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Action drama

The Heroes of Telemark (1965): Cast & Plot

The Heroes of Telemark (1965) movie poster

The Heroes of Telemark is a 1965 action drama directed by Anthony Mann, starring Richard Harris as Knut Straud, Kirk Douglas and Victor Beaumont. It runs 2 hours 11 minutes.

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The Heroes of Telemark (1965) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 11m (131 min)
Director
Anthony Mann
Genres
Drama , Action , War
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Heroes of Telemark About?

The premise of The Heroes of Telemark without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Outnumbered and unarmed, a small Norwegian resistance team astonishes the world by sabotaging the Nazi heavy‑water plant in Telemark. Resistance fighter Knut Straud persuades reluctant physicist Rolf Pedersen to join the daring mission, risking everything to cripple the German nuclear programme in occupied Norway.

The Heroes of Telemark Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • nazi occupation
  • allies
  • 1940s
  • heavy water
  • norwegian resistance
  • commando
  • sabotage
  • nazi occupied norway
  • world war two
  • norway
  • ship sinking
  • nazi
+38 more
  • atomic bomb
  • divorced
  • bus
  • lutheran church
  • factory
  • resistance fighter
  • air raid
  • anti nazi
  • triangulation
  • transmitter
  • medical treatment
  • scientist
  • science
  • airplane crash
  • territory name in title
  • ski chase
  • foot wound
  • gunshot wound
  • collateral damage
  • arms race
  • paratrooper
  • mountain warfare
  • siren
  • winter
  • war room
  • treason
  • tank
  • sea mine
  • parachute
  • panic
  • military convoy
  • microfilm
  • marching band
  • lifeboat
  • laboratory
  • killed by a train
  • fake identity
  • exploding tank
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Cast & crew

The Heroes of Telemark Cast & Characters

Richard Harris leads the cast as Knut Straud, with Kirk Douglas as Dr. Rolf Pedersen and Victor Beaumont as German Sergeant. Directed by Anthony Mann; 33 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Heroes of Telemark

· 29 more
Show all 33 cast members
From the director

More from Anthony Mann

More films directed by Anthony Mann, best-rated first: El Cid, Quo Vadis, A Dandy in Aspic and The Fall of the Roman Empire.

Full filmography
Plot

The Heroes of Telemark Plot Summary

What happens in The Heroes of Telemark from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In a tense WWII drama inspired by true events, the Norwegian resistance mounts a daring assault on the Nazi-occupied Vemork Norsk Hydro plant in the town of Rjukan, Telemark, where heavy water could fuel atomic ambitions. The story follows Rolf Pedersen, a Norwegian physics professor who, while initially content to wait out the war, is drawn into the fight by the local resistance led by Knut Straud. Rolf’s involvement rekindles a personal thread as his ex-wife Anna Pedersen becomes entwined in the clandestine effort, and their renewed connection adds an intimate tension to the high-stakes mission.

Full summary

The whole story of The Heroes of Telemark, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

The Heroes of Telemark Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

The Heroes Of Telemark (1965)
  • Trailer Vintage Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Heroes of Telemark?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which country’s resistance mounts the assault on the Vemork plant?

Cars

Cars in The Heroes of Telemark

13 cars on screen, including the 1932 Ford V8 and the 1939 Humber Snipe.

All 13 cars
  • 1932 Ford V8 in The Heroes of Telemark 1932 Ford V8 Important role
  • 1939 Humber Snipe in The Heroes of Telemark 1939 Humber Snipe Important role
  • 1938 Mercedes-Benz 230 Lang W143 in The Heroes of Telemark 1938 Mercedes-Benz 230 Lang W143 Important role
  • Mercedes-Benz 500 K W29 in The Heroes of Telemark Mercedes-Benz 500 K W29 Important role
Details

The Heroes of Telemark Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “Hjältarna från Telemarken” and “Telemarkin sankarit”.

Also known as
  • Hjältarna från Telemarken
  • Telemarkin sankarit
  • Los héroes de Telemark
  • Hrdinové z Telemarku
  • Kennwort „Schweres Wasser“
  • Bohaterowie Telemarku
  • 雪地英雄
  • 铁勒马九壮士
  • Kennwort 'Schweres Wasser'
  • Gli eroi di Telemark
  • Telemarkens helte
  • Les Héros de Télémark
+12 more
  • Helter i Telemark
  • גיבורי טלמרק
  • Els herois de Telemark
  • テレマークの要塞
  • Os Heróis de Telemark
  • Οι Ήρωες του Τέλεμαρκ
  • Героите на Телемарк
  • Герои Телемарка
  • قهرمانان تلمارک
  • 텔레마크의 영웅들
  • 鐵拉瑪九壯士
  • Telemark hősei

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FAQ

The Heroes of Telemark FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Heroes of Telemark, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Heroes of Telemark?

The Heroes of Telemark runs 2 hours 11 minutes (131 minutes).

When was The Heroes of Telemark released?

The Heroes of Telemark was released on November 12, 1965.

Who directed The Heroes of Telemark?

The Heroes of Telemark was directed by Anthony Mann.

More films by Anthony Mann

Who is in the cast of The Heroes of Telemark?

The Heroes of Telemark stars Richard Harris as Knut Straud, Kirk Douglas as Dr. Rolf Pedersen and Victor Beaumont as German Sergeant, among 33 credited actors.

Does The Heroes of Telemark have a post-credit scene?

No. The Heroes of Telemark has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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