Rent Carve Her Name with Pride (1958)

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.

War Biopic. - Carve Her Name with Pride review by Steve

The special operations picture, with the design, organisation and execution of a dangerous, covert enterprise in a foreign country under occupation- in this case France- is one of the most robust and rewarding sub-genres of the British WWII cycle of the 1950s.

There is usually a great deal of conformity, from the rigorous training, the suppressed emotions of the final briefing and the anxious anticipation of the parachute drop... This isn't much different from Odette (1950). Though it is more polished. There's an interesting support cast of French actors- including Maurice Ronet!

Virginia McKenna stars as the Paris born Violette Szabo, who won the George Cross and Croix de Guerre for her undercover liaison with the French resistance. And was killed at Ravensbrück concentration camp in 1945. Apparently Szabo grew up a working class Cockney, and brunette. So maybe McKenna wasn't obvious casting.

Still, she gives a dignified and charismatic portrayal. The execution alongside her colleagues (played by Anne Leon and Nicole Stéphane) is incredible moving. It's a worthy and inspiring tribute to an unorthodox hero who ultimately- aged only 23- gave her life in the war against fascism.