Edge of Darkness (1943)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

William Woods (novel)
Robert Rossen (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 April 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

A story incomparable of a people unconquerable.

Plot:

It's two years after the Nazi's invasion of Norway and in a small fishing village that is headquarters to 150 German soldiers...

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Arms | Norway | Revolt | Fishing Village

Cast

Errol Flynn	...	Gunnar Brogge
Ann Sheridan	...	Karen Stensgard
Walter Huston	...	Dr. Martin Stensgard
Nancy Coleman	...	Katja
Helmut Dantine	...	Captain Hauptmann Koenig
Judith Anderson	...	Gerd Bjarnesen
Ruth Gordon	...	Anna Stensgard
John Beal	...	Johann Stensgard
Morris Carnovsky	...	Sixtus Andresen
Charles Dingle	...	Kaspar Torgerson
Roman Bohnen	...	Lars Malken
Richard Fraser	...	Pastor Aalesen
Art Smith	...	Knut Osterholm

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #8705) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Cannery Row, Monterey, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The government of Argentina refused to allow exhibition of the movie, fearing it might jeopardize their neutrality.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Anna Stensgard suggests they have a drink to celebrate Johann's return, her glass changes position between shots. It's first in her hand, then on the table, then back in her hand.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Warner at War (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Ein' Feste Burg)

An excellent WWII propaganda film that improves with each viewing despite some heavily melodramatic elements throughout...

When I first saw this film a few months ago, I found it a bit tedious in places and its melodramatic elements laughable. However, I decided to view the film again recently and I appreciated the film all the more. Yes, it's Hollywood propaganda and the story borders on fantasy, but it's a thoroughly entertaining film once you're familiar with the complex story.

The acting, direction, writing, cinematography, and editing are all excellent. Under Lewis Milestone's atmospheric direction, all the performances are sincere and almost never forced--particularly Ruth Gordon, Nancy Coleman, and Morris Carnovsky in supporting roles, who are my favorite performers in the film. The writing is natural and the characterizations are believable enough. The film's most memorable aspect is the brilliant black-and-white cinematography by Sidney Hickox, relying on zoom effects, focus depth, tracking shots, close-ups, and many other imaginative devices in order to make this film entirely watchable from beginning to end. It's a pity that the cinematography did not earn an Oscar nomination. The film has the usual fast-paced Warner Bros. editing techniques that were a trademark of the studio's films at the time. The Martin Luther hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is put to stirring use throughout the film's score.

The climactic town revolt is very exciting and Lewis Milestone's directing skills are among his very best capabilities here. The actions sequences, while not graphic or bloody, are up the level of the best action-packed war films. It is an extremely suspenseful, visually compelling sequence that lasts almost a half-hour.

However, there are drawbacks to this film. Franz Waxman, my least favorite classic film composer, adds a mostly forgettable and intrusively melodramatic score that's bound to provoke laughter rather than chills or tears. The film would've been better if Erich Wolfgang Korngold or Max Steiner offered their composing talents to the film and used a subtler score instead. Also, too many character situations make the story a bit confusing in places. One minor quibble is that Ann Sheridan, even after her character gets raped off-screen by a German soldier, always looks glamorous no matter what. But despite these drawbacks, you'll be rewarded after the film is over.

All in all, this is a very entertaining Hollywood propaganda film that still holds up well today despite the melodramatic elements and bad timing of the film's release. However, the story of a fictional Norwegian town and how its citizens respond to the evil Nazi conquerors makes a very powerful, if a bit far-fetched, film concerning themes of fighting against oppression and loyalty towards one's country.