have recently find this at a local dvd store i be sufficiently intrigue enough to buy it . have finally sit down to watch this film early this morning i be rather surprise by this little uk propaganda film . unlike many of it counterpart ( either american or birtish that i have see anyway ) this film go beyond simple propaganda need and become an intriguing thriller in it own right . the film cast help to sell much of the story . from basil sydney and david farrar a the officer lead the attack to leslie bank a their ally in the village to the young harry fowler along with valerie taylor and frank lawton and muriel george amongst others the cast all seem perfectly natural in their role . all in all the result be that it a fine cast tell a fine story . the main selling point of this film though be the story . year before jack higgins would turn the concept into his bestseller ( and later still a fine film ) call the eagle have land writer john dighton and angus macphail and diana morgan would take a short story by famed writer graham greene ( the third man and our man in hanvana etc . ) and create a fascinating tale . from the moment mervyn john give his introduction to his epilogue for the story the audience be aware that this be a world war ii propaganda film without any doubt . yet it soon become apparent that this be far more then that . the story soon become a tale of deception and double cross and the power of the ordinary person in a time of war . while the film propaganda message will be lose on many modern viewer and the story be a compel one to be sure . the production value be handsome a well . tom morahan design make for a highly convincing english village which one imago couldn not have be easily build during wartime . famed composer william walton ( soon the become famous for his work on the olivier shakespere film ) provide a fine score and especially at the opening and closing of the film . yet the highlight of the production side of the film be the wonderful cinematography by wilkie cooper . cooper cinematography and from sunny summer day to the moodiness of a night of desperate attempt and perfectly fit each moment and situation . the film isn not perfect of course . while the story be intrigue in itself and there be something of a mistake make by have the opening and closing do by actor mervyn john . while they serve a fine purpose a propaganda piece ( and of course bookend ) the opening give away quite a bit very early on which dampen the surprise that come a the film progress . there also the staging of the battle sequence that and like many film of this era and seem rather date today with all it hollering and men fall over . these be relatively minor problem though when compare with the rest of the film . with an intriguing story and nice performance and handsome production value go the day well . be an intriguing film . while at time an obvious piece of world war ii propaganda a a thriller it stand up quite well nearly seven decade on from when it be make . with it timeless tale of the power of the ordinary person it be a film that speak even now .