Decision Before Dawn
Decision Before Dawn

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- 72/100 based on 2,860 votes

WWII is entering its last phase: Germany is in ruins, but does not yield. The US army lacks crucial knowledge about the German units operating on the opposite side of the Rhine, and decides to send two German prisoners to gather information. The scheme is risky: the Gestapo retains a terribly efficient network to identify and capture spies and deserters. Moreover, it is not clear that "Tiger", who does not mind any dirty work as long as the price is right, and war-weary "Happ... (Full plot summary below)

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Actors in Decision Before Dawn:

Richard Basehart
Gary Merrill
Oskar Werner
Hildegard Knef
Dominique Blanchar
O.E. Hasse

Full Plot Details

WWII is entering its last phase: Germany is in ruins, but does not yield. The US army lacks crucial knowledge about the German units operating on the opposite side of the Rhine, and decides to send two German prisoners to gather information. The scheme is risky: the Gestapo retains a terribly efficient network to identify and capture spies and deserters. Moreover, it is not clear that "Tiger", who does not mind any dirty work as long as the price is right, and war-weary "Happy", who might be easily betrayed by his feelings, are dependable agents. After Tiger and another American agent are successfully infiltrated, Happy is parachuted in Bavaria. His duty: find out the whereabouts of a powerful German armored unit moving towards the western front.

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Movie Reviews

Chicago Reader - 9/10 by J. R. JonesWerner, who served in the Axis forces during the war, gives a magnetic performance.
EmanuelLevy.Com - 7/10 by Emanuel LevyLitvak's intriguing account of U.S. Intelligence operation during the last year of WWII was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, boasting a good performance from the young Oskar Werner as a sensitive and naive German soldier-traitor.
Goatdog's Movies - 7/10 by Michael W. Phillips, Jr.The film manages to be suitably hard on the Nazi regime while providing one of the first sympathetic treatments of the German people.
User Review - 10/10 by Private Umore than a war movie it's a movie about people at war so much more than good guys and bad guys
User Review - 10/10 by Jon CA little known and great war movie. Oscar Werner's first film role, extremely realistic -- the film was shot on location in Germany not long after WW 2 ended, with many German actors.
User Review - 10/10 by Adam DA great ww2 film that I still think about from time to time!
User Review - 10/10 by Robert S[b]***spoilers***[/b] I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Decision Before Dawn was made available on DVD. I've only been able to watch it on the rare occasions its been shown on television. Decision Before Dawn was released in 1951 and directed by Anatole Litvak. It stars as Oskar Werner as 'Happy'. At the '52 Adacemy Awards it was nominated for editing and best picture. The movie was filmeds in Germany and Europe. The destruction a viewer sees in it is the real thing. Remants of the 'Big One'. This movie is a must see in my humble opinion. I will go out on a limb and say you'll never find another WWII picture that is told from this particular point of view. At the same time it is a war and espionage picture. The catch is that the spies are German traitors recruited from prisoner of war camps. Focus is placed on two of these turncoats and they represent different ends of the spectrum. One, Werner's, is codenamed 'Happy'. Happy is a person who decides to help the Allies because he truly does love his country and feels that this is the best way to help Germany. The other, 'Tiger' played by Hans Christian Blech, is a murkier figure. One thing I love about this picture is a viewer is never quite sure if Tiger is working for the Allies or is a double agent. The one thing you are sure about Tiger is, he's all about himself. What's in it for Tiger? That's his credo. Out of the two, Happy is the main character. We are introduced to him at the very beginning of Decision when he is captured by one of his soon to be teamates, Lt. Rennick played by Richard Basehart. We see his experiences in the P.O.W. camp, his recruitment and mission training. These parts of the movie are all interesting especially when he witnesses his fellow German POWs kill a suspected traitor but the movie really kicks into gear when Happy is parachuted back into Germany to gather intelligence for the Allies. Happy is tasked with finding the headquarters of the 11 Panzer Corps. Unfortunately for Happy things start going awry the moment he hits the ground. On the ground, Happy not only has to deal with his mission but with the people he encounters. In every encounter he has to face the myriad ways the war has devastated his countrymen and know that he is betraying them. It is these encounters that give the movie its power. He deals with friends who unknowningly could expose him. He sees people killed simply because they are looking out for their families. Children turn in people to the authorities. Everywhere the irrationality of war consumes the screen. Although he isn't aware of it at first, the Gestapo and [i]SS[/i] are on to him almost from the get go. The movie presents great drama from this. One scene in particular always stood out to me. Happy and a [i]SS[/i] man, Scholtz played by Wilfried Seyferth get into an argument because Happy makes the mistake of calling Alsace part of France. Decision Before Dawn is extremely well done. It is suspenseful and dramatic. At the beginning we hear Rennick in say, "Why would anyone become a spy? If they win no one remembers them, if they fail, they are killed." This sentiment is made all the more poignant at the end of the film when he find out everything was unnecessary.
User Review - 10/10 by Steve SAn amazing film that lost the best picture Oscar in 1951 to "An American In Paris." Oskar Werner (Fahrenheit 451) delivers an unforgetable performance in this classic WWII drama.
User Review - 10/10 by Martin LExcellent in every regard! If you liked Stalag 17 or Judgment at Nuremberg - you will enjoy this story. I have no idea why this Oscar nominated film for Best Picture - just a wonderful piece of filmmaking - is not so much talked about these days. This is directed by the director of The Snake Pit, one of first (and possibly best) movies concerning mental illness.
User Review - 8/10 by James HVery realistic if not hyperrealistic WWII espionage movie. Shot on real locations in bombed Germany after the war. Very thrilling.

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