THE DAY WILL DAWN
UK, 1942, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr, Hugh Williams, Griffiths Jones, Francis L. Sullivan, Roland Culver, Niall MacGinnis?, Finlay Currie, Patricia Medina.
Directed by Harold French.
The Day Will Dawn is a British film for morale-boosting during World War II. Made after the Battle of Britain and Dunkirk, it focuses on occupied countries in Europe, specifically Norway. It also shows British intelligence and the British Navy in trying to cope with the U-boat invasion coming from Norway and the North Atlantic.
The film was written by Terence Rattigan, best known for such films as Separate Tables, The Prince and the Showgirl, The Deep Blue Sea. It was directed by Harold French who also directed Rattigan's French Without Tears and was later to do a number of very British films after the war, especially adaptations of Somerset Maugham's stories, Trio, Encore, Quartet.
The film has a strong cast, especially with Ralph Richardson and character actors like Finlay Currie and Francis L. Sullivan. It was one of the earliest films for Deborah Kerr, aged twenty-one at the time of the film's release. She gives a rather more lively performance than her rather more dignified performances later. (Within ten years she and Finlay Currie were appearing in an American spectacle, Quo Vadis, she as a Christian and he as St Peter.)
The film focuses on the role of journalists, the contribution of the media to the war effort, the nature of the war effort and self-sacrifice asked of Britain especially with so many Continental countries occupied by the Nazis.
1. A film of its time? 1942 and World War II? The state of Britain? Hitler's advances? The occupation of Continental countries like Norway?
2. The black and white photography, the war sequences and action? The atmosphere of Britain, of Norway? The musical score by Richard Addinsell (The Warsaw Concerto)?
3. The title, the atmosphere of hope? The actual dawning of the day for the execution of the hostages in Norway?
4. The explanation of the war situation as perceived in 1942? The Nazis, their domination, the example of their taking over Norway, importing soldiers in merchant ships, building a base for the U-boats, toppling the government? Spies, German-Norwegian? relationships, hostages and killings? The arrogance of the Nazis? The threat to Britain, the memories of Dunkirk? Morale-boosting? The final attack of the British Navy saving the day?
5. The focus on Colin Metcalfe as the hero, lesser aristocracy, idle, sports reporter? Frank Lockwood getting him the job? His going to Norway, his easy life, his growing interest in the war situation? His being absent from Oslo and his being sacked, Frank Lockwood arriving from Finland and bringing the bad news? The irony of Colin's contacts, the pub, the German spy and her reporting? The captain of the boat, going on board, his patriotism, his daughter and her strength on the boat? The attack? Landing, the information about the U-boats and the German presence? His return to Oslo, his being abducted? The attack on the ship, his return to London? The information to the editors, the papers? The Navy and its need for finding out about the U-boat base, the camouflage? The officer who had dealt with Colin in Oslo (talking about snipe-hunting)? His approaching Colin in the pub, leading him on, taking him to Navy Intelligence, his job?
6. Colin, the return to Norway, parachuting in, the dangers of Nazis in the forest, his going to the safe house, Olaf and his taking him across to the town? His meeting with the people, hiding in the German-Norwegian? meeting, seeing Kari and thinking her a traitor? His not having papers, the search, her putting the lights out, his escaping? His finding out the truth about her? Her father's return? The group meeting in the house, Olaf taking them to the boat, their going to guide the bombers to the exact location of the U-boat base? Its being destroyed? The Germans taking hostages, the refusal of the hostages to speak, Colin amongst the hostages, their being interned, to be executed at dawn?
7. Kari, her love for her father, her father's outspokenness, captain of the boat, patriot? The friendship with Colin? His being interned, Kari able to effect his release because of her relationship with the police chief? Colin and his falling in love with her? Her giving him the information about the base? His return, seeing her with the police chief, not trusting her, finding out the truth? His return, her father's death? Their being interned, talking during the night, the anticipation of the dawn? Their being saved?
8. Frank Lockwood, Ralph Richardson's bluff style, the journalist, helping Colin, work in Finland, giving him the notice about his being fired? In France, the rescue, Colin meeting him, his death?
9. The Norwegians, patriotism, their being occupied? Hostility towards the Nazis? The dance, the band playing the music, the people banging on the tables and the floor? The police chief and his being partly German, his alliance with the Nazi chief, wanting to marry Kari? The confrontation with the chief, his being shot?
10. The Nazis, the official, under cover, the oil refinery, bringing in the men, the occupation, the war? Chasing people in the forest, the U-boat attack and its strength? The British attack and the Germans being taken prisoner?
11. The Navy Intelligence, the officer and his talk about snipe-hunting, his shrewdness in recruiting Colin?
12. Olaf, the wedding, Colin's presence, dancing with Kari? The police chief? Olaf and his taking them in the boat, his being one of the hostages, his wife going to Kari to plead for help? His final release?
13. Spies, German information, British spies, the role of espionage for the success of the war?
14. The discussions about the media, the editor and his executive, hiring Colin, firing Colin, the need for the media in the morale-boosting exercises for Britain in the war? The role of Winston Churchill, his being elected prime minister, support behind him, his speeches and their being quoted, especially the "day will dawn" speech at the end?
