War Movie Theatre | for Fans of Classic War Films and Cinema History · Robert Hutton & Duncan Weldon - War Movies Fans

The Heroes of Telemark

·1 hr 9 min·5 clips

Rob and Duncan unveil their secret website with merchandise and a list of every war film ever suggested.

This episode of War Movie Theatre focuses on the 1965 war film *The Heroes of Telemark*, starring Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris. Hosts Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon, both enthusiasts of classic war cinema, analyze this British production about Norwegian resistance efforts to sabotage Nazi heavy water production. The film is directed by Anthony Mann, known for epics like *El Cid* and Westerns such as *The Naked Spur*. The plot follows a physics professor, played by Kirk Douglas, and a resistance fighter, played by Richard Harris, as they attempt to destroy a German heavy water plant in Telemark. The hosts outline the film's structure, which includes three main operations: a failed commando raid, an aerial bombing, and the final sabotage of a ferry carrying the remaining heavy water. They note the film is based on real events, including Operations Grouse, Freshman, and Gunnerside, and references the Norwegian memoir *Skis Against the Atom*. The hosts mention the film's troubled production, with Kirk Douglas cast after owing director Anthony Mann a film from their prior work on *Spartacus*. A surprising historical detail is that real Norwegian commandos wore British uniforms during the raid to direct Nazi reprisals away from local civilians. The hosts find the film's recurring theme of minimizing civilian casualties unusual for a 1960s war movie, highlighted in the tense ferry sequence where Douglas tries to evacuate passengers. They discuss the scientific context, explaining heavy water contains deuterium, which the Nazis sought to use as a neutron moderator for an atomic bomb. An interesting anecdote reveals that in real life, one SOE operative gave his mother poison to prevent her from boarding the ferry slated for destruction. The hosts praise specific scenes, including the opening ambush where resistance fighters use a boulder to destroy a German armored car. They also highlight the well-executed ski chase and the suspenseful commando raid beneath a bridge. Duncan Weldon appreciates the film's authentic location shooting in Norway, while both note the strong supporting cast, including Anton Diffring as a Nazi officer and Ulla Jacobsson from *Zulu*. A memorable claim is that the actual Gunnerside raid was so quiet the German guards barely noticed the explosion. Rob and Duncan describe the film's tone as a blend of commando adventure and moral debate, with a structure they find unusually bitty compared to typical war movies. The style is conversational and analytical, with the hosts sharing personal viewing histories and humorous asides about Scandinavian knitwear. They characterize the film as a staple of British television, often broadcast on Sunday afternoons, and compare its snowy action sequences to the James Bond film *On Her Majesty's Secret Service*. This episode would appeal to fans of classic 1960s war films, historical drama enthusiasts, and listeners interested in the real-world operations of the Norwegian resistance. It might also attract those who enjoy behind-the-scenes production stories and cinematic analysis. Listeners seeking fast-paced, modern action or a tightly plotted narrative might find the film's meandering pace less engaging.

As heard by us

A dry, historically alert look at a big, slightly overstuffed war picture.

The Heroes of Telemark is framed as a war film with a history problem as much as a sabotage story: skis, Norwegian resistance, a Nazi A-bomb, and a curiously serious interest in knitwear.

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Why you'd press play

For listeners who want war-film history with its sabotage story.

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