I Was Monty's Double (film): Difference between revisions

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==Production==
==Production==
When James agreed to impersonate Montgomery, he was never to mention it under army regulations. However after Operation Copperhead was mentioned in the book ''My Three Years with Eisenhower'', James asked for permission to write a book, which was granted.<ref>THE MAN WHO LOOKS LIKE MONTY
Based on Lieut. M.E. Clifton James' own story of his successful attempt to deceive the Germans regarding General Montgomery's pre-D. Day movements, ''I Was Monty's Double'' also includes well-received performances by [[Leslie Phillips]], [[Michael Hordern]] as the governor of Gibraltar, "Rusty" Eastwood, [[Marius Goring]] as Karl Nielson and [[Barbara Hicks]] as Logan's formidably competent secretary, Hester Baring. In common with many British films from the period, cameos abound. [[Sam Kydd]] makes a brief appearance, and screenwriter [[Bryan Forbes]] appears as a young officer co-opted to help intercept the kidnappers. Near the end of the film, Forbes has a bit part as a young Lieutenant who assists Harvey in the beach rescue of M. E. Clifton James.
Buchwald, Art. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]27 Nov 1958: B5. </ref> The book was published in 1954.<ref>I Was Monty's Double. By M. E. Clifton James (Book Review)
G. M. O. D. The Spectator; London Vol. 193, Iss. 6582, (Aug 20, 1954): 239. </ref> In June 1956 it was announced film rights had been bought by Todon Productions, the company of Tony Owens and Donna Reed, based on England; the key executive there was Maxwell Setton, who had been a wartime executive officer. Todon wanted [[Laurence Olivier]] to play Montgomery and Stephen Watts was writing the treatment.<ref>Looking at Hollywood: Tony Owen, Donna Reed To Film Montgomery Story
Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 6 June 1956: b4. </ref><ref>BRITISH WAR BOOK BOUGHT FOR MOVIE: Todon, Independent Concern, Obtains Rights to Story of Montgomery's 'Double' Ray and Ryan to Co-Star
By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to The New York Times.6 June 1956: 36. </ref> [[Frederic March]] was named as another possibility for the lead.<ref>Drama: 'Tea, Sympathy' Youths Will Costar; Scripter Going on Kelly Mission
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]09 June 1956: 13. </ref> In mid June it was announced that Clifton James would play himself and MOntgomery, with Olivier the leading choice for the other main role. Permission from Montgomery and the War Office was conditional upon script approval.<ref>NOTED ON THE BRITISH MOVIE SCENE: Footnotes on 'Monty's Double'--Selznick's Hurdle--Addenda Royalty Outspoken Potpourri
By STEPHEN WATTS LONDON. New York Times 17 June 1956: 103. </ref> A deal was signed with Columbia to distribute.<ref>Drama: Third Cagney Subject Developed by Writer; Stevens Slates 'Feud'
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 22 June 1956: 23. </ref>


Newsreel footage puts the real Field Marshal Montgomery in many scenes, but "for a few key moments, James stands in for the real Monty."<ref>Axmaker, Sean. [http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/333873%7C0/I-Was-Monty-s-Double.html "Film article: 'I Was Monty's Double' AKA'Hell, Heaven or Hoboken'."] ''TCM'', 2019. Retrieved: 8 August 2019.</ref>{{#tag:ref|On some US prints, the title is ''Hell, Heaven or Hoboken'', taken from an address made by the title character to US officers.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051759/releaseinfo#akas "Release Dates: 'I Was Monty's Double'."] ''IMDb'', 2019. Retrieved: 8 August 2019.</ref>|group=N}}
Newsreel footage puts the real Field Marshal Montgomery in many scenes, but "for a few key moments, James stands in for the real Monty."<ref>Axmaker, Sean. [http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/333873%7C0/I-Was-Monty-s-Double.html "Film article: 'I Was Monty's Double' AKA'Hell, Heaven or Hoboken'."] ''TCM'', 2019. Retrieved: 8 August 2019.</ref>{{#tag:ref|On some US prints, the title is ''Hell, Heaven or Hoboken'', taken from an address made by the title character to US officers.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051759/releaseinfo#akas "Release Dates: 'I Was Monty's Double'."] ''IMDb'', 2019. Retrieved: 8 August 2019.</ref>|group=N}}

Revision as of 08:47, 23 September 2020

I Was Monty's Double
Film poster
Directed byJohn Guillermin
Screenplay byBryan Forbes
Based onI Was Monty's Double
by M. E. Clifton James
Produced byMaxwell Setton at Walton Studios
Starring
CinematographyBasil Emmott
Edited byMax Benedict
Music byJohn Addison
Distributed byAssociated British-Pathé Limited
Release date
  • 21 September 1958 (1958-09-21)
Running time
99 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

I Was Monty's Double (aka Hell, Heaven or Hoboken) is a 1958 film made by Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC).[1] It was directed by John Guillermin. The screenplay was adapted by Bryan Forbes from the autobiography of M. E. Clifton James, an actor who pretended to be General Montgomery as a decoy during the Second World War.

Plot

A few months before the D-Day landings during the Second World War, the British government decides to launch a campaign of disinformation; spreading a rumour that the landings just might take place at a location other than Normandy. The details of the operation (actually, there were several such operations) are handed to two intelligence officers, Colonel Logan (Cecil Parker) and Major Harvey (John Mills). They are initially unable to devise such a plan – but one night, Harvey sees an actor at a London theatre, putting on a convincing impression of General Bernard Montgomery.

Logan and Harvey discover that the actor is M. E. Clifton James (who plays himself in the film), a lieutenant stationed in Leicester with the Royal Army Pay Corps and that he was a professional actor in peacetime. He is called to London, on the pretext that he is to make a test for an army film, and a plan is devised that he should tour North Africa, impersonating "Monty".

'Jimmy' as Harvey calls him, is doubtful that he can carry off an impersonation of Montgomery, especially with his air of command, but with time running short and no options open to him, he agrees.

Disguised as a corporal, he spends some days at Montgomery's headquarters and learns to copy the general's mannerisms and style. After an interview with the general himself, he is sent off to tour North Africa.

Accompanied by Harvey, who has been 'promoted' to brigadier for his cover as Montgomery's aide-de-camp, "Jimmy" arrives at Gibraltar, where the governor, who has known the general for years, can't get over the likeness. To further foster the deception, a local businessman and known German agent, Karl Nielson (Marius Goring), is invited to dinner, knowing that he will spread the information. This happens quickly and their aeroplane is (unsuccessfully) attacked on leaving Gibraltar.

James and Harvey tour several places in North Africa and visit the troops. With only a few days to go before the landings, it is learned that the Germans have indeed been fooled and have kept large numbers of troops in the south, away from Normandy. His job done, James is put into "cold storage" at a heavily guarded villa on the coast.

But the Germans have been fooled more than Harvey realises. A team of German commandos are landed by submarine to kidnap 'Monty'. They kill his guards and are ready to embark with James, but Harvey gets wind of the kidnap and foils it at the last moment. They return quietly to London.

Cast

Comparison with book

The film broadly follows the account by James in his book of the same name, but according to James, there was no attempt to kidnap him. The German High Command did plan to have him killed, but Hitler vetoed the plan until he could be sure where the landings would actually take place.

Gibraltar was in reality a hotbed of German agents, and James/Montgomery was spied on by several operatives who were smuggled into Gibraltar specifically to discover what "Monty" was up to. James/Montgomery deliberately talked nonsense about non-existent operations and plans, in the hope that the spies would overhear and take such information seriously.

The intelligence officer who initially recruited James was David Niven, at that time serving as a lieutenant-colonel at the War Office.

Production

When James agreed to impersonate Montgomery, he was never to mention it under army regulations. However after Operation Copperhead was mentioned in the book My Three Years with Eisenhower, James asked for permission to write a book, which was granted.[2] The book was published in 1954.[3] In June 1956 it was announced film rights had been bought by Todon Productions, the company of Tony Owens and Donna Reed, based on England; the key executive there was Maxwell Setton, who had been a wartime executive officer. Todon wanted Laurence Olivier to play Montgomery and Stephen Watts was writing the treatment.[4][5] Frederic March was named as another possibility for the lead.[6] In mid June it was announced that Clifton James would play himself and MOntgomery, with Olivier the leading choice for the other main role. Permission from Montgomery and the War Office was conditional upon script approval.[7] A deal was signed with Columbia to distribute.[8]

Newsreel footage puts the real Field Marshal Montgomery in many scenes, but "for a few key moments, James stands in for the real Monty."[9][N 1]

Reception

Film Historian Alun Evans in Brassey's Guide to War Films (2000) noted, I Was Monty's Double as, "... in itself interesting without all the trivia asides, with Bryan Forbes' screenplay from, yes, Clifton James, the actor's book, amusingly played by a stalwart cast."[11]

Film critic Leslie Halliwell in Leslie Halliwell's Film Guide (1989) described I WAS Monty's Double, "an amusing and intriguing first hour gives way to spy chases, but the overall provides solid entertainment."[12]

In popular culture

I Was Monty's Double inspired a Goon Show episode entitled "I was Monty's Treble", referring to at least 3 doppelgangers.[13]

The film was also spoofed in the comedy film On the Double, with Danny Kaye playing a double role.[citation needed]

The Private Eye comic strip, Battle for Britain was penned by Ian Hislop under the nom-de-plume Monty Stubble. When the comic strip ended, after the 1987 General Election and Stubble's death, his gravestone was shown to bear the inscription "I was Monty Stubble".[citation needed]

See also

Operation Copperhead

References

Notes

  1. ^ On some US prints, the title is Hell, Heaven or Hoboken, taken from an address made by the title character to US officers.[10]

Citations

  1. ^ Film credits and Variety film review; 5 November 1958, p. 7.
  2. ^ THE MAN WHO LOOKS LIKE MONTY Buchwald, Art. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]27 Nov 1958: B5.
  3. ^ I Was Monty's Double. By M. E. Clifton James (Book Review) G. M. O. D. The Spectator; London Vol. 193, Iss. 6582, (Aug 20, 1954): 239.
  4. ^ Looking at Hollywood: Tony Owen, Donna Reed To Film Montgomery Story Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 6 June 1956: b4.
  5. ^ BRITISH WAR BOOK BOUGHT FOR MOVIE: Todon, Independent Concern, Obtains Rights to Story of Montgomery's 'Double' Ray and Ryan to Co-Star By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to The New York Times.6 June 1956: 36.
  6. ^ Drama: 'Tea, Sympathy' Youths Will Costar; Scripter Going on Kelly Mission Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]09 June 1956: 13.
  7. ^ NOTED ON THE BRITISH MOVIE SCENE: Footnotes on 'Monty's Double'--Selznick's Hurdle--Addenda Royalty Outspoken Potpourri By STEPHEN WATTS LONDON. New York Times 17 June 1956: 103.
  8. ^ Drama: Third Cagney Subject Developed by Writer; Stevens Slates 'Feud' Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 22 June 1956: 23.
  9. ^ Axmaker, Sean. "Film article: 'I Was Monty's Double' AKA'Hell, Heaven or Hoboken'." TCM, 2019. Retrieved: 8 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Release Dates: 'I Was Monty's Double'." IMDb, 2019. Retrieved: 8 August 2019.
  11. ^ Evans 2000, p. 101.
  12. ^ Halliwell 1989, p. 502.
  13. ^ Wilmut, Roger; Grafton, Jimmy (1981). The Goon Show Companion – A History and Goonography. London: Robson Books. ISBN 0-903895-64-1.

Bibliography

  • Evans, Alun. Brassey's Guide to War Films. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books, 2000. ISBN 978-1-57488-263-6.
  • Halliwell, Leslie. Leslie Halliwell's Film Guide. New York: Harper & Roe, 1989. ISBN 978-0-06016-322-8.

Further reading

External links

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