The Man Who Never Was

I enjoyed the B-film Roughshod with Gloria Grahame as the best aspect. I checked to see if the library had other Grahame films.

The Man Who Never Was is based on a true WWII attempt to throw the Germans off the scent of the British intentions to invade Sicily. A dead body would be planted so that it would wash up in Spain, where Germany had spy coverage. The body will have papers suggesting the invasion would be some other place. I read about the caper in some spy-related book.

Clifton Webb leads the cast as the person leading the effort. The film provides various bits of dramatic license, including Graham Greene's role as the roommate as a woman assistant to the intelligence operations. Lucy is in love with a flyer and provides the text of a useful "personal letter" planted on the body. The letter and a later reaction are true to her life.

The film is a well-crafted tale. It is an enjoyable spy procedural with Greene adding an important touch of emotion. The father of the person whose body is used also has a touching scene. The German spy (a dramatic creation) looked familiar. He was the Roman friend/rival of the lead in Ben Hur. 

The real-life person Webb's character is based on has a cameo in the film. He is also Jewish in real life. The film does not include this tidbit. Yes, there is no compelling reason for it to come up though it easily could have. They invented multiple things. Perhaps, some movie viewers simply would not believe the richness of a Jew being behind it all.