Guy Ritchie’s latest film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, is a historical action epic loosely based on both a book by Damien Lewis and real-life events that unfolded during World War 2 in Europe.
The movie delves into the UK’s struggle against Nazi Germany during the peak of the second World War.
With the US yet to join the war and the UK’s supplies and aid ships constantly under attack by German U-Boats, Brigadier Colin Gubbins, with the secret backing of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, prepares for Operation Postmaster. This off-the-books, classified mission aims to disrupt the Nazis’ U-Boat resupply operation in Fernando Po, present-day Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea.
Carried out by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF) in January 1942, the mission involved boarding Italian and German ships in the harbor and sailing them to Lagos. Despite initial resistance from British authorities in the ships’ area, the Foreign Office in London eventually gave the green light for the daring mission.
The success of Operation Postmaster propelled the SOE’s reputation and showcased their ability to plan and execute covert operations effectively. However, as with many film adaptations based on true events, some liberties were taken for cinematic purposes.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is inspired by Damien Lewis’ book, “Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII.” While the film stays true to the overall outline of the mission, it amps up the drama, action sequences, and humor to create an entertaining viewing experience.
Director Guy Ritchie infuses the film with his signature flair, adding his own improvisational touch to the script. Characters are tweaked, amalgamated, or removed to fit the film’s runtime and enhance the narrative flow. Despite these creative liberties, the essence of the true story is preserved in the movie.
The star-studded cast of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare includes Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza Gonzalez, Henry Golding, Babs Olusanmokun, and Hero Fiennes Tiffin, among others. Each actor brings their own spin to the fictionalized characters based on real-life figures involved in Operation Postmaster.
While the film may take liberties with historical accuracy, its commitment to portraying the daring mission and the multicultural coalition of misfits involved in a campy, adrenaline-pumping manner makes The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare a thrilling cinematic experience. The blend of reality and cinematic exaggeration adds depth and excitement to this action-packed tale of wartime heroism.
