There are a plethora of amazing British World War 2 films to choose from. And there’s not one, but two on BBC Two this Sunday afternoon. Check out their synopses and what time they’re on TV below. NB: Both will be available on BBC iPlayer for a limited time afterwards.
I Was Monty’s Double (1:20pm)
An adaptation of ME Clifton James’ autobiography of the same name tells the story of Operation Copperhead. James was an actor and soldier who looked uncannily like Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and was part of this military deception to mislead German intelligence about Monty’s location in the lead-up to D-Day. James plays himself and the real Monty in the film that co-stars John Mills and Cecil Parker. When Monty himself went to see the movie at a London cinema, the audience assumed it was James.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pee Pie Society (8pm)
Back in 2018, Mike Newell directed Lily James in this romantic drama based on the 2008 novel of the same. It follows a book club on Guernsey that met during the Nazi-occupation of the British Channel Islands. When James’ London-based writer seeks to do a piece on the group after the war, it turns out there are more secrets afoot than first thought. Aside from the leading lady, there are a number of other Downton Abbey actors co-starring in this hidden gem from Jessica Brown Findlay to Matthew Goode and Penelope Wilton. Meanwhile, new Hollywood A-lister Glen Powell features before his recent shooting to stardom. This relatively new British World War 2 film has 81 per cent positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and “offers delightful comfort food for fans of period drama”.