Two Men Went To War

Synopsis

Based on a true story, Sergeant Peter King (Kenneth Cranham) of the Army Dental Corps, too old to fight, and Private Leslie Cuthbertson (Leo Bill), a trainee dental mechanic in the Corps, are thrown together by their passionate desire to see active service. Armed with just two revolvers and a dozen grenades, King persuades Cuthbertson to join him on a mission to occupied France.

In a letter to Winston Churchill, King explains their intention to invade France and fight the Germans. After a number of failed attempts, they finally arrive by boat and stumble across a German radar station. They succeed in blowing up what they believe to be the main Operations Room, but are soon forced to make their escape as the entire compound unexpectedly erupts with gunfire and explosions. After narrow escapes from the Germans and a stray mine in the Channel, the two men are picked up at sea and interrogated as spies.

Identified as deserters, they are returned to their barracks to be court martialled. At the eleventh hour King and Cuthbertson are saved by the arrival of Major Merton (Derek Jacobi), Churchill's Chief Intelligence Advisor. Their letter has been received in Whitehall and Merton corroborates their heroic story. Exonerated of lying, King and Cuthbertson are nevertheless reprimanded by the Court for their behaviour, but receive an invitation to tea with the Prime Minister should they ever be in Whitehall.

Details

Year

2003

Type of film

Features

Running Time

109 mins

Format

35mm

Director

John Henderson

Producer

Christopher Villiers, Richard Everett

Co-Producer

Sally French

Editor

David Yardley

Screenwriter

Richard Everett, Christopher Villiers

Director of Photography

John Ignatius

Sound

Ian Voigt

Music

Richard Harvey

Principal Cast

Kenneth Cranham, Leo Bill, Derek Jacobi, James Fleet

Genre

• Drama

Production status

Complete

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Last updated 26th November 2005