Edge of Darkness (Warner Bros.) (1943)

(Prepared Review) ‘Edge Of Darkness’ at Strand Most Inspiring War Film So Far Superlatively mounted, magnificently acted and eloquently written, the finest and most inspiring story that has come out of this war was presented in Warner Bros.’ “Edge Of Darkness,” which came to the Strand Theatre last night. It is the story of the “people’s war” against the predatory beasts of Nazism; the story of bitter, unyielding resistance against a brutal, depraved mentality that knows only force as its weapon and domination as its creed. The drama of the film rises, through the poignancy and tragedy of struggle to the transcendent beauty of a just triumph. “Edge Of Darkness’ is the shining promise of eternal light. Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan make straight-forward, dramatically intense recordings in their leading roles. As Gunnar Brogge, leader of the underground, a grimly serious Flynn seems utterly worthy of the confidence reposed in him by the folk of the little town of Trollness. He more than rises to the requirements of an exacting role, and gains a new power and greater stature as an actor. Ann Scores Again Ann Sheridan, who was given the chance to show her capability as a dramatic actress in “Kings Row,” has an even greater opportunity here, and uses it to full and gratifying advantage. Thus, the two of them become part and parcel of the simple, peaceloving folk of a Norwegian village. Their village is occupied by the Nazis, under Kommandant Koenig (Helmut Dantine), the rabid and ruthless desciple of his power-mad Fuehrer. Dr. Martin Stensgard (Walter Huston) wants to remain out of the struggle in which his daughter Karen (Ann Sheridan) has, with Gunnar, a leading part. Nazi brutalities increase as the villagers fight back with persistent acts of sabotage. Open rebellion is impossible until the villagers are secretly BROADWAY PLAYERS SFEN IN GAST OF STRAND FILM To the saw, “Whatever became of vaudeville? It’s all in USO camp shows,” can be added: ‘“‘Whatever became of Broadway? It’s in Hollywood.” And to this might be added, “It’s all at Warner Bros., in the picture, ‘Edge Of Darkness’,’”’ now at the Strand Theatre. The film tells the story of a people’s rebellion against their Nazi oppressors in conquered Norway. Certainly no film ever made lists as many Broadway and exBroadway stage stars as the current Warner picture. Hollywood, Warner Bros. especially, is doing right by its Broadway greats. High up on the cast lst of “Edge Of Darkness” is Judith Anderson whose recent appearances with Maurice Evans in “Macbeth” is still New York talk. Ruth Gordon, another Broadway name to conjure with, is also in the cast, as are Morris Carnovsky, Roman Bohnen and Art Smith, of the Group Theatre. Tom Fadden, who was featured for years on Broadway, and discovered for films while appearing on “Our Town”; brilliant John Beal; Henry Brandon, also of Maurice Evans’ Shakes 14 ANN SHERIDAN and ERROL FLYNN in “EDGE OF DARKNESS” armed by the British. Climax of the story comes when the aged village schoolmaster (Morris Carnovsky) is beaten and his belongings turned into a flaming pyre by the brutal Nazis. Fully armed, the villagers are ready to strike, and when a Nazi soldier is murdered and the Nazis, in retaliation, plan the execution of all the ring-leaders among the villagers, the rebellion is touched off, and, in one of the most memorable sequences ever filmed, we witness the villagers rise up, and it is a fight to the death. perean troupe; romantic Tonio Selwart, Charles Dingle of the original “The Little Foxes” company, and Helene Thimig, wife of Max Reinhardt, and herself one of the reigning stars of the European and American stage, are others prominently cast in “Hdge Of Darkness.” To these New York importations, Warner Bros. has added Darkness.” Mat 202—30c The supporting cast, headed by Nancy Coleman, Walter Huston, Judith Anderson and Ruth Gordon is a superb aggregation indeed. Every role is magnificently portrayed. Lewis Milestone, who directed this production, has achieved another masterpiece that ranks with his epochal “All Quiet On The Western Front” of a decade ago. “Edge Of Darkness” was written for the screen by Robert Rossen, based on the William Woods best-seller novel of the same name. such Hollywood names as Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, Walter Huston, Nancy Coleman, Monte Blue, Richard Fraser and Virginia Christine. Thus “Edge Of Darkness” is loaded with “actors’ actors” as well as Hollywood luminaries, striking a nice balance between what once were considered rival camps. Still ED 89*; Mat 205—30c Walter Huston, Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn are shown in a scene from Warner Bros.’ picture about Nazi-occupied Norway, “Edge Of The film, based on the best-seller novel of the same name by William Woods, opens an extended engagement at the Strand Theatre on Friday. No Underground Secrets Revealed War has created some strange problems for Hollywood, but none stranger than the one confronting Warner Bros. in the making of “Edge Of Darkness,” the story of the heroic Norwegian underground. The film is now at the Strand Theatre. Much of the story revolves about the measures taken by Errol Flynn, Ann_ Sheridan, Walter Huston and other players in sabotaging the Nazi oc cupation army, and Warner Bros.’ really ticklish problem was to avoid tipping off the German authorities to the methods used by the Norwegian underground. To assure that only methods already known to the Nazis were shown in the picture, the script was submitted to the Norwegian Government-in-exile in London. LEWIS MILESTONE TOOK DAD'S ADVICE Having a wise father has-its good points,and:Lewis Milestone, who directed the Warner Bros. film, “Edge Of Darkness,” currently at the Strand Theatre, may never have become a famous director if he hadn’t taken his father’s advice. When Lewis Milestone arrived in this country from Russia a quarter of a century ago, he found himself out of funds and wired his well-to-do father for his fare home. His father cabled . back, “You are now in the land of liberty and labor. Roll up your sleeves and go to work.” $4-a-Week Job Armed with fatherly advice and no funds, Milestone got a job in a factory at the munificent salary of four dollars a week. Shortly afterward, the United States entered the first World War and he enlisted but his training ran into eighteen months, and the war was over before he could get a chance to get across. But the eighteen months training did not go for naught. Since he was interested in photography, the army authorities sent him to Columbia University to train as an observer. From there he was sent to Washington to make educational films for soldiers. Howard Hughes gave him his first opportunity as a director and he was placed under a longterm contract. Among the films he has directed are “The Garden of Eden,” “All Quiet On The Western Front,” “The General Died At Dawn,” “Anything Goes,” “Of Mice And Men,” “Lucky Partners” and ‘My Life With Carolyn,” this latter being his last film prior to “Edge Of Darkness.” “All Quiet” Brings Fame It was really the film, “All Quiet On The Western Front,” that brought Milestone to prominence. The picture, which came eleven years after World War I was a powerful preachment against war, a classic pacifist document. It was hailed as the greatest story to come out of World War I. “Edge Of Darkness,” which is the first war story to be directed by Lewis Milestone since “All Quiet,” differs in scope from the former. Where that picture stressed the futility of war, “Edge Of Darkness”’ stresses the necessity that arises when a peace-loving people is invaded by a nation whose aim is complete subjugation of the conquered territory. The locale of “Edge Of Darkness” is Norway, but its people might be French, English, and even American. The tiny fishing village of Trollness might be a small town in our own Middle West, and what happened to the people of Trollness might have happened in our own country if the Japs invaded us, just as the Nazis invaded Norway. GOOD, HARD WORK HAS NO TERRORS FOR ANN SHERIDAN | Ann Sheridan is a girl who took her bosses literally when they asked if she’d like to work at Warner Bros. She works, all right; far, far harder than many of her more dilettante sisters-in-cinema. But that, apparently, is the way she likes it. In the past year and a half, Ann Sheridan has worked in seven big productions for Warner Bros. In order, there are “Navy Blues,” “King’s Row,” “The Man Who Came To Dinner,” “Juke Girl,” “Wings For Still ED 623; Mat 107—15c ANN SHERIDAN The Eagle,” “George Washington Slept Here” and now, “Edge Of Darkness,” which opens its engagement at the Strand Theatre on Friday. In not one were her characterizations remotely the same. Quickest switch, perhaps, was from Jack Benny’s long-suffering, if slightly daffy, wife in “George Washington Slept Here” to her current chore, in which she is a hard-visaged revolutionary, inhabitant of a Nazi-occupied Norwegian town. No Rest Period To some players, the changeover might call for endless conferences as well as the proper rest period in which they shed one characterization before donning a ne one There would be voluminous correspondence regarding choice of producer and director, leading man and supporting cast. Demands for script changes and shuffling of billing, with top-spot guarantees. Trouble, delays, confusion and a great show of temperament. But Ann? Ann doesn’t believe in such monkey-business. As she so often says, she asked for work when she came to Warner Bros., and work is what she expected to (and did!) get. Thus it was that when William Keighley, who directed “George Washington,” told the company to “wrap up” after the final shot, Ann was halfway to her dressing room, trading her Park Avenue habiliments for a rough, Norwegian peasant dress enroute. And with the outer wrappings, Ann divested herself of the inner characterizations which identifed her late role. Gone and forgotten were all the tricks and habits associated with her “George Washington” role. Ann quit them as completely as if she had never known them, as she started acquainting herself with her new part. To some that’s known as versatility. Others call it trouping. Ann says it’s just part of the job, the job she asked for when first she came to Warner Bros.