I Was Monty’s Double – 1958 | 101mins | War, Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Excellent World War II fictionalised account adroitly adapted for the screen by Bryan Forbes from M.E. Clifton James autobiography. This tense and amusing film is of often described as a ‘true story’ but there is generous sprinkling of dramatic license.

London 1944. Intelligence officers Major Harvey (John Mills) and Col. Logan (Cecil Parker) are attempting to construct a plan that would convince the Nazis into diverting their forces in North Africa away from where the real General Montgomery is to attack in Normandy. By chance, one evening Harvey is departing the cinema when Clifton-James, a stock actor and low-ranking officer in the pay corps, makes a cameo appearance on stage impersonating Monty. Such is his striking resemblance to Monty the whole audience is fooled.

That evening Harvey hatches an elaborate plan to train Clifton-James into impersonating Monty down to the last detail, and immediately seconds the actor under the guise that he is to appear in a documentary for the Kinematograph Section. After signing the official secrets act Clifton- James is told the real purpose of his transfer, and despite initial doubts about capturing Monty’s personality, he is posted as a driver on Monty’s staff so that he can study the general’s mannerisms at close quarters.

Clifton-James and Harvey are then flown to Gibraltar and a tour of North Africa under the guise of General Montgomery and an accompanying Brigadier. After a nervous start the actor grows into his role and German agents are given every opportunity to be introduced to the doppelganger and hopefully tip-off German High Command in Berlin. The ruse is a success, causing the Nazis to divert their forces. Clifton-James is later kidnapped by German commandos, then rescued by a counter-raid and returned home.