Operation Mincemeat (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Operation Mincemeat |
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UK theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | John Madden |
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| Screenplay by | Michelle Ashford |
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| Music by | Thomas Newman |
| Cinematography | Sebastian Blenkov |
| Editing by | Victoria Boydell |
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| Release date(s) | November 2021 (British Film Festival) 15 April 2022 (United Kingdom) 11 May 2022 (United States) |
| Running time | 128 minutes |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | .3 million |
| Money made | .7 million |
Operation Mincemeat is a 2021 British war drama film. It was directed by John Madden. The movie is based on Ben Macintyre's book. This book tells the true story of Operation Mincemeat during World War II.
The film stars Colin Firth, Kelly Macdonald, and Matthew Macfadyen. Other actors include Penelope Wilton, Johnny Flynn, and Jason Isaacs. This was the last film for actor Paul Ritter, and it is dedicated to his memory.
Operation Mincemeat first showed at the 2021 British Film Festival in Australia. It was released in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2022. Warner Bros. Pictures distributed it there. Netflix released the film in North and South America on May 11, 2022.
Contents
The Secret Plan: Operation Mincemeat
This film tells the amazing true story of a secret mission. It happened during World War II in 1943. The United Kingdom was deeply involved in the war.
Setting the Stage for Deception
Lieutenant Commander Ewen Montagu was a lawyer. He stayed in England while his family went to the United States for safety. Montagu joined a secret group called the Twenty Committee. His secretary, Hester Leggett, worked with him.
Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister, had promised the US. The Allies would invade Sicily by July. This was to push further north into Europe. But Sicily was an obvious target. German forces might be ready for them.
Admiral Godfrey believed Britain needed a clever trick. They had to make Nazi Germany think the Allies would invade Greece instead.
The Idea: A Corpse with Fake Secrets
Charles Cholmondeley suggested a bold plan. It came from a secret idea called the "Trout Memo." This plan involved using a dead body. The body would carry fake secret documents. It would then wash ashore where the enemy would find it.
Admiral Godfrey had doubts but gave permission. Montagu and Cholmondeley began planning the operation. They worked with Lieutenant Commander Ian Fleming.
Creating a Fake Identity
The team found a body to use for the mission. They gave him a false identity. He became Major William Martin of the Royal Marines. They created a detailed fake life for him. This included ID photos and a backstory.
Jean Leslie, a secretary, offered her photo. She would be Martin's fake fiancée, "Pam." The team made items for Martin's pockets. These included theatre tickets, personal bills, and a love letter. Hester wrote the love letter from "Pam."
Challenges and Suspicions
There were some problems. The body's sister arrived to claim it. Montagu and Cholmondeley had to turn her away. They had to keep the secret.
Admiral Godfrey suspected Montagu's brother, Ivor Montagu, was a spy. He asked Cholmondeley to watch Montagu. In return, Godfrey promised to find Cholmondeley's brother's remains. His brother had died in action in Chittagong, Bengal. Cholmondeley reluctantly agreed to help.
The Mission Begins
A special driver, St John "Jock" Horsfall, took Montagu and Cholmondeley. They carried the body to a submarine base. The body was loaded onto the submarine HMS Seraph.
On April 30, the Seraph reached the Gulf of Cádiz. This is near Spain. The body was dropped into the ocean. Fishermen in Huelva, Spain, found it.
Hopes and Doubts
The team tried to get the fake documents to Madrid. But the mission faced problems. Spain had resisted German influence more than expected. Captain David Ainsworth, a British naval diplomat, met with a Spanish police colonel. This was a last try to get the papers to the Germans.
When Martin's personal items returned to London, experts checked them. They found the documents had been opened and changed. This gave the team hope. It meant Germany likely got the false information.
The Deception's Success
Jean was approached by a waiter named Teddy. He claimed to be a spy. He said he was part of a group against Hitler in Germany. Jean told him that Major Martin was using a fake name. But she said the secret information was real.
After Teddy left, Jean told Montagu and Cholmondeley. They thought a German Army leader, Colonel Alexis von Roenne, sent Teddy. Von Roenne might have wanted to check the information. This way, he could go against Hitler. But they couldn't be sure.
On July 10, the Allied invasion of Sicily began. News arrived that the Allies had very few losses. The enemy was retreating, and the beaches were secure. Operation Mincemeat had worked!
Afterward, Cholmondeley admitted he had watched Montagu. He had received his brother's remains in return. Montagu was understanding and happy the mission succeeded.
What Happened Next
The film's ending tells us what happened to the real people. Montagu reunited with his wife after the war. Jean married a soldier. Hester continued her important work. Cholmondeley stayed with British intelligence until 1952. He later married and traveled a lot.
Major William Martin's true identity was revealed in 1997. His real name was Glyndwr Michael. His actual name was added to his headstone in Spain.
Meet the Cast
Here are some of the main actors and the real people they played:
- Colin Firth as Ewen Montagu
- Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Cholmondeley
- Kelly Macdonald as Jean Leslie
- Penelope Wilton as Hester Leggett
- Johnny Flynn as Ian Fleming
- Jason Isaacs as Admiral John Godfrey
- Mark Gatiss as Ivor Montagu
- Hattie Morahan as Iris Montagu
- Mark Bonnar as Jock Horsfall
- Paul Ritter as Bentley Purchase
- Alex Jennings as John Masterman
- Simon Russell Beale as Winston Churchill
- James Fleet as Charles Fraser-Smith
- Nicholas Rowe as Capt David Ainsworth
- Will Keen as Salvador Gomez-Beare
- Charlotte Hamblin as Patricia Trehearne
- Lorne MacFadyen as Sgt Roger Dearborn and Glyndwr Michael
- Rufus Wright as Lt Bill Jewell
- Jonjo O'Neill as Teddy
- Ruby Bentall as Connie Bukes
- Ellie Haddington as Hilda Georgina Cholmondeley
Other historical figures also appear briefly in the film. These include Alexander Beyer as Karl Kuhlenthal, Nico Birnbaum as Colonel Alexis von Roenne, and Pep Tosar as Admiral Moreno.
Making the Film: Production Details
The film's director, John Madden, was announced in May 2019. Colin Firth was also confirmed to star. Kelly Macdonald joined the cast in October.
In December, more actors were added. These included Matthew Macfadyen, Penelope Wilton, and Johnny Flynn. Jason Isaacs joined the cast in March 2020.
Filming began in December 2019. It took place in London and Spain. Some scenes were shot at Saunton Beach in North Devon in February 2020. Another scene was filmed in Málaga in March 2021.
This movie was the last one for actor Paul Ritter before he passed away. The film is dedicated to his memory.
How True Is the Story?
The main parts of the film are historically accurate. However, the filmmakers made some changes. They added some things that were not in Ben MacIntyre's book. For example, the film created a fictional love story. This story involved Montagu, Cholmondeley, and Leslie. This part was not true to history.
Film Release and Availability
In February 2021, Warner Bros. International bought the rights. They would distribute Operation Mincemeat in the UK. The film first showed at the 2021 British Film Festival in Australia. It was released in cinemas on April 15, 2022.
Netflix bought the rights for North and South America. The film became available on Netflix in those areas on May 11, 2022.
See Also
- The Man Who Never Was, a 1956 film. It is also based on Operation Mincemeat. This film was based on Ewen Montagu's own book.
