Edge of Darkness
“Resistance fighters battle the Nazis in occupied Norway”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Rebellion BeginsOfficial
Type: Clip • Published 2025-04-23
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Errol Flynn
Gunnar Brogge
Ann Sheridan
Karen Stensgard
Walter Huston
Dr. Martin Stensgard
Helmut Dantine
Captain Koenig
Ruth Gordon
Anna Stensgard
Judith Anderson
Gerd Bjarnesen
Roman Bohnen
Lars Malken
Monte Blue
Jens Petersen
Virginia Christine
Hulda (Stensgard maid)
Morris Carnovsky
Sixtus Andresen
Charles Dingle
Kaspar Torgerson
Richard Fraser
Pastor Aalesen
Art Smith
Knut Osterholm
Nancy Coleman
Katja, Koenig's woman
John Beal
Johann Stensgard
Frank Wilcox
Jensen, the shoemaker
Henry Brandon
Major Ruck
Tom Fadden
Hammer
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 9, 1943
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.7M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$3.7M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.22x
+$2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Lewis Milestone
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Rossen
- Original Score
- Franz Waxman
- Original Title
- Edge of Darkness
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 59m
- Production Budget
- $1.7M
- Worldwide Gross
- $3.7M
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Lewis Milestone
Robert Rossen, William Woods
Franz Waxman
Sidney Hickox
David Weisbart
Henry Blanke, Jack L. Warner
Department Leadership Roster
Lewis Milestone
Director
Robert Rossen
Screenplay
Franz Waxman
Original Music Composer
Henry Blanke
Producer
Sidney Hickox
Director of Photography
David Weisbart
Editor
Orry-Kelly
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Edge of Darkness.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Edge of Darkness.
War: World War II
Auto-filled from Letterboxd lists
list_War
Movies categorized under War
Missing Mine
Movies I've Seen
Movie Mod Pak 9000
Movie Rewatch
Similar Titles to Edge of Darkness
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
8.1
8.1
7.6
7.0
7.4
7.6
7.6
7.2
6.3
6.9
8.0
7.4
8.2
7.8
8.1
7.9
More Like Edge of Darkness
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Edge of Darkness
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Edge of Darkness about?
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.
Who directed Edge of Darkness?
Edge of Darkness was directed by Lewis Milestone.
Who stars in Edge of Darkness?
The principal cast of Edge of Darkness includes Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, Walter Huston, Helmut Dantine, Ruth Gordon.
When was Edge of Darkness released and how long is it?
Edge of Darkness was released in 1943 with a total runtime of 1h 59m.
What was the box office and production budget of Edge of Darkness?
Edge of Darkness had a reported production budget of $1.7M and grossed $3.7M at the worldwide box office (2.22 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for Edge of Darkness?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Edge of Darkness was composed by Franz Waxman.
Is Edge of Darkness based on a book or true story?
Edge of Darkness is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "William Woods".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Edge of Darkness?
Edge of Darkness holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).