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)

Gross USA:

$2,039,000, 31 December 1943

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,669,000, 31 December 1943

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

Location shooting took place in Monterey County and on the Monterey Peninsula in California. Sites included Monterey and Monterey Bay, Cannery Row in New Monterey, Del Monte and the Del Monte Forest and in coves near Cypress Point. Special authorization was granted the production by the US Navy and US Army to shoot in a Restricted Military Zone in Del Monte in the environs of the Monterey Presidio. The "New York Times" reported on Sept. 27, 1942, that the production used a fleet of local fishing boats and two piers at Monterey.

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Goofs

The machine guns used by the Germans are in fact; American Browning M1917, and M1919 water cooled, and M1919 air cooled machine guns.

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Quotes

Knut Osterholm: I'm a farmer. If I lose my farm there must be a reason for it. The sacrifice of one poor village - what will it accomplish?
Gerd Bjarnesen: What sacrifice? What are you giving up? Your life? Maybe they'll take that from you whether you fight or not? Your farm? It isn't yours anyway until you fight for it. Your peace? What peace is there when a body of troops can come in the middle of the night and arrest you as a hostage. To be shot, for something you never did or never even thought of. To live in constant ...
[...]

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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

Powerful WWII film

This is a pretty powerful film with star performances to match. I usually don't care for flash backs, but don't give up on the film, the beginning does NOT give away the end. This isn't a Can't-Miss-Classic like Casablanca, but it's very well worth the watching. I gave it an 8.