The Day Will Dawn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Day Will Dawn |
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Theatrical poster for the American release
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| Directed by | Harold French |
| Produced by | Paul Soskin |
| Written by | Story: Frank Owen Screenplay: Anatole de Grunwald Patrick Kirwan Terence Rattigan |
| Starring | Ralph Richardson Deborah Kerr Hugh Williams Griffith Jones |
| Music by | Richard Addinsell orchestrated Roy Douglas |
| Cinematography | Cyril J. Knowles |
| Editing by | Michael C. Chorlton |
| Studio | A Paul Soskin Production |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) Paramount Pictures (US) |
| Release date(s) | 8 June 1942 (UK) 24 November 1942 (U.S.) |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Day Will Dawn, also known as The Avengers, is a British war film from 1942. It tells a story set in Norway during World War II. The movie stars Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr, Hugh Williams, and Griffith Jones. It was directed by Harold French and based on a story by Frank Owen. The music was composed by Richard Addinsell.
Contents
Story of the Film
A Reporter in Norway
The film begins in September 1939, after the Invasion of Poland. Colin Metcalfe, a former sports reporter, becomes a foreign correspondent in Norway. At this time, Norway is a neutral country, meaning it is not taking sides in the war.
Eight months later, Colin meets Captain Alstad, a Norwegian fisherman. They are in a bar where British and German sailors start a fight. Captain Alstad takes Colin on his fishing boat. While at sea, they see a German ship and are shot at by a German U-boat (submarine). This happens even though Norway is neutral.
They return to Captain Alstad's home port of Langedal. Colin then travels to Oslo to report what he saw to the British embassy. He does this despite efforts by the local German commander and the police chief, Ottoman Gunter, who supports the Germans.
Colin's New Mission
In Oslo, Colin meets Frank Lockwood, who is returning to England from the Winter War in Finland. Lockwood had helped Colin get his reporting job. However, he now tells Colin that he has been fired. His newspaper fired him for going out to sea with the fisherman instead of staying where they could contact him.
Colin tells the embassy about the German ship. He also warns his newspaper that Germany might invade Norway soon. Captain Alstad's daughter, Kari, also meets Colin. She tells him about suspicious German merchant ships in Bergen. Her father thinks these ships might be carrying soldiers.
Colin and Kari say goodbye. Colin gets into what he thinks is a taxi, but he is kidnapped by the Germans. He is put on a ship heading to the German port of Bremen. Meanwhile, Germany invades Norway. Colin misses out on reporting this big news. Back in Britain, the government changes, and Winston Churchill becomes prime minister.
A British warship stops the ship Colin is on and frees him. But the warship is sent to Cherbourg, France, to help evacuate British troops. Amidst the chaos in Cherbourg, Colin finds Lockwood, who is badly wounded and dying.
Fighting on the Home Front
Back in Britain, the Blitz (German bombing raids) has begun. Colin is convinced not to join the army. Instead, he starts a newspaper campaign. He wants the public to save resources on the Home Front to help win the Battle of the Atlantic.
Just as he is about to start this campaign, the British Admiralty (the navy's command) calls on him. They want him to parachute back into Langedal, Norway. His mission is to destroy a hidden U-boat base nearby. After that, he must escape across the border into neutral Sweden.
Return to Norway
When Colin lands, Germans spot him and chase him. But he manages to escape and find shelter. He learns that Captain Alstad has been captured by the Germans. Kari, Alstad's daughter, has become engaged to the German-sympathizing police chief, Gunter. This engagement has brought shame upon her.
Later, at a "Norwegian-German friendship dance," Germans arrive to check papers, looking for Colin. Kari saves him by causing a riot and hiding him at her house. There, she tells him that she only agreed to marry Gunter to get her father released.
Captain Alstad is released. He agrees to help Colin. They plan to use torches to signal British bombers. These signals will guide the bombers to raid the U-boat base. Kari and Colin share a romantic farewell. The signaling works, and the base is destroyed. However, Captain Alstad is killed by a German patrol.
A Daring Rescue
Colin returns to tell Kari the sad news. At the same time, Gunter and the Germans take eight random people hostage. They announce that these hostages will be shot if the British spy they are hiding is not given up. Colin overhears this and gives himself up.
Gunter goes back to Kari, trying to save her from being shot for hiding the spy. But she refuses his help and is locked up with the hostages. Gunter shows her kindness by not separating her from Colin. They prepare to die, and the first group of hostages is taken out to be shot.
Suddenly, a British commando raid arrives! In the confusion, Gunter is shot by the German commander, who tries to escape quickly. All the hostages are freed unharmed. The British raiders capture the town and the German soldiers there. Then, they leave almost immediately, taking Colin, Kari, the hostages, and their families to safety in England.
Cast of Characters
Here are some of the main actors and the characters they played:
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