Double Cross - Ben Macintyre

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by Jonathan Ball, Jul 15, 2012.

  1. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Having watched this marvellous documentary again on iPlayer last night I'm surprised that it doesn't appear to have generated any comment?

    It's the third such programme Ben Macintyre has presented that tie into his books following Operation Mincemeat and Agent Zigzag and I for one find the subject matter to be fascinating, the documentary style to be both informative and amusing and the presenter to be most engaging.

    Did anyone else watch it?
     
  2. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    I saw it, very enjoyable. Clearly reading further background and learning more would add greater weight to the background to these events, but it was a good primer.

    And it's good to see an occasional non "celebrity" presenter, and someone clearly who's actually been involved in the prime research. Although my personal view is that if the history is strong enough, I don't even really notice who the talking head is (and this isn't a criticism of this particular chap).
     
  3. Alan Allport

    Alan Allport Senior Member

    A nice review of Ben Macintyre's new book Double Cross in this week's New York Times captures the pleasures as well as the pitfalls of the 'oddball-powered' tales of espionage that Macintyre has made his specialty. I had the same reservations about his earlier book on Operation Mincemeat; what can make for a great story does not always make for great intelligence history.

    Best, Alan
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00wllmb/operation-mincemeat

     
  5. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    From what I can remember reading and watching a documenray some years ago, a great deal of Research went into the deception including having the right Body to use.

    If I remember correctly the Body used was from someone who died of Pneumonia, hence water on the lungs, which could not be replicated otherwise to fool a doctor that the Body had drowned.

    A brilliant Piece of deception.

    Regards
    Tom
     

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