Carve Her Name with Pride is a 1958 British World War II drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert, based on the book of the same name by R.J. Minney.
The film is based on the true story of French-born British Special Operations Executive agent Violette Szabo (Virginia McKenna) and her activities in Nazi-occupied France.
Paul Scofield, in one of his first screen roles, plays Violette's (fictional) mission partner Tony Fraser.
This film features examples of:
- Adaptation Dye-Job: Violette in the film is played by blonde Virginia McKenna. Violette Szabo was a brunette in real life.
- Agents Dating: Violette ends up getting romantically involved with Fraser, the captain she was teamed up with. Subverted with her relationship with her late husband, French Army officer Etienne Szabo, as he died before she was recruited as a spy.
- Bittersweet Ending: Violette is captured and executed, but the Allies win the war, and the final scene of her daughter being given Violette's posthumous George Cross shows that her efforts weren't in vain.
- La Résistance: Violette is recruited as an operative for the SOE. Part of her job actually involves contacting the French Resistance itself.
- Spy School: We see Violette go through SOE training.
