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.
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.