Ronald Neame is very meticulous in laying out the elaborate plot and keeps the picture moving at a good clip, with help from an assortment of British stars. The star of this exciting espionage picture is...Clifton Webb? I don't know why he was chosen to star in a spy picture, but it works - he's very good. Another surprising acting job is turned in by Gloria Grahame, who also fits in to the plot. Somehow she usually manages to appear sympathetic and slutty at the same time, and here she doesn't disappoint. And her role is a crucial one.I'm not going to rehash the storyline but I just want to emphasize how refreshing it is in 2011 to see a movie for grownups. This type of movie is becoming nearly extinct - in fact, this one was produced in 1956. I knew it wasn't a new picture because there were no gratuitous sex scenes and no potty mouth dialogue - and there was a plot that could be followed by those of us over the age of 12.