Fritz Bauer Institut · Cinematography of the Holocaust


FIRST COMES COURAGE. D: Arzner [US, 1943]

ID

FBW000994      Fiction

Country / Year

USA, 1943

Original Title

FIRST COMES COURAGE

Directed by

Dorothy Arzner

Produced by

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Los Angeles, CA / New York, NY

Staff

Producer: Harry Joe Brown; Script: Lewis Meltzer, Melvin Levy, George Sklar; Based on: Elliott Arnold ("The Commandos" / Geschichte); Camera: Joseph Walker; Editing: Viola Lawrence; Art direction: Lionel Banks, Rudolph Sternad; Set decoration: Fay Babcock; Music: Ernst Toch; Musical direction: Morris W. Stoloff

Cast

Merle Oberon (Nicole Larsen); Brian Aherne (Capt. Allan Lowell); Carl Esmond (Maj. Paul Dichter); Fritz Leiber (Dr. Aanrud); Erville Alderson (Soren); Erik Rolf (Ole); Reinhold Schünzel (Col. Kurt von Elser); Isobel Elsom (Rose Linstrom); William Martin (Dichter's Chauffeur); Dick Ryan (Dr. Hoff); Lewis Wilson (Dr. Kleinich); John Elliott (Norwegian Patient); Greta Granstedt (Girl Assistant); William Phillips (Aanrud's Assistant); Pete Sosso (Janitor); Conrad Binyon (Small Boy); Arno Frey (Sergeant); Eric Feldary; Henry Rowland (Privates); Hans von Morhart (German Guard); Ethel Griffies (Nurse); Walter Thiele (Orderly); John Royce (German Orderly); Fritz Brunn (German Guard); Lloyd Ingraham (Old Norwegian); Louis Adlon (Nazi Lieutenant); Niels Bagge (Thorsten); Rex Williams; Otto Reichow (Young Nazi Officer); Hans Heinrich von Twardowski (Nazi Captain); Fern Emmett (Dress Designer); Bob McKenzie (Justice of the Peace); Guy Kingsford (Sub Commander); Louis Jean Heydt (Norwegian); George O'Flaherty; Emerson Fisher-Smith (Cipher Experts); Nelson Leigh (Blake); Tom Stevenson (Blakeley); Miles Mander (Col. Wallace); Evan Thomas (Ship's Captain); Larry Parks (Capt. Langdon); Marten Lamont (Lieutenant Colonel); Byron Foulger (Norwegian Shopkeeper); Rolf Lindau (Jr. Officer); Charles Irwin (Capt. Lungden); Paul Langton; Gordon Clark (Commandos); Sven-Hugo Borg (Schmidt); Paul Power; Leslie Denison (English Officers); Pat Moriarity (Irish Top Sergeant)

Length

88'

Format

35mm/sw/1:1,37

Dates

- 09 Oct 1943: US relaese date

Abstract

Nicole Larsen is a member of the Norwegian underground romancing a Nazi major to obtain vital war information. Allan Lowell, a British commando captain, is sent to Norway on a secret mission, and meets Nicole. Turns out they had a love affair going before the war. Lowell is captured by the Germans and Nicole aids in his rescue. Lowell pleads with her to leave for England with him, but she stays to continue her work.

Subject Terms

Anti-Nazi films (US)

Holdings

- Kinemathek Hamburg, Hamburg

Bibliography

- Nash, Ray R. / Ross, Stanley R. / Conelly, Robert B. (Ed.): Motion Picture Guide. Chicago, IL: Cinebooks, 1987
- Martin, Len D: The Columbia Checklist. The Feature Films, Serials, Cartoons and Short Subjects of Columbia Pictures Corporation, 1922-1988. Jefferson, NC / London: McFarland, 1991