George Story

Ewen Montagu wrote a version of this story in 1953 which was not wholly true, that reality is ‘now’ well documented. The concerns of the powers-to-be were that of security at the time it was penned. Ben Macintyre wrote a more fact based tale simply because the passage of time allowed it. Styles considered, they were both well written and interesting enough that they hold the reader to the end. I have read both accounts multiple times and would equally enjoy them again. ‘The Man Who Never Was’, the movie released in 1956, was, in my mind, a masterpiece, even though it, too, carried suspenseful misinformation for theatrical objectives to spice-up a fairly humdrum narrative. In truth, ‘The Man Who Never Was’ was a story of creating a human-being and a backstory for that human-being out of nothing and getting it passed-off as truth. Hard to find the edge of the chair in that. In this particular case the creation of the man, his life and delivering all, well, that “IS” the true story, forget the side plots. Ewen Montagu wrote from first-hand experience and knowledge, having been one of the creators, so to speak. His hands were also tied by those in the British Government who wished to keep much of the details hushed-upped. Ben Macintyre, on the other hand, deserves great praises for his research and writing. While in places, many places, Montagu was dry and precise, Macintyre found and created color and what intrigue he could, given the materials. Now to the more recent movie, ‘Operation Mincemeat’. I was severely disappointed. I had waited with baited-breath since its announcement for this movie. So much so, I started to watch it before I had my morning coffee on the morning of the 11th of May when it came available on NETFLIX here in the U.S. I found it was far more sensationalized subplot than actual true story. Human-beings are human-beings and war is war and human bed-fellows are created in and by war and maybe there is a lot of truth behind some of that. However, the positive outcome would never have been such had it been as bad as what was depicted. As it turned out, ‘Operation Mincemeat’ was a mere subplot within a story Ben Macintyre worked very hard to bring to light and life. These movie makers, NOT THE ACTORS, did a disservice to Macintyre’s work. They did not tell the story correctly. I found their work a distraction. 1 star in 5 as far as I am concerned.