First Comes Courage (1943)

33% of users liked it
(19 ratings)

With Dorothy Arzner in the director's chair, it's no wonder that First Comes Courage has a more feminist slant than most WWII "underground" films. Merle Oberon plays Nicole Larsen, a member of the Norwegian resistance. To obtain important war information, Nicole romances Nazi major Paul Dichter Carl… More With Dorothy Arzner in the director's chair, it's no wonder that First Comes Courage has a more feminist slant than most WWII "underground" films. Merle Oberon plays Nicole Larsen, a member of the Norwegian resistance. To obtain important war information, Nicole romances Nazi major Paul Dichter Carl Esmond, enduring the slings and arrows of those villagers unaware of her motives. Her mission is further complicated when she is reunited with British commando Allan Lowell Brian Aherne, with whom she'd had a prewar affair. Forced to choose between love and duty, Nicole makes the only decision possible under the circumstances. First Comes Courage was based on The Commados, a novel by Elliot Arnold. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Dorothy Arzner
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jul 29, 1943 Wide

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This WWII propganda film, starring Merle Oberon as a spy, is the last festure to be directed by Dorothy Arzner, the only female director during the studio system.

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Cast

            Merle Oberon as Nicole Larsen

            Brian Aherne as Capt. Allan Lowell

            Carl Esmond as Maj. Paul Dichter

            Fritz Leiber as Dr. Aanrud

            Erville Alderson as Soren

            Erik Rolf as Ole

            Reinhold Schünzel as Col. Kurt von Elser

            Isobel Elsom as Rose Linstrom

            Louis Adlon as Nazi Lieutenant

            Conrad Binyon as Small Boy

            Sven Hugo Borg as Schmidt

            Frederick Brunn as German Guard

            Gordon B. Clark as Commandos

            Leslie Denison as English Officer

            Fern Emmett as Dress Designer

            Eric Feldary
            
            Byron Foulger as Norwegian Shopkeeper

            Arno Frey as Sergeant

            Greta Granstedt as Girl Assistant

            Ethel Griffies as Nurse

            Louis Jean Heydt as Norwegian

            Charles Irwin as Capt. Lungden

            Guy Kingsford as Sub Commander

            Marten Lamont as Lieutenant Colonel

            Paul Langton
            
            Nelson Leigh as Blake

            Miles Mander as Col. Wallace

            Bob McKenzie as Justice of the Peace

            Pat Moriarity as Irish Top Sergeant.

            Larry Parks as Capt. Langdon

            William 'Bill' Phillips as Aanrud's Assistant

            Otto Reichow as Young Nazi Officer

            Henry Rowland as Private

            John Royce as German Orderly

            Dick Ryan as Dr. Hoff

            Richard Ryen as Dr. Hoff

            Pietro Sosso as Janitor

            Tom Stevenson as Blakeley

            Evan Thomas as Ship's Captain

            Hans Von Morhart as German Guard

            Hans Heinrich von Twardowski as Nazi Captain

            Rex Williams
            
            Lewis Wilson as Dr. Kleinich

            Lloyd Ingraham as Old Norwegian

            Paul Power
            
            Rolf Lindau as Jr. Officer

            Walter Thiele as Orderly

            William Martin as Dichter's Chauffeur

            John Elliott as Norwegian Patient
See full cast

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