Review: The Honourable Rebel

4th December 2015

Thought that all women in the 1940s were shy and retiring types? Elizabeth Montagu shatters that perception. In this documentary film by Mike Fraser, co written with Elizabeth’s nephew he tells her story, The Honourable Rebel, through the use of dramatic re-enaction, interviews and the inimitable narration of Dame Diana Rigg reading Elizabeth’s own words of her extraordinary life.

Elizabeth Montagu was certainly a rebel and a well bred one at that. She had the sort of life that saying: “the truth is sometimes strange than fiction”, coming from a good family and most certainly expected to marry well Elizabeth had other ideas. She fell into spying, the dramatic escape into Switzerland is heart pounding and then a scritpt writer. As for her love life – well Elizabeth certainly lived in the same way as the beliefs she upheld – authentically. The documentary tells off her love affair in the purest sense with Renata Borgatti.

The dramatic re-enactions and narration work very well but the interviews with the various individuals who knew Elizabeth not as much, it took away from the action.

Dorothea Myser-Bennett was utterly captivating and engaging as Elizabeth, if you want to know what perfect casting looks like then this is it. As interesting as it was to learn about Elizabeth’s early life it felt unnecessary and distracting as the inference could be that because she was born in aristocracy that is where she developed all this confidence which is unfair. Also, Elizabeth in many respects was not only her own woman but didn’t define herself or her happiness through her different jobs and her sexuality both equally fluid. Yet own of my main criticisms is the documentary felt as it was saying that she found her ultimate happiness with a man which I don’t think is true.

Elizabeth Montagu is an inspiring figure whose story deserves to be watched and it is shame it took so long to bring it to screen. Mike Fraser’s documentary does more than an admirable job.

The Honourable Rebel opens in cinemas on Friday 4 December 2015.

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