The Heroes of Telemark
| The Heroes of Telemark | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Anthony Mann |
| Produced by | Benjamin Fisz |
| Written by |
Ben Barzman Ivan Moffat |
| Based on |
Skis Against the Atom 1954 novel by Knut Haukelid But for These Men 1962 novel by John Drummond |
| Starring |
Kirk Douglas Richard Harris Ulla Jacobsson |
| Music by | Malcolm Arnold |
| Cinematography | Robert Krasker |
| Edited by | Bert Bates |
| Distributed by |
Rank Columbia Pictures |
|
Release date
|
1965 |
|
Running time
|
131 minutes |
| Country | UK France |
| Language | English, French, Norwegian |
| Budget | $5 million |
| Box office | $1,650,000 (est. US/ Canada rentals) |
The Heroes of Telemark is a British 1965 Eastman Color war film directed by Anthony Mann based on the true story of the Norwegian heavy water sabotage during World War II from "Skis Against the Atom," the memoirs of Norwegian resistance soldier Knut Haukelid. The film stars Kirk Douglas as Dr Rolf Pedersen and Richard Harris as Knut Straud, along with Ulla Jacobsson as Anna Pedersen. It was filmed on location in Norway.
The Norwegian resistance sabotage the Vemork Norsk Hydro plant in the town of Rjukan in the county of Telemark, Norway, which the Nazis are using to produce heavy water, which could be used in the manufacture of an atomic bomb.
Kirk Douglas plays Rolf Pedersen, a Norwegian physics professor, who, though originally content to wait out the war, is soon pulled into the struggle by local resistance leader Knut Straud (based on Knut Haukelid, portrayed by Richard Harris).
They are both smuggled to Britain to have microfilmed plans of the hydroelectric plant examined, and then return to Norway to plan a commando raid. When a force of Royal Engineers, who were to carry it out, are all killed, Pedersen and Straud lead a small force of saboteurs into the plant. The raid is successful, but the Germans quickly repair the equipment.
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Wikipedia