Edge of Darkness (1943)

After two years under German rule, a small Norwegian fishing village rises up and revolts against the occupying Nazis.

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

Robert Rossen (screenplay), William Woods (novel)

Stars:

Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, Walter Huston

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Errol Flynn	...	Gunnar Brogge
Ann Sheridan	...	Karen Stensgard
Walter Huston	...	Dr. Martin Stensgard
Nancy Coleman	...	Katja
Helmut Dantine	...	Captain 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

Storyline

It's two years after the Nazi's invasion of Norway and in a small fishing village that is headquarters to 150 German soldiers, the 800 locals are stewing, waiting for a supply of arms so they can revolt. Leaders include Karen Stensgard, whose father is the town's doctor and not all that sure that an open revolt will accomplish much and whose brother has proven disloyal to Norway previously, and Gunnar Brogge, a fisherman who was planning to sail to England to fight but changed his mind on hearing of English arms being delivered. Although the Nazi's cruelty is evident, the townspeople bide their time, until one incident causes the stewpot to boil over.

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Plot Keywords:

revolt | nazi | norway | fisherman | fishing village | 

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Taglines:

A story incomparable of a people unconquerable.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Norway in Revolt

Filming Locations:

Cannery Row, Monterey, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was director Lewis Milestone's first film for the Warner Brothers studio since The Caveman, a gap of seventeen years.

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Goofs

The Germans have put Trollness under a dusk-to-dawn curfew, and any Norwegian who violates it is subject to summary execution. But when Dr. Stensgard scours the streets of Trollness for his daughter's rapist, it is night, and he passes dozens of German soldiers, any one of whom should have shot him on sight.

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Quotes

Captain Hauptmann Koenig: We have no room for philosophers.

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Connections

Referenced in Shadows (1959)

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Soundtracks

"A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Ein' Feste Burg)"
(uncredited)
Traditional German hymn
Lyrics by Martin Luther (1535)
English translation by Frederick H. Hedge (1853)
Played and sung offscreen by an unidentified chorus during the opening credits, in the church,
and at the end
Variations in the score throughout

User Reviews

A unique perspective on the battle lines in war

Edge of Darkness is a rare movie that makes you think about it weeks after you've seen it. It is also rare in that 7 or eight of the supporting performances hit much more deeply than the nominal star's. Errol Flynn is the star, playing a character named Gunnar no less, but in many ways, he is almost peripheral to the real life drama and depth of emotions brought to life by the supporting cast. Ann Sheridan, Nancy Colman, and Dame Judith Anderson all bring vividly to life the choices women are forced to make during an occupation, and Walter Huston, Helmut Dantine, John Beal, and Morris Carnovsky are equally memorable in their roles. A must see.