Tonight's two World War II films, much admired at the time for both their propaganda and entertainment value, depict the “little man's” fight against fascism. Edge of Darkness is situated in occupied Norway, at the edge of Europe, removed from the major battlegrounds. When a small town's values are trampled by the Nazi invaders, the villagers decide to fight back, led by Errol Flynn as the head of the underground resistance. By placing the decision to fight with heads of families rather than heads of state, the war is brought down to the personal level. A United States tiring of the war is implored to “look to Norway,” to follow the Norwegians' example of courage and their willingness to make personal sacrifices.
Under Lewis Milestone's direction, “the swooping, rushing, craning, even (this was 1943) zooming coverage of action sequences in Edge of Darkness generated some of the most thrilling Second World War footage ever shot” (Richard T. Jameson in Cinema: A Critical Dictionary). His depiction of war as necessary to preserve freedom contrasts sharply with his 1930 anti-war film, All Quiet on the Western Front.