What Is First Comes Courage About?
The premise of First Comes Courage in 312 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the cold‑cut landscape of occupied Norway, a remote mountain town clings to the thin thread of ordinary life while the weight of war presses from every direction. The streets echo with the muted cadence of Nazi orders and the whispered resistance of those who refuse to surrender. Light and shadow play across snow‑slick roofs, creating a world where every glance could hide a secret and every silence could be a warning.
Nicole Larsen moves through this uneasy balance as a key member of the local resistance. By day she presents herself as the devoted wife of Major Paul Dichter, the district’s Nazi commandant, a marriage born of calculated risk and hidden purpose. Beneath the veneer of domestic life, she quietly threads information to the Allies, becoming a vital, if perilous, conduit for the broader fight against occupation. Her double existence forces her to walk a razor‑thin line between loyalty to her cause and the fragile safety her marriage appears to provide.
When suspicions within the German hierarchy begin to tighten, the Allies decide that a more direct solution is required. They dispatch a skilled assassin, Captain Allan Lowell, a man whose professional reputation is matched only by the personal history he shares with Nicole. The reunion of former lovers resurfaces a blend of lingering affection and unresolved tension, turning a covert mission into a deeply personal gamble. Their past connection hints at a volatile mix of passion and peril that could either ignite hope or spark disaster.
The film drifts between the stark, snow‑laden scenery and the fevered pulse of espionage, crafting a mood that is as icy as it is intimate. Within this world, every whispered promise and cautious glance carries the weight of a larger struggle, leaving the audience to wonder how far a woman will go to protect her people—and whether love can survive the shadows of war.
What Happens in First Comes Courage?
The complete story of First Comes Courage, from the first scene to the last, in 636 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
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.
As the raids in the district grow bolder and more frequent, Colonel von Elser [Reinhold Schünzel] Kawalk von Elser pressure Dichter to root out the source of the leaks, and Nicole senses the noose tightening around her. To protect her, Aanrud discreetly conceals a message on an eyeglass, urging the British to dispatch an assassin to eliminate Dichter. The plan suggests that Dichter’s death could become Nicole’s only viable escape route, and the moral tension in Stavik deepens as loyalties are tested.
The British plan a daring commando raid on Stavik’s oil dumps, intending to stage Dichter’s death as a casualty of the operation so that local reprisals would be avoided. Captain Allan Lowell [Brian Aherne] volunteers to travel to Stavik a few days early to orchestrate Dichter’s assassination, setting in motion a sequence of perilous choices for everyone involved. Allan arrives on the Norwegian coast by submarine and fishing boat, joining forces with Ole, a Norwegian commando based in England.
Their arrival is short-lived, however, as Ole’s cousin Thorsten [Niels Bagge] betrays them to the Nazis. The resulting capture leaves Ole dead and Allan wounded, a brutal setback for the resistance and a personal blow for Nicole, who had hoped to turn Allan’s mission into a strategic advantage. Yet Allan survives, aided by Nicole and the nurse Rose Lindstrom [Isobel Elsom], and finds safety in Nicole’s basement. When a search sweep comes through town, Colonel von Elser probes Nicole’s home—only to be deflected when Dichter announces their forthcoming marriage, momentarily shielding her from suspicion.
The wedding becomes a double-edged turning point. Nicole, believing marriage might shield her and sharpen her usefulness, agrees to the ceremony at Dichter’s insistence, even as Allan—still tangled in his loyalties to Britain and the resistance—asks Nicole to call off the planned assassination. The union’s timing is cruelly ironic: the night of the raid overlaps with the wedding, and the act of balancing love, loyalty, and duty weighs heavily on everyone involved.
Moments after the ceremony, evidence that implicates Nicole in espionage surfaces, threatening Dichter’s dangerous career. He resolves to proceed with the marriage trip, intending to dispose of Nicole in a staged accident, but Allan intervenes and shoots Dichter before he can strike. With Dichter dead, Allan and Nicole load the body into Dichter’s car and drive to join the planned assault on the oil dumps, hoping to complete the mission that Nicole had helped to set in motion.
The pursuit is swift: von Elser arrives with soldiers, having anticipated Nicole and Dichter’s departure and come to search her house. He gives chase as Dichter’s car pulls away, with Allan at the wheel. The road runs past the very oil dumps that the commandos are targeting, and in the tense escape, Allan and Nicole manage to slip through the danger just ahead of the explosions. But von Elser and his men are claimed by the blast, their pursuit ending in tragedy.
In the aftermath, Nicole faces a stark choice about her future. Believing she can still be useful to the resistance as Dichter’s widow, she chooses to remain in Stavik, where her double life continues to shape the town’s fate. Allan, meanwhile, returns to England with his unit, left to wonder if a future might still bring them back together someday.
First Comes Courage Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Nicole joins the resistance in Stavik” to “Nicole stays in Stavik; Allan returns to England”. 14 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Nicole joins the resistance in Stavik
Nicole Larsen becomes part of the Norwegian resistance in Stavik and leads a dangerous double life. She pretends to be in love with Major Paul Dichter to gather military intelligence, which she passes to the British via Dr. Henrik Aanrud. The risk is immense as loyalty, love, and espionage intertwine in occupied Norway.
When:1942 Where:Stavik, occupied Norway
- 2
Efforts to uncover leaks escalate
Colonel Kurt von Elser pressures Dichter to root out the intelligence leaks. Dr. Henrik Aanrud helps by concealing a message on an eyeglass that asks the British to send an assassin for Dichter. Nicole becomes a prime suspect as the leaks continue.
When:1942 Where:Stavik
- 3
British plan a commando raid to destroy oil dumps
The British devise a raid on Stavik's oil dumps and arrange for Dichter to appear as a casualty of the attack to avoid reprisals on locals. The plan requires careful manipulation and timing to minimize German attention on the Norwegian resistance. Nicole's intelligence work is pivotal to making the ruse credible.
When:1942 Where:Stavik, Norway
- 4
Allan Lowell volunteers to stage the assassination
Captain Allan Lowell volunteers to go to Stavik a few days early to coordinate the assassination plan against Dichter. His mission is to create plausible danger for Dichter while keeping British forces safe and unseen by the Nazis. The plan is coordinated with other resistance members in the area.
When:Days before raid Where:Stavik
- 5
Allan and Ole land on the coast and seek shelter
Allan and Ole, a Norwegian commando, land on the Stavik coast and move toward safety. They shelter in Ole's cousin Thorsten's farmhouse while awaiting further instructions. The mission begins to unravel as the local network is imperfect and suspicion grows.
When:Days before raid Where:Stavik coast, Norway
- 6
Thorsten betrays the group; Ole is killed; Allan is captured
Thorsten betrays Allan and Ole to the Nazis, sealing their fate. Ole is killed in the botched setup, and Allan is injured and captured by German forces. The operation seems doomed, forcing Nicole and the resistance to improvise for Allan's survival.
When:During the pre-raid operations Where:Stavik area
- 7
Allan escapes hospital with Nicole's help
Despite his injuries, Allan escapes from a hospital with the help of Nicole and nurse Rose Lindstrom. He hides in Nicole's basement to avoid immediate interrogation. The escape preserves a key link between the resistance and its most valuable asset.
When:Shortly after capture Where:Stavik hospital; Nicole's basement
- 8
Von Elser inspects exemption; learns of the marriage plan
Colonel von Elser questions why Nicole's house is exempt from search, hinting at his suspicions. Dichter's private life becomes a shield as he announces the couple's imminent marriage, causing the search to ease for the moment. Nicole's future in Stavik grows more precarious as the wedding plans unfold.
When:Before the wedding Where:Nicole's house, Stavik
- 9
Dichter and Nicole's engagement announced; wedding planned
Nicole accepts the risk and the role she hopes to play as Dichter's wife. The couple's engagement is announced, and the wedding is scheduled for later that week. Allan is instructed to rendezvous with his unit on the night of the raid, which coincides with the wedding.
When:Later that week Where:Stavik
- 10
Dichter learns of Nicole's spying but proceeds with the wedding
Moments before the ceremony, Dichter is informed that Nicole is implicated in the leaks, which could ruin his career. He chooses to go ahead with the wedding regardless, planning to stage a fatal accident on their honeymoon to finally remove her threat. The tension mounts as the ceremony approaches.
When:Wedding day Where:Stavik
Show the other 4 events of First Comes Courage Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Dichter confronts Nicole after the ceremony; Allan intervenes
After the ceremony, Dichter drives Nicole home and confronts her about the spying. Nicole admits to the spying and reveals she has no affection left for him. Allan interrupts and shoots Dichter dead to save Nicole from a staged murder and to break his hold over her.
When:Immediately after wedding Where:Nicole's home, Stavik
- 12
Allan and Nicole flee with the body; von Elser pursues
Allan loads Dichter's body into Dichter's car and drives away with Nicole to join the raid. Colonel von Elser arrives at Nicole's house soon after and pursues them, hoping to arrest the resistance cell. The tense pursuit escalates as the two sides race toward the oil dumps.
When:After murder Where:Stavik roads
- 13
Oil dumps raid and narrow escape
The commandos blow the oil dumps, signaling the raid's success and their escape route. Allan and Nicole manage to pass the area just seconds before the explosions. Von Elser and his men are killed in the blast, eliminating one of the Nazis' most persistent pursuers.
When:Raid night Where:Oil dumps near Stavik
- 14
Nicole stays in Stavik; Allan returns to England
Believing she will be useful to the resistance as Dichter's widow, Nicole remains in Stavik to continue the fight. Allan returns to England with his unit, hoping to return someday and perhaps see Nicole again. The mission ends with a bittersweet note of sacrifice and unresolved longing.
When:After raid Where:Stavik, Norway; England
Who Are the Main Characters in First Comes Courage?
9 characters, among them Nicole Larsen — Merle Oberon, Major Paul Dichter — Carl Esmond and Captain Allan Lowell — Brian Aherne: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- NL
Nicole Larsen — Merle Oberon
Played by Merle Oberon
Nicole is a resistance operative who uses a forged romance with Major Dichter to gather crucial intelligence for the British. She balances danger and emotion to protect the network, showing pragmatism and courage under pressure. Her ultimate decision reflects a tough, committed stance toward the cause while wrestling with personal loyalties.
- 🛡️ Resistance fighter
- 💘 Complex relationship
- 🧭 Spycraft
- MP
Major Paul Dichter — Carl Esmond
Played by Carl Esmond
Dichter is the district’s Nazi commandant, ambitious and status-conscious, who aims to preserve his career through control and marriage. He suspects Nicole’s loyalty but uses the engagement to solidify his own position. His eventual confrontation with Allan seals his downfall.
- 🗡️ Commandant
- ⚖️ Power
- 💔 Romantic entanglements
- CA
Captain Allan Lowell — Brian Aherne
Played by Brian Aherne
Allan is a British officer and Nicole’s former lover who volunteers for a pre-raid mission to arrange Dichter’s assassination. He demonstrates resolve and resourcefulness, aiding Nicole’s escape and ultimately killing Dichter. His actions carry the weight of personal history and wartime duty.
- 🛡️ Protector
- ❤️ Former lover
- ⚔️ Assassin
- O—
Ole — Erik Rolf
Played by Erik Rolf
Ole is a Norwegian commando based in England who lands with Allan. Loyal and brave, he is killed during the mission after being betrayed by Thorsten. His sacrifice highlights the personal costs borne by resistance fighters.
- 🪖 Soldier
- 💔 Betrayal
- 🥀 Tragedy
- T—
Thorsten — Niels Bagge
Played by Niels Bagge
Thorsten is Ole’s cousin whose betrayal leads to the capture of the team. His actions illustrate the fragile loyalties within occupied territories and the peril posed by local informants.
- 🗡️ Betrayal
- 🧭 Local ties
- DH
Dr. Henrik Aanrud — Fritz Leiber
Played by Fritz Leiber
Aanrud is the optometrist who quietly supports the resistance by concealing messages on eyeglasses. His role as a conduit for intelligence helps maintain the network’s secrecy and connects the civilian with the resistance’s operations.
- 🧭 Intelligence
- 🩺 Healer/doctor
- 🕵️ Spycraft
-
Colonel Kurt von Elser — Reinhold Schünzel
Played by Reinhold Schünzel
Von Elser is the Nazi colonel pressing Dichter to root out leaks and maintain discipline. He aggressively pursues Nicole’s supposed betrayal and serves as a looming, calculating threat throughout the operation.
- 🎖️ Nazi Officer
- 🕵️ Suspicion
- ⚔️ Conflict
- RL
Rose Lindstrom — Isobel Elsom
Played by Isobel Elsom
Rose is a nurse who assists in Allan’s escape and provides quiet support to Nicole and the resistance. Her steadiness and compassion help hold together the fragile threads of resistance under extreme stress.
- 🩺 Nurse
- 💪 Supportive ally
- 🧡 Compassion
-
Nurse — Ethel Griffies
Played by Ethel Griffies
Nurse Griffies represents the civilian medical front that aids wounded resistance members. While not a central figure, her presence underscores the constant human cost and the care networks that sustain covert operations.
- 🩺 Nurse
- 🛡️ Support
- 🧩 Connector
Where and When Is First Comes Courage Set?
First Comes Courage is set in Stavik and Norway (1942). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1942
The film is set during 1942, when Norway was under Nazi occupation and the resistance carried out covert operations. The period is marked by suspicion, espionage, and the constant threat of reprisals against civilians. Allied commandos and Nazi officers move with urgency as the raid on Stavik looms.
Where
Stavik, Norway
Stavik is a coastal Norwegian town under German occupation in 1942. The Nazis maintain strict control, using local authorities to hunt for resistance activity. The area is a focal point for Allied raids targeting oil dumps, elevating the town to a strategic and dangerous battlefield.
- 🗺️ Occupied Norway
- 🛡️ Resistance
What Are the Themes of First Comes Courage?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Espionage, Romance and Sacrifice.
-
01
Espionage
Nicole fabricates closeness with Major Dichter to extract military intelligence for the British. She acts as a pivotal node, passing information to Dr. Aanrud who hides messages for the resistance. The web of deceit draws in Nazi officers and local collaborators, heightening the danger of exposure as the raid approaches.
-
02
Romance
Nicole’s relationship with Captain Allan Lowell evolves from a wartime liaison to a complex bond shaped by fear and loyalty. Their past romance complicates orders and risk assessment as they navigate the wedding, deception, and the plan to stage Dichter’s disappearance. Love and duty collide in a world where trust is scarce and every kiss could be a shield or a trap.
-
03
Sacrifice
The raid on the Stavik oil dumps demands immense sacrifice from both the resistance and the sabotaged collaborators. Allan kills Dichter to protect Nicole, a brutal act born of betrayed trust and shifting loyalties. Ole dies during the mission, and von Elser is killed in the ensuing explosion, underscoring the high cost of resistance and the difficult choices faced by those who oppose occupation.
What Kind of Film Is First Comes Courage?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A relentlessly tense wartime thriller that traps its characters in a claustrophobic web of suspicion and betrayal, where every act of courage is shadowed by personal loss and emotional sacrifice.
- tense
- paranoid
- claustrophobic
- anxious
- high stakes
- melancholic
- war espionage
- resistance
- undercover agent
- betrayal
Content notes: war violence, betrayal, capture and interrogation, self sacrifice, psychological manipulation.
Quiz
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