'The Gestapo called her the White Mouse. Nancy Wake, an Australian who became one of the most highly decorated women of World War II, here tells her own story.
'After living and working in Paris in the 1930's, Nancy married a wealthy Frenchman and settled in Marseilles. Her idyllic new life was ended by World War II and her work with an escape-route network for Allied soldiers. Eventually Nancy had to escape from France herself to avoid capture by the Gestapo.
'In London she trained with the Special Operations Executive as a secret agent and saboteur before parachuting back into France. Nancy became a leading figure in the Maquis of the Auvergne district in charge of finance and obtaining arms, and helping to forge the Maquis into a superb fighting force.' (Publication summary)
Nancy Wake
( dir. Pino Amenta
)
Australia
:
Simpson Le Mesurier Films
,
1987
Z1829084
1987
series - publisher
film/TV
A mini-series tracing the wartime exploits of Nancy Wake, one of the most decorated Allied operatives of World War II.
The mini-series traces Nancy's marriage to French industrialist Henri Fiocca, their opposition to the Vichy government and involvement in the French Resistance, Henri's capture and death, and Nancy's activities behind enemy lines. Though Moran notes, in his Guide to Australian TV Series, that Wake's autobiography was the 'foundation around which the mini-series was based', he also notes that 'the real Nancy Wake was not entirely happy with the series and she made this known to all at the premiere.'
Moran is ultimately rather dismissive of the split focus of the mini-series, arguing that 'Part 1 has followed Henri into prison and torture, but the narrative effectively forgets this figure to concentrate on the super exploits of Nancy, the commando. This is a pity given the superb and moving performance of John Waters in the role of Henri as against the less interesting work of Noni Hazlehurst in the role of Nancy.'
