Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

I really enjoyed and appreciated this excellent film, that is based on a true British disinformation plan during W W II, code named Operation Mincemeat. The plan by British Intelligence was to deceive the German high command into thinking the Allied invasion of Sicily would take place elsewhere. The successful hoax was achieved by attaching " Top Secret " documents on a corpse deliberately left to wash up on a beach in Spain. This intriguing story is well played out in fine detail, in " The Man Who Never Was, " with the screenplay staying close to the truth, along with the addition of some well placed fiction, for example the Irish spy in the film is a complete fabrication. Stephen Boyd plays the part of Patrick O'Reilly the fictitious spy, while the real Ewen Montagu declared that he was happy with the fictitious incidents which, although they didn't happen, might have happened. Clifton Webb was an outstanding choice for the role of British Navy Lieutenant Commander Ewen Montagu, who is fully involved in the cunning scheme to fool the Nazis. Webb's performance brings this most absorbing historical story to life. It is also interesting to note that the real Ewen Montagu has a cameo role in the film of an air-vice marshal who has doubts about the feasibility of the proposed plan. It was described as a "surreal" moment when the real Montagu addresses his fictional persona, played by Webb. Gloria Graham gives a fine, strong emotional performance in her role as Lucy Sherwood, a woman who unexpectedly becomes part of the plot. All the supporting actors give very adequate performances, in this well done, worth watching wartime drama, a film that has passed the test of time.

William Wyler was so impressed by Stephen Boyd's performance that he cast him as Messala in his own "Ben Hur",a part which was very subtle in the first sequences.But you have got to be patient because he makes himself wait:however when he is on the screen,he makes the movie his,except in the scene with the two women in which Gloria Grahame matches him.This is an excellent spy thriller,with a first part verging on documentary;the second part looks like a poker game:at a time we think that Grahame lets the cat out of the bag but it is not so ;and the last picture is really moving ,worthy of Frank Borzage and masterpieces such as "three comrades ":the father got his wish,not only his dear son got a decent burial but he also helped to fight against the Nazis beyond death.

Handsome movie, made in the 1950s, about Operation Mincemeat, the successful deception plan concocted by the British during World War II to send a corpse to the Mediterranean with false invasion plans. The Germans swallowed it whole, and left Sicilia (where the invasion finally took place) relatively unguarded.Made by Hollywood with relatively unknown actors, this film is very entertaining, even if some of the things here turned out not to be true, though this was probably not the fault of the filmmakers. For instance, the corpse that was used in the operation belonged to a Welshman instead of a Scot (an alcoholic tramp, in actuality), and his family was not notified. And the last half hour deals with the story of an Irish spy in London working for the Germans that, while entertaining, is completely invented.More a spy film than a war film, it can be compared, as some people in the comments have noted, to the best movies by Alfred Hitchcock, in the way the film builds suspense over the operation. The beautiful color photography is an enormous plus; since this was filmed just a decade after the conflict ended, this allows you to have a very good idea of what London must have looked like in the war in full colors. Some might find the patriotism in the film a bit old fashioned, but I found it refreshing in comparison with the constant cynicism and weariness of contemporary movies.

Really enjoyed "The Man Who Never Was", another good WW II picture made by the Brits even though it was released by 20th-Century Fox. Why do British WW II movies often seem better than our own? Let me answer that one; I think it's because they were fighting a home game, whereas we were 'on the road'. Try "Went The Day Well?" or "One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing" (both 1942), for movies with a realism that is palpable.This one is taut and suspenseful and superbly well-acted. Cinematographer/ Director Ronald Neame is very meticulous in laying out the elaborate plot and keeps the picture moving at a good clip, with help from an assortment of British stars. The star of this exciting espionage picture is...Clifton Webb? I don't know why he was chosen to star in a spy picture, but it works - he's very good. Another surprising acting job is turned in by Gloria Grahame, who also fits in to the plot. Somehow she usually manages to appear sympathetic and slutty at the same time, and here she doesn't disappoint. And her role is a crucial one.I'm not going to rehash the storyline but I just want to emphasize how refreshing it is in 2011 to see a movie for grownups. This type of movie is becoming nearly extinct - in fact, this one was produced in 1956. I knew it wasn't a new picture because there were no gratuitous sex scenes and no potty mouth dialogue - and there was a plot that could be followed by those of us over the age of 12.