Themes: Military Life, Heroic Mission, Life Under Occupation
Main Cast: Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, Ulla Jacobsson, Michael Redgrave, Anton Diffring, David Weston
Release Year: 1965
Country: UK
Run Time: 131 minutes
Plot
In this tale of espionage and adventure set during World War II, Norway has fallen under Nazi occupation, and a factory is producing "heavy water" (a key ingredient in the manufacture of atomic weapons), under the order of the German military. Knut Straud (Richard Harris), a leading figure in the Norwegian underground, joins forces with scientist Dr. Rolf Pederson (Kirk Douglas), who is working with British intelligence agents to destroy the factory in hopes of keeping the Atomic Bomb out of Axis hands. However, while originally Straud and Pederson are only supposed to infiltrate the factory as a reconnaissance force while awaiting British troops, the English army is forced to retreat from their plans, leaving the Norwegians to destroy the factory and scuttle a shipment of the "heavy water" all by themselves. Inspired by a true story, The Heroes of Telemark also features Michael Redgrave and Anton Diffring. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Eric Porter - Terboven; Mervyn Johns - Col. Wilkinson; Jennifer Hilary - Sigrid; Roy Dotrice - Jensen, the Mysterious; Barry Jones - Prof. Logan; Ralph Michael - Nilssen; Maurice Denham - Doctor at Hospital; Robert Ayres - Gen. Courts; William Marlowe - Claus; David Davies - Captain of "Galtesund"; Karel Stepanek - Hartmuller; Elvi Hale - Mrs. Sandersen; Gerard Heinz - Ernardt; George Murcell - Sturmfuhrer; Russell Waters - Mr. Sandersen; Annette Andre - Girl Student; Grace Arnold; Sebastian Breaks - Gunnar; Faith Brook - Woman on Bus; Robert Bruce - Major; Howard Douglas - Galtesund Passenger; John Golightly - Freddy; Philo Hauser - Businessman; Alan Howard - Oli; Brian Jackson - Norwegian Naval Attache; Patrick Jordan - Henrik; Geoffrey Keen - Gen. Bolt; Brook Williams - Elinar; Alf Joint - German Guard on Ferry; Joe Powell - Quislings; Victor Beaumont - German Sergeant; Wolf Frees - Knippelberg; Paul Hansard - German Official; Jan Conrad - Watchman in Factory; Pamela Conway - Girl in Darkroom; Terry Plummer
Credit
Tony Masters - Art Director, Maude Spector - Casting, Elsa Fennell - Costume Designer, Anthony Mann - Director, Bert Bates - Editor, Malcolm Arnold - Composer (Music Score), Neville Smallwood - Makeup, Robert Krasker - Cinematographer, Benjamin S. Fisz - Producer, Robert Cartwright - Set Designer, Ted Clements - Set Designer, John P. Fulton - Special Effects, Syd Pearson - Special Effects, Ron Ballanger - Special Effects, Bill Warrington - Special Effects, Gerry Crampton - Stunts, Ben Barzman - Screenwriter, Ivan Moffat - Screenwriter
Norwegian resistance fighters sabotage the VemorkNorsk Hydro plant in the town of Rjukan in the county of Telemark, Norway, which the Nazis used to produce heavy water to make a nuclear bomb. Snowy Norwegian locations serve as a backdrop for the plot. Kirk Douglas plays the role of a Norwegian physics professor who, though originally content to wait out the war, is soon pulled into the struggle by resistance leader Richard Harris.
Other versions
Ray Mears made a documentary titled The Real Heroes of Telemark. Despite mainly sticking to the factual evidence, some scenes like the film were partly dramatised, but focusing more on the survival skills involved in the operation.
The same story was also covered in the 1948 French-Norwegian film Kampen om tungtvannet. Quite faithful to the real events it even had many of the original Norwegian commandos starring as themselves.
