THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS (1956)

Exceptional fact-based WWII story about a 1943 Espionage/ Intelligence operation meant to throw the Germans off the upcoming invasion of Sicily. The idea: get the Nazis to move even a few divisions to other possible targets and save thousands of Allied lives. The simple plan: plant false papers on a dead body, set it adrift near technically neutral Spain, then let the tide wash it ashore. Once found, local authorities will take charge, but are sure to let the Germans get a peek at the secret military scheme hidden on the body. After that, London headquarters will have to wait and watch for signs that the false info is moving up the Axis chain of command. Simple, in theory; difficult & delicate in practice, starting with finding an appropriate body. The first half of the film, with Clifton Webb & Robert Flemyng as British officers running the show is consistently interesting, both clear & believable. But the film kicks into a higher gear halfway thru when Stephen Boyd, smashing in an early lead, takes over the action as a German spy posing as an Irish friend of the dead man. Charged with authenticating his identity, he adds a dose of nerve-racking tension, especially in a long scene with an unprepared Gloria Grahame, whom he assumes is the decoy’s girlfriend. More cerebral than kinetic, yet packing a solid punch of suspense; with extraordinarily well-handled location shooting and art direction showing up well in cinematographer Oswald Morris’s handsome, restrained color scheme. A 20th /Fox release, but made by an all-British production team & cast (other than the two leads). In Hollywood this would have been handled mostly on the lot by a writer/helmer like George Seaton* or Phillip Dunne. What a difference Ronald Neame gives in visual texture & sheer easy directorial craft, never letting it turn static or talky. Tip top stuff.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: Gloria Grahame’s habit of tweaking her face with plastic surgery between films was taking a toll on her career. Here, only 33, she looks not quite recovered from . . . what? Her face puffy and tight, her mouth not quite in synch with the voice. She’s still an excellent actress, a unique presence and yet distracting.

DOUBLE-BILL: *George Seaton shows his best form in another WWII espionage thriller, THE COUNTERFEIT TRAITOR/’62.