Aufstand in Trollness

From the mystery of the first scene, you know that this is not just another war movie. This dealt honestly and on a raw level with the gut-wrenching issues that emerge when a country is occupied by a people not very much unlike themselves. Both sides try to reconcile the apparent incongruities to peacefully co-exist and yet allow the Norwegians to keep their basic human dignity, but alas the positions are inevitably irreconcilable. Because the emotions it portrays are so genuine and honest, this is one of the best propaganda films made by the allies while the war was still ongoing. Nancy Colman and Judith Anderson are standouts in a uniformly excellent cast. I consider this the perfect war 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.

Edge Of Darkness is one of the most underrated movies by one of the most underrated directors, Lewis Milestone. This World War Two "propaganda" piece or morale builder rises far above its genre in the hands of the cinematic master best known for his magisterial World War One picture All Quiet On The Western Front. The story of a revolt brewing against Nazi occupiers by the people of a Norwegian fishing village, scripted by Robert Rossen, is reeled out in Milestone's fluid, sensuous cinematic style with spellbinding suspense from beginning to end. Sets are first rate, with the magic of Old Hollywood art transforming the California coast into a misty Scandinavian fjord.

Leading man Errol Flynn turns in perhaps his best job of acting. His dashing image is completely lost in the role of a humble fisherman not entirely confident as the leader of the local Resistance movement. No dashing uniform here, just a pea coat and a plain merchant sailor's cap. And no mustache! Flynn and leading lady Ann Sheridan both turn in the solid, understated performances their roles called for, but it is a superb cast of supporting players that really shines in this one. One of the great charms of this memorable movie is the rich character development amongst the supporting parts. Walter Huston, as the town doctor trying to sit the fence, and Judith Anderson, as a Resistance worker hopelessly in love with a German soldier, are dominating as always. But the show is practically stolen by Roman Bohnen, as a henpecked, middle-aged store keeper with dreams of glory, and the ubiquitous Henry Brandon, as a suave SS officer who may not be all he seems. Helmut Dantine, a refugee Austrian anti-Nazi in real life, plays the German commandant with razor-edge ruthlessness. Likewise outstanding are Ruth Gordon as the doctor's sadly unbalanced wife, Charles Dingle as her Quissling brother, John Beal as her wavering Quissling son, and Nancy Coleman as the commandant's frightened Polish mistress. Monte Blue, Frank Wilcox, Art Bridge, and Morris Carnovsky add their always reliable presences. Thanks to consummate acting skill, Rossen's intelligent script, and Milestone's precise direction, you will come to know these characters as well as your neighbors by the shattering end of this two hour movie.

Franz Waxman's florid score themed on Martin Luther's stirring hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is My God" with snatches from Wagner sweeps the action along to a rousing climax.Sid Hickox is credited for the sublime cinematography, but as I have stated elsewhere (see my review of The General Died At Dawn), Milestone's graphic statement was the same no matter who was behind the camera or in the editing room. Sweeping camera, silky smooth scene changes with creative dissolves, panning mise-en-scene were all the master's trademarks -- much imitated and highly influential on the film noir style that came to dominate pictures of all genres during the 1940's. Notice how at the beginning of the final scene in Edge of Darkness the flapping flag dissolves into a sheet of paper in a typewriter!

Edge of Darkness is a classic of the war/intrigue genre and one of the great movies of all time. First rate Old Hollywood entertainment from the master Lewis Milestone.

This wartime action thriller from Warner Brothers and director Lewis Milestone depicts an uprising by the citizenry of a small Norwegian fishing village against the occupying Nazi forces. Gunnar (Errol Flynn) and Karen (Ann Sheridan) help to organize the simple folk of the area against the brutal Nazi soldiers led by Captain Koenig (Helmut Dantine).

There was a popular sub-genre of war picture during the war years that centered on common European folk rising up against Nazi occupiers. This is one of the best that I've seen, although the propaganda nature of the storytelling keeps it from being truly great. Another minor weakness lies in Flynn's character, a rather bland cipher with little to distinguish him. Flynn apparently felt the same himself and tried to get out of the movie, but in the end it turned out to be a quality picture on his resume. Sheridan is good, if a bit too made up for a Norwegian villager in her situation. I also liked Nancy Coleman as a Polish gal at the end of her rope, and Judith Anderson as a rather severe woman whose secretly in love with one of the occupying soldiers. The movie's explosive climax seems light years away from director Milestone's work 13 years previously on what is arguably the greatest anti-war film, All Quiet On the Western Front.

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.