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	...	Capt. 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 | fishing village | traitor | 

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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

Box Office

Budget:

$1,653,000 (estimated)

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

Miles Mander's voice is heard over the short-wave radio as that of Winston Churchill. The year before he had voiced Churchill at Warner's for Captains of the Clouds (1942).

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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: What do you want?
Sixtus Andresen: I... thought it only right, considering that you are... de facto commandant of the village, to acquaint you with a decision that I've made.
Captain Hauptmann Koenig: I'm very busy.
Sixtus Andresen: I know. I hope you'll forgive me. I know I'm being selfish. But, uhh... Why did you want my house?
Captain Hauptmann Koenig: For a block house! But what was it you wanted to see me about?
Sixtus Andresen: I cannot let you have my house.
Captain Hauptmann Koenig: You what?
Sixtus Andresen: I must forbid you to enter my house.
Captain Hauptmann Koenig: [laughs hysterically] Are you insane? I could have you shot!
Sixtus Andresen: I know. But if you're ...
[...]

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Connections

Edited into The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)

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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

Comment on Roosevelt's over voice at the end of the film.

I am old enough to have seen "Edge of Darkness" first run during WWII, and believe me this was a powerful movie for a 13 year old during the war. I've always remembered the effect of President Roosevelt's over voice message at the end of the film. For those who haven't seen this film the message was an excerpt from a speech he made probably in late 1940 or 41, and it refers to the resistance of the people of Norway to the occupation by the Nazis. I wouldn't doubt that it is possible that this speech was the inspiration for the novel from which the film is based. Yes, the way this over voice was used was a wartime "message" or propaganda if you will, but having seen and re-seen every war film made during WWII, I think this was about the best use of wartime messages.