''They Raid by Night'' is a 1942 American low-budget

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

film directed by

Spencer Gordon Bennet Spencer Gordon Bennet (January 5, 1893 – October 8, 1987) was an American film producer and director. Known as the "King of Serial Directors", he directed more film serials than any other director. Biography Born in Brooklyn, New York, Benne ...

and starring Lyle Talbot and June Duprez. It was from Producers Releasing Corporation.

Plot

The story follows the insertion of

British Commandos The Commandos, also known as the British Commandos, were formed during the World War II, Second World War in June 1940, following a request from Winston Churchill, for special forces that could carry out Raid (military), raids against German-occ ...

into

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

to rescue Norwegian Gen. Heden from captivity and take him to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

to lead the

Free Norwegian Forces The Norwegian armed forces in exile () were remnants of the armed forces of Norway that continued to fight the Axis Powers, Axis powers from Allies of World War II, Allied countries, such as United Kingdom, Britain and Canada, after they had escap ...

. The film opens with the execution of a British spy who was sent to support partisan activities. A small team is assembled which consists of Canadian Capt. Robert Owen, British Sgt. Harry Hall and Norwegian Lt. Erik Falken. The team parachutes in, but Falken is recognised by a local woman who reports them to her German lover and Dalberg, a Quisling. A team is sent to capture them but after they overpower their captors and free the general from the prison camp. They are soon pursued by the German authorities. On the road in a captured German car, they are attacked and forced to take shelter after Heden is hurt. They send Falken to get assistance from a doctor but he is betrayed once again by the same woman whom he had known when growing up in his hometown. The Germans take Falken alive and, pretending to be the doctor they requested, capture Owen near the house they are hiding in. Hall manages to keep Heden in safety in the house. Owen misleads the Germans about their escape plans and after the Germans realise their mistake, they are surprised to find that the two prisoners have been freed by Dalberg. Owen and Falken manage to return to Hall and Heden, and the party moves off to rendezvous with the incoming Commandos and

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

boats. The film includes real footage from British Commando raids on German occupying forces in Norway in March and

December December is the twelfth and final month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. December's name derives from the Latin word ''decem'' (meaning ten) because it was originally the tenth month of the year in t ...

of 1941.

Main cast

* Lyle Talbot as Capt. Robert Owen * June Duprez as Inga Beckering * Victor Varconi as Col. Otto von Ritter * George N. Neise as Lt. Erik Falken *

Charley Rogers Charles Rogers (15 January 1887 – 20 December 1956) was an English film actor, film director, director and screenwriter best known for his association with Laurel and Hardy. He was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, and was the so ...

as Sgt. Harry Hall * Paul Baratoff as Maj. Gen. Heden * Leslie Denison as Capt. Ralph Deane * Crane Whitley as Doctor * Sven Hugo Borg as Dalberg * Eric Wilton as Maj. Gen. Lloyd * Pierce Lyden as Braun, Ritter's Aide * John Beck as Mr. Sandling, Beggar * Robert Fischer as Major Von Memel * Sigfrid Tor as German Lieutenant *Brian O'Hara as Lammet, Radio Broadcaster *

'Snub' Pollard Harold Fraser (9 November 1889 – 19 January 1962), known professionally as Snub Pollard, was an Australian-born vaudevillian who became a silent film comedian in Hollywood, popular in the 1920s. Career Born in Melbourne, Australia, on 9 N ...

as Bertie, Messenger / Orderly * Bruce Kellogg as Sentry

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:They Raid By Night Commandos (United Kingdom) 1942 films 1942 drama films American World War II films 1940s English-language films American black-and-white films Producers Releasing Corporation films World War II films made in wartime Films set in Norway Films about Norwegian resistance movement American drama films Films directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet English-language drama films