Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-18
BY JOHN L. sTURDEVANT
Motion Picture Editor

~ NhAAA' th"fAAA AtAANA E'f'i o.
4 Helmut Dantine, young Hol-
y lywood actor. may well rep
resent an accurate picture Of the
cruel and loathsome Nazi officer
Those who saw Mrs. Minivcr"
will not forget him as the young
Nazi fler captured in the
kitchen of the heroine Of the film.
Soon audiences will view Dan
tine In Warner Brothers Edge
Of Darkness" 10 which ne brings
a sharp likeness Of German Of
ficer in command Of a captured
Norwegian village.
But the experiences which Mr..
Dantine brings TO his characteri-
cations are the result, not OF a
directors promptings. but Of a
deep conviction.
Heln1ut Dantine is an implaca-
BILE foe OF Nazism and every
thing it stands for, In fact. he
was imprisoned for three months
In German concentration camp.
While there. ne had an unrivalled
opportunity 10 view the forces
of Hitler at work lie was only
twenty years old at the time and
wha3 Che experienced has never
left his mind or his conscience
Dantine was a student at the
University of Vienna and had
just completed his studies for a
position in the Austrian consular
and diplomatic service. Just be-
fore he was 20 leave for a Lon
don post in March. 1888, the Hit
Ter legions invaded Austria
He was thrust into a concen-
tration camp with thousands of
others, but was released after
three months on condition that
he was 10 leave the country Rel
atives in this country arranged
for his passage and when ne ar
rived here nc went 20 their home
in Los Angeles
In his studies at the University.
Dantinc had learned English and
his education fitted him for a POI
sition Of sccuri, V. But upper
most in his mind were two ambi-
tions. The first was 10 pit his
own wits and talents against the
Nazis and the second was TO pre-
pare himself for what must be.
come his personal mission some
day--to re-educate the European
countries which have been forced
10 submit 20 the Nazi heel.
He realized that he must seek
for some universal means of ex-
preston and he chose the theatre.
Then came Mrs. Miniver." IN
which, though his role was small.
he gave a picture of such con-
vincing horror that his name was
made.
Following that, he appeared in
"CasablanCa" and then came his
big chance in Edge of Dark
ness. II was a role which re-
quired a deep knowledge Of Ger
man youth, and Dantine put all
he had into il.
Ills performance is a trench.
ant and biting study of the COM
mandant Of a garrison who is
frustrated at every turn by the
superb NorwcCians. The film
stars Enrol Hymn, Ann Sheri-
dan, Walter Huston, Nancy Cole
man, Judith Anderson and Ruth
Gordon and many other familiar
names. It's spiritual overtoncs
make it one of the finest pictures
of the year, a gripping experience
for any audience of any age.
OF outstanding significance is
the drama which Dantine brings
TO his part. Helpless, in the face
Of resistance, Dantine. as Cap
tain Koenig, realizes how he has
been duped by slogans and
phrases and-well, 1 mustn't give
away the terrific climax.
The production has been beau
tifully handled and altogether
Edge of DARKNESS" is a stirring
tribute to our friends in Norway.
To Helmut Dantine, it repre-
sents the first big landmark in
his career. Not only has he out.
smarted the propagandists Of
Berlin by his magnificent char.
acter study and thereby realized
one of his ambitions, but he has
shown himself TO be ready for
the stardom which he so richly