an excellent effort of a less than successful WW11 mission

Rating: Null/10 (17 April 2005)

A wonderful film which describes in detail the incomprehensible blindness of the controllers of the War. The moving seen where the intelligence officer is sent to a Mental Hospital to cover up his discovery is all too true and exemplifies the attitude of some Senior War Office people who had the greatest illusions of their own ability regardless of the facts. The cast is mostly superb but particularly Anthony Hopkins,Sean Connery,Liv Ulman,Edward Fox,Micheal Caine. The scene is set in a genuine location ,no disaster as in Private Ryan ,where the Irish topography was so out of place with the actual setting andthe actual story so badly told. It is a film that portrays more than almost any other the superb discipline and blind faith of those who fought and in this case misguidedly. No doubt those who set up the operation where canonised and decorated and those killed forgotten. Richard Attenborough can feel a sense of achievement with this film which was much berated on initial release. Maybe time and real assessment can only be made when comparison is made with the rubbish known as art that now pervades our cinemas and airwaves. Edward Fox is the character in every way ,a wonderful portrayal of Horrecks .The Dutch scenes and sets are so actual it is a credit to all concerned no computerised matter in this but a genuine effort at resurrecting the scene of the events. All should see this film as a lesson in film making.