First Comes Courage (1943): Cast & Plot
First Comes Courage is a 1943 war drama directed by Dorothy Arzner, starring Louis Jean Heydt as First Norwegian (uncredited), Byron Foulger and Merle Oberon. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Director
- Dorothy Arzner
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is First Comes Courage About?
The premise of First Comes Courage without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Merle Oberon portrays a Norwegian resistance operative who has secretly married a Nazi commandant in a remote town. As the German hierarchy grows suspicious of her loyalty, the Allies dispatch a skilled assassin to eliminate the officer—only to discover the killer is her former lover, reigniting past passions and peril.
First Comes Courage Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- nazi occupied norway
- year 1942
- world war two
- british spy
- norwegian town
- norway
- patriot
- british agent
- collaborator
- despise
- british warship
- british commando
+38 more Show fewer
- german officer
- german soldier
- contact man
- secret message
- british intelligence
- suspicion
- hate
- rifle
- pistol
- car chase
- norwegian coast
- undercover agent
- self sacrifice
- air raid
- bombing
- escape
- betrayal
- farmer
- hospital
- nurse
- doctor
- optometrist
- microdot
- sabotage
- allegiance
- countryman
- traitor
- secret nazi base
- trap
- security officer
- mistrust
- security leak
- assassination
- ammunition dump
- secret mission
- farmhouse
- barn
- american actor plays a foreigner
First Comes Courage Cast & Characters
Louis Jean Heydt leads the cast as First Norwegian (uncredited), with Byron Foulger as Norwegian Shopkeeper (uncredited) and Merle Oberon as Nicole Larsen. Directed by Dorothy Arzner; 34 actors are credited in all.
- Director Dorothy Arzner
- Louis Jean Heydt as First Norwegian (uncredited)
- Byron Foulger as Norwegian Shopkeeper (uncredited)
- Merle Oberon as Nicole Larsen
- Lloyd Ingraham as Elderly Norwegian man
Also Starring in First Comes Courage
· 30 more- John Elliott Norwegian patient
- Louis Adlon Nazi lieutenant
- John Royce German orderly
- Reinhold Schünzel Col. Kurt von Elser
- Carl Esmond Maj. Paul Dichter
- Fritz Leiber Dr. Aanrud
- Brian Aherne Capt. Allan Lowell
- Erik Rolf Ole
- Niels Bagge Thorsten
- Isobel Elsom Rose Lindstrom
- Ethel Griffies Nurse
- Erville Alderson Soren
- Fern Emmett Dress Designer (uncredited)
- William Phillips Edvard, Aanrud's assistant
- Nelson Leigh Blake
- Henry Rowland Private
Show all 34 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Arno Frey Sergeant
- Otto Reichow Young Nazi officer
- Greta Granstedt Girl assistant
- Hans Heinrich von Twardowski Nazi Captain (uncredited)
- Guy Kingsford Submarine commander
- Hans von Morhart German guard
- Pietro Sosso Janitor
- Rex Williams Young Nazi officer
- Eric Feldary Private
- Frederic Brunn German guard
- Richard Ryen Dr. Hoff
- Conrad Binyon Boy
- Lewis Wilson Dr. Kleinich
- Walter Thiele Orderly
More from Dorothy Arzner
More films directed by Dorothy Arzner: Dance, Girl, Dance, The Bride Wore Red, Craig’s Wife and Nana.
First Comes Courage Plot Summary
What happens in First Comes Courage from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1942, in occupied Norway, Nicole Larsen [Merle Oberon] is a key member of the Stavik resistance. She masquerades as a lovestruck ally of Major Paul Dichter [Reinhold Schünzel], the district’s Nazi commandant, using their precarious closeness to siphon out military intelligence she is carefully relaying to the British through the optometrist Dr. Henrik Aanrud [Fritz Leiber]. Through these quiet acts, Nicole becomes a vital link between the occupied town and the larger resistance, a role that makes her both valuable and dangerous in the eyes of the occupiers.
Full summary
The whole story of First Comes Courage, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know First Comes Courage?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In which occupied country is the story set?
First Comes Courage Also Known As
Also known as “처음으로 용기”.
- Also known as
-
- 처음으로 용기
Seen First Comes Courage?
Movies Like First Comes Courage
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Carve Her Name with Pride, Odette and The Heroes of Telemark.
First Comes Courage FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of First Comes Courage, each answered in a sentence.
How long is First Comes Courage?
First Comes Courage runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was First Comes Courage released?
First Comes Courage was released on July 29, 1943.
Who directed First Comes Courage?
First Comes Courage was directed by Dorothy Arzner.
More films by Dorothy Arzner Who is in the cast of First Comes Courage?
First Comes Courage stars Louis Jean Heydt as First Norwegian (uncredited), Byron Foulger as Norwegian Shopkeeper (uncredited) and Merle Oberon as Nicole Larsen, among 34 credited actors.
Does First Comes Courage have a post-credit scene?
No. First Comes Courage has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
