The Heroes of Telemark 1965
The Heroes of Telemark
Set in German-occupied Norway, resistance fighter Knut Straud enlists the reluctant physicist Rolf Pedersen in an effort to destroy the German heavy water production plant in rural Telemark.
Set in German-occupied Norway, resistance fighter Knut Straud enlists the reluctant physicist Rolf Pedersen in an effort to destroy the German heavy water production plant in rural Telemark.
Videos & Photos
All 2 Videos & 18 Photoscast
Full Cast & Crew... Dr. Rolf Pedersen
... Knut Straud
... Anna Pedersen
... Uncle
... Arne
... Major Frick
User reviews
See All 2 Reviews23 Jun 2021 by John Chard
The Battle for Heavy Water. The Heroes of Telemark is directed by Anthony Mann and written by Ben Barzman and Ivan Moffat. It stars Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, Ulla Jacobsson, Michael Redgrave and David Weston. Music is by Malcolm Arnold and cinematography by Robert Krasker. 1942, Nazi occupied Norway, and the Germans are making great strides with their plans for atomic weaponry. It’s down to a band of resistance fighters and a scientist to blow up the German heavy water factory located up in the Telemark mountains. Perhaps it’s stating the obvious considering Mann and Krasker's reputations as quality visualists, but The Heroes of Telemark is a splendid looking war movie. It’s solidly performed by the cast, the story, which is based on a real and crucial incident in the war, is gripping, while some of the tech flourishes shown by Mann for the more pacy scenes are impressive. Problems only really arise when the film resorts to standard character interactions, shifting focus away from the film’s strength, that of the mission, the planning and execution of such. The script doesn’t really give the characters much to work with, so in truth it’s hard to really care about them in context to their own personal trials and tribulations. However, such is the visual treats and excellent action choreography on show, it still rounds out as a wholesome meaty war epic well worth investing time with. 7/10
Release Date:
Nov 12, 1965 (United Kingdom)
Run Time:
2hr 11`
MMPA Rating:
Original Language:
English
Production Countries:
United Kingdom
Status:
Released
Plot Keywords:

Related Movies To
The Heroes of Telemark
The Battle for Heavy Water. The Heroes of Telemark is directed by Anthony Mann and written by Ben Barzman and Ivan Moffat. It stars Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, Ulla Jacobsson, Michael Redgrave and David Weston. Music is by Malcolm Arnold and cinematography by Robert Krasker. 1942, Nazi occupied Norway, and the Germans are making great strides with their plans for atomic weaponry. It’s down to a band of resistance fighters and a scientist to blow up the German heavy water factory located up in the Telemark mountains. Perhaps it’s stating the obvious considering Mann and Krasker's reputations as quality visualists, but The Heroes of Telemark is a splendid looking war movie. It’s solidly performed by the cast, the story, which is based on a real and crucial incident in the war, is gripping, while some of the tech flourishes shown by Mann for the more pacy scenes are impressive. Problems only really arise when the film resorts to standard character interactions, shifting focus away from the film’s strength, that of the mission, the planning and execution of such. The script doesn’t really give the characters much to work with, so in truth it’s hard to really care about them in context to their own personal trials and tribulations. However, such is the visual treats and excellent action choreography on show, it still rounds out as a wholesome meaty war epic well worth investing time with. 7/10
**_The more realistic precursor to Where Eagles Dare_** During WW2, a resistant fighter in German-occupied Norway (Richard Harris) and an Oslo physics professor (Kirk Douglas) team-up to stop the Nazi operation of creating & transporting heavy water in order to produce the first atomic bomb and thus win the war. “The Heroes of Telemark” (1965) debuted three years before “Where Eagles Dare” and is based on the true story of Norwegian heavy water sabotage. It’s more mundane and believable, but lacks the great score and all-around pizazz of that more well-know WW 2 film. The wintery Norwegian locations are certainly a highlight (listed below). This was director Anthony Mann’s second to last movie. He would die a year and five months after its release from a heart attack in Berlin at the age of 60. The film runs 2 hours, 10 minutes, and was shot in Norway (Telemark, Oslo & Tinnsjø) and England (Pinewood Studios, Winchfield station & Poole Harbour). GRADE: B
Cast & Crew of
The Heroes of Telemark
Directors & Credit Writers
Cast
... Dr. Rolf Pedersen
... Knut Straud
... Anna Pedersen
... Uncle
... Arne
... Major Frick
... Terboven
... Col. Wilkinson
... Sigrid
... Jensen
... Professor Logan
... Nilssen
... General Bolt
... Doctor
WF
Wolf Frees... Knippelberg
... General Courts
... Gunnar
... Freddy
... Oli
... Henrik
Produced By
Videos & Photos of
The Heroes of Telemark
Videos ( 2)
The Heroes Of Telemark (1965)
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