[December 21, 2022] Lynn Pitts is one of those “go-to” people I like to have on my short list of those who can get-er-done. I asked her to review Operation Mincemeat (2022) because it’s based on a true story and is not a typical, shoot-em-up, death and destruction war movie with ear-splitting violence. It’s more about out thinking your enemy. Now, I’ll let her tell the story.
“Operation Mincemeat” is a war movie you’ve probably not heard about (note: neither had I heard of it). Several folks have written Gen. Satterfield to ask for another review and he contacted me so say, “Hey Lynn, get off your duff and give me something to work with.” This is a typical senior officer comment. Of course, I’m happy to oblige.
The movie is about a previously classified Top Secret mission from World War II. The setting is 1943 Britain. The Allies are determined to break Hitler’s grip on occupied Europe and they plan an all-out assault on Sicily (preceding the invasion of France on D-Day). But they face an impossible challenge. How do they protect a massive invasion force from a potential massacre. It falls to two remarkable intelligence officers to dream up the most inspired and improbable plan of the war that centers on an unusual secret agent, a dead man.
John Madden’s war movie surmises that the most effective weapons in WW2 are not bombs and guns but deception. This is where the action takes place, not on the battlefield but in dark offices and smoky bars. Truth is stranger than fiction and the plan involves floating a dead body carrying fake military plans into the enemy’s hands. Everyone, including Churchill, admits the plan is unbelievable and unworkable. However, that is precisely why it could work.
Viewers are treated to a James Bond like story but the film is not as action-packed or globe-trotting as a Bond movie. However, Madden does a great job of wringing every drop of tension out of the situation. The audience will find themselves unexpectedly gripped by the mission and find themselves holding their breath along with the characters as the await a coded message.
Spoiler alert, we will never know if the real Operation Mincemeat has its full effect but Sicily was liberated more quickly than anticipated and losses were lower than predicted. Ewen Montagu was one of the actual intelligence officers and he wrote the operation’s history in 1953. His work was the basis for this film, Operation Mincemeat. See it if you can. I recommend it.
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Good movie, all thumbs up from me.
Hi Army Vet, big fan of yours. I look forward to your next article. For those new to Gen. Satterfield’s blog, click on this link to get Army Vet’s articles. They’re great.
https://www.theleadermaker.com/?s=army+vet
Love this review and special thanks to Lynn Pitts for her insights to this movie. Keep ’em coming our way.
Very interesting and I had never heard of it.
Me either but I’ve now read up on it and learned a great deal. Work smarter, not harder.
We all think so.
👀
Thank you all for your positive comments. Yes, I do recommend this movie. I left out a major subplot that the movie contained; a love twist involving the two intell officers. This took away from the movie and was an obvious sacrifice to the feminists who insist women saved the world from fascism. WWII wasn’t fought because of women, so woke child-adults, get over it.
Pow, nailed it. We all love you Lynn.
Lynn, you’re the best. Thank you!
Wow, great look into the hidden parts of WWII. The more we know about these kind of events, the more we can appreciate the bravery and smartness used to fight war. Too many stupid people think war is just about follow orders but we all know better.
Good point Rowen. And I love all Lynn Pitt’s movie reviews. I’m glad that Gen. Satterfield has put up the lastest. I will now have to find the movie “Operation Mincemeat” somehow on my television.
Great job, Lynn.
John Madden’s war movie surmises that the most effective weapons in WW2 are not bombs and guns but deception.
_____ this is the key to human existence and we should never ever forget it and use it and be on the lookout for others using it too.
Right The Observer and welcome to this leadership blog. I hope you enjoy your time here.
Lynn Pitts once again gives us an idea of what really happened in a real operation during WWII that helped bring an end to fascism. Don’t work harder, work smarter …. and with deception if you want to defeat an enemy. This is one of the oldest “rules” of war that Sun Tzu wrote about and should be required reading and study.
I have to admit that I never heard of Operation Mincemeat.
How A Dead Body Deceived Germans In World War II- Operation Mincemeat
https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/how-a-dead-body-deceived-germans-in-world-war-ii-operation-mincemeat-1a91ea821a87
Read more about it here.
— and great to hear from Mr. Kennedy III again. I am a huge fan and looking to your next article in the pages of gen. Satterfield.
Good reference Yusaf. 👍
Excellent review, well done Lynn!!!!! ❤❤❤❤
Looks like a movie I want to see. Thank you Lynn Pitts for taking the time out of your busy schedule to give us another review. And, thanks to Gen. Satterfield for getting this review up, just in time for Christmas.
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Don’t forget, people, to get a copy of Gen. Satterfield’s most recent book “55 Rules for a Good Life” if you want a great present.
Janna, you got that right and Merry Christmas in advance, as I’m with family for all this week.
You and I think a lot alike, Janna. Yes, I’ll get the new book that Gen. Satterfield just published and based on what alot of others wrote, I’m going to get a couple of copies and give them to my kids.