First Comes Courage

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First Comes Courage

1943

1h 28m

War

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Beautiful Norwegian woman Nicole Larsen (Merle Oberon) is dedicated to the local resistance movement, and seduces Nazi officer Paul Dichter (Carl Esmond) in order to gain information that will help to defeat the Germans. Complicating matters for Nicole are both the difficulty of her loathsome undercover work and the appearance of an old flame, handsome English soldier Allan Lowell (Brian Aherne), who would like nothing more than to reunite with her.

Wanda Hale

New York Daily News

While the ending of First Comes Courage is a little far-fetched... You won't mind because the events leading up to that are presented convincingly, thanks to Dorothy Arzner, who directed this film with a great deal of skill.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 22, 2020

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Mildred Martin

Philadelphia Inquirer

[The stars] play with a nice sincerity and Dorothy Arzner has given them and the slightly frayed material the benefit of her sound directional talent.

Dec 22, 2020

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

Aherne and Miss Oberon are convincing actors and make the old stuff look up-to-date and even worthwhile. The shoddiness is of story rather than acting or direction.

Dec 22, 2020

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

This wartime saga is best known for being the final film made by Dorothy Arzner, who was one of the few women directors working in the studio system.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 22, 2024

Full Review

Josephine O'Neill

Daily Telegraph (Australia)

Merle Oberon plays with the verve of a wooden doll, Brian Aherne's commando is a bore, and Carl Esmond's Nazi a stodge. The action is fumbled by bad direction.

Apr 2, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

This WWII propganda film, starring Merle Oberon as a spy, is the last festure to be directed by Dorothy Arzner, the only female director during the studio system.

Rated: B-

Jan 7, 2011

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Audience Member

The greatest 01 hour: and 28 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

I love this movie and I have watched it frequently. I Carl Edmond should have gotten top building or at least part of the three top billings. He played a very complex character.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This WWII propganda film, starring Merle Oberon as a spy, is the last festure to be directed by Dorothy Arzner, the only female director during the studio system.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The typical WWII propaganda stuff.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Dorothy Arzner

Director

Merle Oberon

Nicole Larsen

Brian Aherne

Capt. Allan Lowell

Carl Esmond

Maj. Paul Dichter

Isobel Elsom

Rose Lindstrom

Fritz Leiber

Dr. Aanrud

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Synopsis

Beautiful Norwegian woman Nicole Larsen (Merle Oberon) is dedicated to the local resistance movement, and seduces Nazi officer Paul Dichter (Carl Esmond) in order to gain information that will help to defeat the Germans. Complicating matters for Nicole are both the difficulty of her loathsome undercover work and the appearance of an old flame, handsome English soldier Allan Lowell (Brian Aherne), who would like nothing more than to reunite with her.

Director: Dorothy Arzner
Producer: Harry Joe Brown
Screenwriter: Melvin Levy, Lewis Meltzer
Production Co: Columbia Pictures
Genre: War
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 28m