What The Critics Say

"A splendid film about a pair of mismatched British dentists who become unlikely WWII heroes. It's witty, nostalgic and emphasizes human interest over war story action." Betty Jo Tucker REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS "WWII buffs will get a kick out of an obscure story that shows how any man can be hero." Christopher Null FILMCRITIC.COM "A delightful little comedy told with a great deal of warmth and charm. It's a unique kind of war story that may not win the war, but has no trouble winning over the audience." Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone THEMOVIECHICKS.COM "Quietly making its point, 'Two Men Went to War' is a delight for those old enough to savor another time, another world." Donald J Levit REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS

"There'll always be an England, just so long as we can still make occasional movies like this... it banishes the blues and puts you in the most splendid of moods. What more could you want from a film?" Simon Rose BBC RADIO "More often than not, Two Men Went to War resembles a feature-length episode of Hogan's Heroes." Scott Foundas LA WEEKLY "A simple dose of nostalgia like this goes down easily." E! ONLINE "John Henderson's gentle World War II comedy dilutes its soft-bellied sentiment with a steady infusion of whimsy." Stephen Holden NEW YORK TIMES "As straightforward as its title, delivering exactly what you would expect: a pleasant bit of stiff-upper-lip nostalgia with a touch of whimsy." Kevin Crust LOS ANGELES TIMES

At A Glance Playwright Richard Everett recalls what happened when he came across the book "Amateur Commandos" by Raymond Foxall while in the Godalming library. He read the flyleaf and burst out laughing. Why? "Because the story was so absurd and quintessentially English," Everett says. "I mean, two army dentists who decide to invade France single-handedly and succeed in blowing up a German signal box, it was so ridiculous it could only be true." And that, strange but true, was thethe catalyst which would lead to another typically British comedy making it on to the big screen. Later while having dinner with writer Christopher Villiers, Everett retold the story of Cuthbertson and King. It was agreed, Everett and Villiers would collaborate on a screenplay and write the story of these "Amateur Commandos" whom Villiers says "were terribly serious about what they did." After a years work they had a draft they were happy with. They took the screenplay to director John Henderson who "was immediately taken with the idea and concept of the story." Henderson a "great admirer of the British character, was drawn to the British eccentricity and the rites of passage at the core of the story." Was there something that particularly stood out for him? "I was attracted to the transformation of each character, where a young Private becomes a man and the hard-nosed Sergeant reveals himself to be just as fragile as anyone else." Having been in comedy since the tender age of sixteen, Henderson obviously saw the humourous aspects of the story too, revealing that, "true situation comedy is where you take normal people and put them in a situation that is abnormal, the comedy derives from the fact that the characters just don’t know how to handle the situation." Next to come on board was American producer Ira Trattner. Trattner too, "loved the Britishness of the story and was totally drawn to the characters." Ira then invited Keith Hayley of Little Wing Films to have a look at the screenplay. That would lead to a meeting between Trattner, Everett, Villiers and Henderson, to discuss their vision for the film. Henderson put forward his thoughts that, "the characters were intrinsically funny; the writers didn’t have to add any gags to the performances because the moment you describe the story, it’s about two army dentists who are eccentric enough to want to go off to France and fight the Germans single-handedly, it makes you smile." It seems everyone had the same vision for the film and it was agreed Little Wing Films would finance the film. Now all they needed was a cast.
The standout for "Two Men Went To War" is definately the cast. Some faces are instantly recognizable, others vaguely familar, some you can't quite put your finger on, but all fit their parts so well. The job of finding the right cast members would fall to Sarah Bird. Trattner says "We were in the wonderful position of not having to look for stars to finance the film, but rather in a position where we could choose the right actors for the roles." It was known too that "Henderson wanted actors that weren’t typecast. He wanted "blank canvasses, because the characters set the tone for the world of the story." When it came to the two lead roles Hendersons needs were clear indeed. For Sergeant King "he wanted an actor who looked like he had lived life. He didn’t want a sex symbol. He wanted a man who had everything to lose, just like the character. He wanted a brilliant actor who looked the part of a 1940’s man and could very quickly portray a hard working-class sergeant without parody." In fact, Henderson's "interpretation of King was largely based on the character of his own father who had served in the WWII." Henderson knew just the man for the job, Kenneth Cranham, who "he had seen him in the acclaimed television series Harvey Moon where he had played an ex-RAF man returning home." Kenneth Cranham an acclaimed actor of stage, screen and television, quickly grasped the makeup of Sergeant King a Dental Corp clerk. "King is a wonderful character, who is totally expanded by his wartime experiences, but has to somehow come to terms with a subjugated, small life in a Dental Army Corp. Ultimately, King can't accept this dead-end job and this is what the story is about." When it came to Cuthbertson it was a different story. Here Henderson wanted someone he says "who was at the beginning of his career, just like the character in the script." That someone was RADA graduate Leo Bill who had "just finished a small part in "Gosford Park" and a rather apocalyptic role in "28 Days Later"." Producer Pat Harding knew straight away Leo Bill was just what they needed. "When Leo came into the audition we all knew he was Private Cuthbertson," she said. "He understood the character straight away and his timing and quirkiness were absolutely spot on." Cuthbertson wasn't as convinced and "never thought that he would get the coveted lead role, because he was just out of drama school." So what did he do after getting the role? "The first person I told was my girlfriend. She was over the moon, especially since we could now afford the flat we had rented!" And how did the novice actor find his widely experienced co-star? "I was really worried before we met, because King and Cuthbertson are inseparable, it’s their story, and I thought if Cranham hates me or I hate him it’s going to be the worst experience of my life," he revealed. "Fortunately we get on really well. Cranham is wicked and he is very funny." In "Two Men Went To War" that humour is not forced thanks to Hendersons vision "not to set the comedy up in a contrived way, but to play everyone absolutely straight, encouraging the audience to laugh with, not at the characters." This ensured that the end result is "a beautiful and charming film with a very English sensibility." So very true indeed. Cast and Crew Bytes "Two Men Went To War" was .................
directed by John Henderson ["Ogopogo", "In Search of an Impotent Man" and "Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis"]; produced by Ira Trattner ["Off the Mark" and "Sister, Sister"], and Pat Harding ["Soft Top", "Hard Shoulder", "Solitaire for 2" and "Cousin Bette"]; written by Christopher Villiers ["Mansfield Park" and "First Knight"] and Richard Everett ["Happy Event", "Close to the Wind" and "Hand over Fist"]; edited by David Yardley ["The Lost World", "Alice Through The Looking Glass", "Ivanhoe", "The Sculptress" and "Golden Eye"]; original music composed by Richard Harvey ["Animal Farm", "In Search Of An Impotent Man", "Arabian Nights" and "Captain Jack"]; costumes designed by Jill Taylor ["The Full Monty", "Sliding Doors", "Priest", "The Year’s Love", "Purely Belter", "Born Romantic" and "Crush"].
"Two Men Went To War" stars.................
Kenneth Cranham ["Born Romantic", "Shiner", "Gangster No.1" and "Women Talking Dirty"], Leo Bill ["28 Days Later", "Untitled ’01" and "Gosford Park"]; Derek Jacobi ["Gladiator", "Gosford Park" and "Hamlet"]; Rosanna Lavelle ["Charlotte Gray"]; James Fleet ["Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Sense and Sensibility" and "Charlotte Gray"]; Julian Glover ["Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade", "Cry Freedom" and "Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back"]; Anthony Valentine ["Peoples Princess", "American Cuisine", "House of Angelo", "The Damned" and "No Way Back"] and David Ryall ["Truly, Madly, Deeply", "Carrington", "The Russia House" and "Mad Cows"] as Winston Churchill.
The Story

"It's gentle, jolly, nicely done, and just about impossible to review without referring to Mainwaring and Pike from DAD'S ARMY." Nicholas Barber THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

Believe it or not this is the true story of Sergeant Peter King and Private Leslie Cuthbertson who served in the British Armies Dental Corp during WW2. King [a dental clerk], tired of serving without seeing action convinces Cuthbertson [a trainee dental technician] to join him on a secret mission to France. To take on Gerrie. Armed with two pistols and a dozen grenades they make their way to the coast by train. Here they plan to sieze a fishing boat and then cross the English Channel. There plan is delayed when local lass Emma Fraser insists they take a meal and stay at her mothers pub. King is champing at the bit and is keen to get on with the mission but Emma has taken a shine to Cuthbertson and their flirting only serves to aggravate the Sergeant. Their first attempt to sieze a boat fails and they are forced to stay overnight, but the next evening they are successful. King and Cuthbertson are soon on their way accross the channel. Landing on a deserted beach the two would-be commando's make their way ashore and head off. They can hear voices. Not Germans, but English. Two women are talking about cooking. Their hopes are dashed. It appears they are still in Cornwall. King investigates and discovers a German Officer monitoring a British cookery broadcast. Bouyed by the fact that they are in France the two press on in search of a target. They follow a railway line. It will be the start of their first action on foreign soil. What eventuates will lead them to a prize worthy of their mission. A German radar post at Cap de la Hague. A daring plan is hatched to destroy it. Unfortunately, while the two are away playing heroes, back home they have been declared deserters. No-one, not even Winston Churchill's chief intelligence advisor Major Morton will believe what is about to happen. The Verdict While this whimsical British comedy may not strike a chord with teenagers, it will with those who grew up on a fare of "Hogan's Heroes" and the memorable antics of "Dad's Army". There's never anything outrageously funny in the comedy aspect of "Two Men Went To War" but there are many funny moments amongst the drama. A typical British comedy drama that will find plenty of appeal with the fourty and over brigade." The Cast

Kenneth Cranham Leo Bill Derek Jacobi Rosanna Lavelle Phyllida Law Paul Bayfield James Fleet Julian Glover David Ryall Anthony Valentine Mossie Smith Beth Cordingly David Curtiz Glen Davies Richard Everett Stephan Grothgar Ian Lindsay Sara Markland Tim McMullan Nick Miles Anthony O'Donnell Erich Redman Sandra Reinton Jason Round Richard Sutton Dickon Tolson Christopher Villiers

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Sgt Peter King Pvt Leslie Cuthbertson Maj Merton Emma Fraser Faith Soldier number 2 'mike' Maj Bates Col Hatchard Winston Churchill SM Dudley Mrs Fraser Rose Interrogator Corporal German Officer With Dog German on Train with Driver Postman Daphne Military Policeman on Train Sgt Mowat Chief Armourer German Signals Officer French Woman Soldier 3 Pvt Horrocks Steward Dr Oliver Holmes

The Crew Directed by John Henderson Adapted from the book "Amateur Commandos" by Raymond Foxall Written by Richard Everett & Christopher Villiers Produced by Pat Harding & Ira Trattner Original Music by Richard Harvey Cinematography by John Ignatius Film Editing by David Yardley Casting by Sarah Bird Production Design by Sophie Becher & Steve Carter Art Direction by Sam Stokes Set Decoration by Sophie Newman Costume Design by Jill Taylor Makeup Department Graham Johnston Production Manager Emma Mager Run Time 109 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2004 - Guerilla Films - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2004 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved