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Carve Her Name with Pride
London, England, during World War II. After living a tragic life experience, young Violette Szabo joins the Special Operations Executive and crosses the German enemy lines as a secret agent to aid a French Resistance group.
Release : | 1958 |
Rating : | 7.2 |
Studio : | Angel Productions, |
Crew : | Art Direction, Camera Operator, |
Cast : | Virginia McKenna Paul Scofield Jack Warner Denise Grey Maurice Ronet |
Genre : | Drama War |
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Reviews
Best movie of this year hands down!
Surprisingly incoherent and boring
Fresh and Exciting
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
I appreciate that much of what should have been included was not, due no doubt, to restrictions by the official secrets act so soon after the war. It is a good film, but sadly lacking in essential truth. The nonsense of her husband reciting 'The life that I have', the omission of the exciting, alarming and memorable details of her sorties in France and the woeful glossing over of the horror of her incarceration, torture and execution creates a combination that so understates the magnificence of Violette that I view it as an offence against her spirit. If you disagree with my view then please get yourself a copy of R J Minney's book, read it, and then try the magnificent 'Between Silk and Cyanide' by Leo Marks. With the knowledge now available, the incredible technical accomplishments of the film industry and the recent opening of the Violette Szabo Museum, we should be campaigning for a remake that tells the real story. A job for Peter Jackson? Ray
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.
British Director Lewis Gilbert is unknown to most Americans. This is a pity because he has directed a number of "crossover" masterpieces and this true story of wartime heroism is but one of them. The movie reminds me somewhat of The Man Who Never Was, a spy movie which required a woman who had been through a recent tragedy, marvelously played by Gloria Grahame, to use that tragedy to make herself a believable spy. Although she has excellent support by a young Paul Scofield and a non-too-shabby veteran cast, Virginia McKenna must pull off the central character, Violetta Szabo, in order for the film to succeed. She does so without question,and then some. If this movie does not bring tears to your eyes, no movie will.
It must be a sign of getting older but I find myself watching old films more and more now. Sky showed this film recently, and I much preferred it to some of the modern blockbusters they show. Virgina McKenna does an excellent job of portraying Violetta Szabo. Good old Jack Warner (Sergeant Dixon!) is excellent as the long suffering father. Paul Scofield is brilliant playing the part of Tony. It was directed by Lewis Gilbert, who also directed "Alfie" and "Educating Rita". It brings home the suffering normal people went through, as well as heroines like Violetta. I defy anyone not to be moved by the ending. Hopefully it is available on DVD now as it belongs in anyone`s collection.