Dawn (1933)
"Morgenrot" (original title)

In 1915, Captain Liers, commander of a submarine is leaving his hometown, where he, his 2nd officer and the radio-operator, who is married there, spend their shore leave. Liers two brothers... See full summary »

Directors:

Vernon Sewell, Gustav Ucicky

Writers:

E. Freiherr v. Spiegel (idea), Gerhard Menzel

Stars:

Rudolf Forster, Fritz Genschow, Adele Sandrock

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rudolf Forster	...	Kapitanleutnant Helmut Liers
Fritz Genschow	...	Oberleutnant 'Phipps' Fredericks
Adele Sandrock	...	Liers' Mother
Camilla Spira	...	GreteJaul, Fredericks' girl
Paul Westermeier	...	Seaman Jaul
Gerhard Bienert	...	Seaman Böhm
Friedrich Gnaß	...	Juraczik
Franz Nicklisch	...	Petermann
Hans Leibelt	...	Bürgermeister von Meerskirchen
Else Knott	...	Helga, Jaul's girl
Eduard von Winterstein	...	Hauptmann Kolch
Charles Bush	...	English Seaman
Frank Perfitt	...	English Seaman
William Cavanagh	...	English Seaman
G.W. Stroud	...	English Seaman

Storyline

In 1915, Captain Liers, commander of a submarine is leaving his hometown, where he, his 2nd officer and the radio-operator, who is married there, spend their shore leave. Liers two brothers were already killed in action, so his mother doesn't like the idea of him going back to his sub. Liers thinks his 2nd officer is in love with a local girl, who is really pining for him. On patrol they sink a British armoured cruiser, but while returning to their harbor, they're attacked by a sub trap. They're able to sink it, but the trap has alarmed a destroyer, that sinks their sub. The sub lays on the sea bed at 200 feet, and except for the bridge, it is full of water. 10 members of the crew survived, but there are only 8 rescue devices. Liers gives the order, that the crew shall use them, but they disobey, either all get out or nobody...

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Plot Keywords:

submarine | propaganda | q ship | world war one

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German English

Release Date:

2 February 1933 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Dawn

Filming Locations:

Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universum Film (UFA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Klangfilm)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Finnish submarine "Iku-Turso" was used in some scenes. Ufa (the production company) also purchased the Finnish schooner "Maria av Viborg" to be blown up as the British U-boat trap in the battle scene.

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Connections

Featured in Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood: End of an Era (1995)

User Reviews

Ufa co-operated with Finnish Army

Outdoor U-Boat scenes in Morgenrot were filmed in Helsinki, Finland in co-operation with Finnish Army. Finland was the only country in Europe to allow Ufa to use her U-Boats for filming.

Liason officer was Heikki Parkkonen, head of filming in Finnish Army and also another member of his staff, photographer Vilho Armas Pentikäinen took part of filming. Parkkonen did actually part of shooting for the film. Later was found that Pentikäinen was spying for Russia. He defected in 1933 to Russia.

Parkkonen and navy commanders Eero Rahola and Akseli Raninen took part of Berlin festivities of film premiere in January 1933.