The Day Will Dawn (1942)

In 1939 as Hitler's invasion of neighboring countries continue, a British journalist (Hugh Williams) is sent to Norway (a neutral country) as a foreign correspondent. While on a fishing boat with its owner (Finlay Currie) and his daughter (Deborah Kerr), they are fired upon by a German U boat. Evidence points to an imminent invasion of Norway but no one will take his warning seriously. America wasn't the only country churning out cinematic propaganda for morale purposes during WWII. While not as prolific, Great Britain did their part for the war effort and THE DAY WILL DAWN (retitled THE AVENGERS in the U.S.) is one of those projects. It starts off promisingly, not unlike Hitchcock's FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, and promises to be an engrossing spy thriller. But after the film's first half hour or so that prospect is quickly put to rest. The remainder of the film is an often incoherent, predictable piece of patriotic hype. Directed by Harold French with Terence Rattigan contributing to the screenplay. With Ralph Richardson, Patricia Medina, Francis L. Sullivan, Roland Culver and Griffith Jones.