Rent Carve Her Name with Pride (1958)
3.7 of 5 from 77 ratings
1h 54min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
The inspired true-life story of Violette Szabo, one of the bravest women of World War II. Virginia McKenna and Paul Schofield star in this moving and dramatic story of Violette Szabo - who volunteered to be parachuted into France as a secret agent to re-organise a shattered Resistance group. Her mission successful, she joins the Resistance, harrying German reinforcements for the Normandy front where she stays until captured by the Germans and handed over to the Gestapo. A cruel and prolonged interrogation fails to make her betray her comrades, and is consequently deported to Germany. In the horror and squalor! of Ravensbruck concentration camp, Violette's spirit remains unbroken, even though she learns that she is to be executed by an SS firing squad for espionage. A moving story about the strength of the human spirit in the most adverse circumstances. - Actors:
- Virginia McKenna, Paul Scofield, Jack Warner, Denise Grey, Alain Saury, Maurice Ronet, Anne Leon, Sydney Tafler, Avice Landone, Nicole Stéphane, Noel Willman, Bill Owen, Billie Whitelaw, William Mervyn, Michael Goodliffe, André Maranne, Harold Lang, Victor Beaumont, Josef Behrmann, Michael Caine
- Directors:
- Lewis Gilbert
- Producers:
- Daniel M. Angel
- Writers:
- R.J. Minney, Vernon Harris
- Studio:
- Carlton Video
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama, Thrillers
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Reviews (2) of Carve Her Name with Pride
Classic British War Drama - Carve Her Name with Pride review by GI
Another of the great cycle of war films made in Britain during the 1950s and different for having a woman character as the main protagonist although the casual misogyny of the times is still very much evident. This is loosely based on the true story of Violette Szabo, a young woman from London who marries a French officer after a whirlwind romance in the early days of the Second World War. They have a daughter but after a couple of years he is killed in action. Violette is recruited into the Special Operations Executive, mainly due to her French language skills, and trained for operations in France. Virginia McKenna, a rising British actress, stars as Violette in one of her most famous roles. The story is one of British pluck, with love and patriotism the drivers behind her courage. In that sense it's a flag waver like most of the war films from the period but this has a great story if a little sentimental, it's been dramatised for the cinema so don't be caught believing too much of what you see on screen. This is a film that has romance, action and is also a bit of a tearjerker, it's a classic British film and very entertaining. Paul Schofield co-stars as a fellow SOE agent and the great Jack Warner plays Violette's father. Keen eyed viewers will spot Michael Caine in a very early role too. A film that deserves a modern audience, well worth your time.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Special ops with a difference. - Carve Her Name with Pride review by Steve
The Special Operations film, and the design, organisation and execution of a dangerous, covert enterprise in a foreign country under occupation was one of the most robust and rewarding subgenres of the 1950s war film. There was usually a great deal of genre conformity in these films, from the tough sergeant major, the explosives boffin, the repressed emotions of the final briefing through to their brave death or unlikely escape. Carve Her Name with Pride is distinctive because it about the training and operation of a woman, Violette Szabo who worked with the resistance in France and was executed at Ravensbrück concentration camp 1945. It is a dignified and charismatic portrayal by Virginia McKenna and a worthy tribute. The ending when she is executed with Denise Bloch and Lilian Rolfe is powerful and deeply moving.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.