Based upon recently declassified files of the British War Department and inspired by true events, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is an action-comedy, that tells the story of the first-ever special forces organisation formed during WWII by UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a small group of military officials, including author Ian Fleming. The top-secret combat unit, composed of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks, goes on a daring mission against the Nazis using entirely unconventional and utterly “ungentlemanly” fighting techniques. Ultimately, their audacious approach changed the course of the war and laid the foundation for the British SAS and modern Black Ops warfare.
Directed and co-written for the screen by Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, The Gentlemen), The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare stars Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusamokun, Henrique Zaga, Til Schweiger, with Henry Golding and Cary Elwes.
With The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare blasting it’s way onto our screens courtesy of Prime Video on July 25, the films stars Henry Cavill, Alex Pettyfer, and Henry Goudling gave some insight into what filming this crazy action blockbuster film was like, plus provide a little more insight into the back story of the Special Operations Executive!
How did you become involved with the film?
Henry Cavill: I wanted to reinvigorate my love for filmmaking. I wanted to get back into a job which was going to be the most enjoyable, and sort of get my creative juices flowing again.
And so, when I heard Guy [Ritchie] was doing this, it was an immediate draw for me. My most enjoyable job has probably been The Man from U.N.C.L.E. with Guy, and arguable my best job as well!
The opportunity to come back on to a project like this, to work with Guy, with this sort of subject matter, was a no brainer for me. And so I jumped in with both feet very eagerly.
How was the experience of working with Guy Ritchie?
Alex Pettyfer: My personal experience work with Guy has been, creatively, probably one of the most scary and liberating experiences. Just the way he commands this, like, spontaneity, you know? And feeling completely liberated by the end of the day, but so overwhelmed throughout the experience of the day.
What is the story of the SOE?
Henry Goulding: I think this is one of the first modern day sort of telling of the conception of the SOE, which is the Special Operations Executive. It’s a band of men and women that Winston Churchill put together to complete, under the cover of deniability, these operations which really swayed the war for Great Britain. They were definitely a really integral part of defeating the Nazis.
Henry Cavill: The mission in this movie is so important because it was about removing Nazi Germany’s U-Boat dominance in the Atlantic. The war would have been lost had this mission not been successful.
It was something that was unthought of. Our characters we’re giving birth to “deniable operations”. It’s in the title – “Ungentlemanly Warfare”! They weren’t going to win otherwise. And that’s one of the special things about people like Winston Churchill, is that he could see the wood through the trees.
How was the look of your characters created?
Henry Goulding: Creating the look of Freddy is always a team effort. We have an amazing head of wardrobe, Loulou [Bontemps], who picks out some of the most phenomenal outfits for all of us. And then Guy always has the last say and always has the last little twizzle on it. He’s a very stylish man. He’s got great taste.
Alex Pettyfer: Loulou is a genius costume designer, and she created kind of a guideline to what would like [to do] to differentiate each of these characters. Especially because we are all disguised as fishermen and sailors. She’s a master craftsman in creating these very unique differences between each characters.
Do you have a favourite action scene from the film?
Alex Pettyfer: Well, seeming as Alan [Ritchson] takes most of the action and saves me most of the time, I would say my favourite experience watching the action is I have been captured, and the boys are coming to save me, and I’m compromised in a pretty unique way, shall we say. And the comedy aspect between Alan and myself that plays out in that scene is quite funny.
Thank you to Prime Video and Kit Communications for providing these interviews. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare will release on Prime Video in Australia on July 25.
