CinemaSerf

There are only a few period wartime stories told around events in the occupied Kingdom of Norway, and this is one of the better efforts. Sir Cedric Hardwicke is the Nazi colonel sent to supervise a small town that exists to support a nearby iron-ore mine. A sophisticate, of sorts, he initially attempts to deal reasonably with the townspeople led by their Mayor (Henry Travers) but soon realises that these people are not the type to sit idly by, sabotage soon becomes rife - and a battle of wills - and philosophies - ensues. It has some subtly to it, both Hardwicke and Peter van Eyck ("Lt. Tonder") demonstrate some degree of humanity from the occupier's perspective, and both Travers and Lee J. Cobb ("Dr. Winter") deliver well as the peaceful, elderly, men who do not consider themselves to be brave, but they are proud and are determined to see off their murderous guests - even if it costs them their lives. It is plausible, which helps enormously, and the pace from Irving Pichel draws us into their ghastly predicament well. Made mid-WWII, it has a slight tinge of propaganda to it, but the characters have an element of authenticity about them that makes this a decidedly more nuanced watch than many of it's time.