Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

THE HEROES OF TELEMARK is a solid enough WW2 adventure in the WHERE EAGLES DARE mould, although the direction is a little off and not quite as involving as in the true classics of the genre. This is a surprise given that director Anthony Mann made some great films with James Stewart back in the 1950s, but you get the impression that his heart wasn't quite in this one.It is, however, watchable enough, and has an interesting true-life story that keeps you watching throughout. Kirk Douglas is the hero of the piece, playing a Norwegian scientist who agrees to help resistance forces blow up a factory that the Nazis are using to develop nuclear technology. Richard Harris plays in support as a stock hero, but the supporting cast are a little lacklustre. The only ones who make an impact are an aged but effective Michael Redgrave, Anton Diffring as yet another Nazi, and Roy Dotrice in an early part.THE HEROES OF TELEMARK saves most of the action and set-pieces for the latter half of the production, and at times the adventure feels muted, but it's quite well shot. The snowbound action is occasionally remarkable and seems to have inspired the later Bond movies that utilise ski chases and the like, such as ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. The climactic scenes are where it really picks up and Douglas shows his mettle in some good cat-and-mouse style moments.

Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris in a WWII movie makes for a great way to spend a rainy afternoon and fans of post war films (Guns of Navarone, Desert Rats) will find this worth watching. It has beautiful scenic views of Norway but is too long by half. Anton Diffring, who made a career of playing Nazi bad guys, is fun to watch. The rest of the cast delivers drab performances in a predictable script that underwhelms. Loosely based on the real saboteurs in the Norway resistance who attempted to stop the Germans from producing heavy water (which is never really explained as a component in the development of the atom bomb). Douglas is typically cool, earnest and smouldering in his winter Dunoon jacket. (You're gonna' want one.)

The Heroes of Telemark is directed by Anthony Mann and written by Ben Barzman and Ivan Moffat. It stars Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, Ulla Jacobsson, Michael Redgrave and David Weston. Music is by Malcolm Arnold and cinematography by Robert Krasker. 1942, Nazi occupied Norway, and the Germans are making great strides with their plans for atomic weaponry. It's down to a band of resistance fighters and a scientist to blow up the German heavy water factory located up in the Telemark mountains. Perhaps it's stating the obvious considering Mann and Krasker's reputations as quality visualists, but The Heroes of Telemark is a splendid looking war movie. It's solidly performed by the cast, the story, which is based on a real and crucial incident in the war, is gripping, while some of the tech flourishes shown by Mann for the more pacy scenes are impressive. Problems only really arise when the film resorts to standard character interactions, shifting focus away from the film's strength, that of the mission, the planning and execution of such. The script doesn't really give the characters much to work with, so in truth it's hard to really care about them in context to their own personal trials and tribulations. However, such is the visual treats and excellent action choreography on show, it still rounds out as a wholesome meaty war epic well worth investing time with. 7/10

As a fan of the 1943 war drama, "Edge of Darkness", I was looking forward to this action movie about Norwegian resistance to Nazi occupation. With leads like Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris, I expected much more than I got. What I did find was a technically superior film that was extremely slow moving. This is a very typical story of people defending their homeland from ruthless conquerors through sabotage and standing together, and is very admirable in that sense. Kirk Douglas's role is not fully developed, a major surprise considering his power in Hollywood at that time. Richard Harris gives a much stronger performance with a well-rounded characterization. There is an excellent scene of sabotage and some beautiful location footage, but those moments are few and far between.