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Two Men Went To War
2002
Based on an amazing true story, TWO MEN WENT TO WAR tells the tale of WWII Army dentists Sergeant Peter King (Kenneth Cranham) and Private Leslie Cuthbertson (Leo Bill), two enlisted men who desperately wanted to fight behind enemy lines. Their desire leads them to gather up two guns and a bag of grenades and set out for France,.. Read more
| Starring | Kenneth Cranham, Derek Jacobi, James Fleet, Phyllida Law |
|---|---|
| Director | John Henderson |
| Genres | Comedy |
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Two Men Went To War
Based on an amazing true story, TWO MEN WENT TO WAR tells the tale of WWII Army dentists Sergeant Peter King (Kenneth Cranham) and Private Leslie Cuthbertson (Leo Bill), two enlisted men who desperately wanted to fight behind enemy lines. Their desire leads them to gather up two guns and a bag of grenades and set out for France, where they find themselves in situations they could've only dreamed of a few days prior. Derek Jacobi co-stars. Based on a book by Raymond Foxall.
| Starring | Kenneth Cranham, Derek Jacobi, James Fleet, Phyllida Law, Julian Glover, Anthony Valentine, David Ryall, Rosanna Lavelle |
|---|---|
| Director | John Henderson |
| Studio | GUERILLA FILMS |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 49 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 12 Feb 2007 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Had it been made 50 years ago, with Roger “Colonel Blimp” Livesey as the Great War veteran and the Ian Carmichael of Private's Progress as his young charge, setting off together for occupied France with a knapsack of grenades, hellbent on taking a pop at Hitler, this fact-based story would have evolved into a much-loved tribute to British eccentricity. Even now, with Kenneth Cranham and Leo Bill as the ill-matched duo who go Awol from the dental corps, it has considerable period feel and comic charm. But, as with Dad's Army, the humour also belies a shrewd social analysis that gives the combat finale that vital ring of authenticity. However, by recalling its illustrious TV predecessor, this serves to point out the essentially small-screen nature of this slight but enjoyable adventure.
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Gently amusing comedy of well-meaning blunderers in the stiff-upper-lip tradition; it has an old-fashioned charm and is apparently based on a true story.
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Most helpful member's review
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
A fine British-cast film
Oh joy, a British film that makes no concessions for an American audience. Based on a real incident during World War 2, this features an all British cast, many familiar stalwarts of the small as well as big screen, and they all seem to thoroughly enjoy themselves bringing the story to life.
Although played out rather light-heartedly, the established Kenneth Cranham and new-comer Leo Bill bring depth and compassion to the two protagonists, and Anthony Valentine, in sadly little more than a cameo, excels as the spit-and-polish Regimental Sergeant-Major.
It?s a cracking little film, slight, perhaps, in many respects, but nevertheless you are drawn to the people and the story, and the period is delightfully evoked. My one complaint is that, when you have at core a real and true story, why do the scriptwriters always have to dress it up with more action and bigger bangs than actually happened? Is it not amazing enough that two essentially non-combatants did really go ?absent without leave? and borrowed a fishing boat to cross the channel, and undertook a brief and wholly unofficial raid on occupied France; and then managed to get back to the boat and home again? Why get them mixed up with a big paratroop raid based on the Bruneville raid, a true event but nothing to do with the dentists? story? It strikes me there was quite enough material here without painting the lily in that way.
Still, the film remains a delightfully diverting treat. The producers and writers deserve credit for not writing in a wholly superfluous American role to give the film a bankable minor Hollywood ?name? on the posters. They did, however, pay the price in that I don't think the film never got picked up for American distribution, and got only limited promotion and release here.
So, don?t be put off by the film's low profile, so low it may well have not have even shown up on your radar. If the producers can at least make some money from DVD and Video, such less than wholly commercial films may continue to be made. -
Most recent members' review
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Fascinating piece of forgotten history
The story of two non-combatants who wanted to be heroes and nearly succeeded. ('With a few more lunatics like these, I could win the War by Christmas' - Churchill's quote on the affair.) An enjoyable film and well worth watching. For me, it was slightly spoiled by being made into a comedy. I would have much preferred a more serious film with a rather deeper exploration of the characters of the two self-styled commandos.
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Based on an amazing true story, TWO MEN WENT TO WAR tells the tale of WWII Army dentists Sergeant Peter King (Kenneth Cranham) and Private Leslie Cuthbertson (Leo Bill), two enlisted men who ... -