The film pivots around the local Norwegian doctor and his family. The doctor's wife (Ruth Gordon) wants to hold on to the pretence of gracious living and ignore their German occupiers. The doctor, Martin Stensgard (Walter Huston), would also prefer to stay neutral, but is torn. His brother-in-law, the wealthy owner of the local fish cannery, collaborates with the Nazis. The doctor's daughter, Karen (Ann Sheridan), is involved with the resistance and with its leader Gunnar Brogge (Errol Flynn). The doctor's son has just returned to town, having been sent down from the university, and is soon influenced by his Nazi-sympathizer uncle. Captain Koenig (Helmut Dantine), the young German commandant of the occupying garrison, whose fanatic determination to do everything by the book and spoutings about the invincibility of the Reich hides a growing fear of a local uprising.
In Nazi-occupied Norway during World War II, a group of determined villagers, led by a former fisherman, resist the oppressive German forces. They engage in acts of sabotage and espionage, risking their lives to aid the Allied cause. The film follows their clandestine efforts to undermine the enemy and maintain hope for liberation.
Edge of Darkness was generally well-received by critics upon its release, particularly for its tense atmosphere and performances. It was praised as a potent anti-Nazi propaganda film that effectively conveyed the spirit of resistance. While some noted its dramatic tone, the overall sentiment was positive, highlighting its contribution to the wartime morale.
Google audience: Audience reception data from Google is not readily available for this older film. However, historical critical reception indicates it was viewed as a compelling wartime drama.
The film was one of the few wartime dramas where Errol Flynn played a character that was not a swashbuckler or a romantic lead, showcasing a more dramatic and grounded performance.
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