Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)

Bathed in the harsh light of 1944, Nazi-occupied Crete forms the backdrop of our tale. The Nazis, arrogantly underestimating the native Cretans, are about to face a powerful resistance. Among the few English natives aiding the Cretans in their uprising is Major Patrick Leigh Fermor (Sir Dirk Bogarde) and his recruited accomplice, Captain W. Stanley Moss, M.C. (David Oxley), hailing from the British forces stationed in Cairo, Egypt. Their audacious mission is to whisk away the head of the Nazi forces on the island, Major General Kreipe (Marius Goring), and deliver him alive to the Allied base in Cairo. This daring act is not only a strategic move but also a defiant gesture to humiliate and demoralize the Nazi forces. The task is monumental: they must capture Kreipe, ensure his safety while traversing to the coast, and smuggle him onto a ship without alerting the ever-watchful Nazi soldiers. As they navigate this treacherous undertaking, they are fortified by the support of the valiant Cretans. Despite the looming threat to their own safety, these locals provide invaluable aid, their intimate knowledge of the island's hidden crevices serving as an unmatched advantage, especially in the mountainous regions. However, the path is laden with numerous hurdles. Their primary communications officer, Sandy (Cyril Cusack), is isolated in a mountain cave, their contact with him sporadic at best. The cunning Kreipe may exploit a weakness in their armor, manipulating any susceptible Cretan with promises of individual gain. Additionally, Paddy and Moss must confront their own military deficiencies, exposed in the heat of their mission. Based on a thrilling true story from World War II, 'Ill Met by Moonlight' is a riveting account of an audacious plot. A group of British officers and local partisans become unlikely heroes, daring to kidnap a German General right under his army's nose. Yet, the real challenge unfolds as they dodge an intense air and land search to transport their captive back to Cairo, Egypt. This daring narrative is a testament to the spirit of resistance and the power of underestimated allies.

Ill Met by Moonlight is an action movie featuring Dirk Bogarde and directed by Emeric Pressburger.

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