The General Died at Dawn (1936)

Amid the anarchy of China, an American mercenary tangles with a ruthless warlord.

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

Charles G. Booth (story), Clifford Odets

Stars:

Gary Cooper, Madeleine Carroll, Akim Tamiroff

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gary Cooper	...	O'Hara
Madeleine Carroll	...	Judy Perrie
Akim Tamiroff	...	Gen. Yang
Dudley Digges	...	Mr. Wu
Porter Hall	...	Peter Perrie
William Frawley	...	Brighton
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Leach
Philip Ahn	...	Oxford
Lee Tung Foo	...	Mr. Chen (as Lee Tung-Foo)
Leonid Kinskey	...	Stewart
Val Duran	...	Wong
Willie Fung	...	Bartender at Mansion House Hotel
Hans Fuerberg	...	Yang's Military Advisor (as Hans Furberg)
John O'Hara	...	Reporter

Storyline

In revolution-torn China, American mercenary O'Hara is entrusted with a perilous mission, to get arms for the helpless authorities in a province ravaged by warlord General Yang. On the train to Shanghai, he meets Judy Perrie, whose father is in league with Yang. Will Judy regret agreeing to lure O'Hara to his doom, and if so, can she make it up to him? The balance of power seesaws to a perilous conclusion.

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Plot Keywords:

mercenary | warlord | china

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Genres:

Adventure | Crime | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 October 1936 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Chinese Gold

Filming Locations:

China

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of over 700 Paramount productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by MCA ever since.

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Goofs

While arguing with Peter, Judy slams a book down on the desk. A couple of other books on the corner of the desk disappear in a later scene.

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Quotes

Judy Perrie: If I believed like that in anything... I'd do a dance.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits all appear on the sails of boats.

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Connections

Referenced in M*A*S*H: The General Flipped at Dawn (1974)

User Reviews

Oddly Compelling Story.

Did you ever come in late to a movie and miss the beginning? You have to try hard to concentrate and catch up, all the while feeling off-balance and wondering how much you missed. That's the way this picture starts off, and I spent some time trying to 'fit in' to the plot. But this film's plot moves at break-neck speed and made me think it is an editing flaw.

Having recovered, I found the story completely original and refreshing (can't think of too many Chinese Civil War flicks!). I also found a lack of tension - what's the opposite of nerve-wracking? - as there is no sense of urgency to the proceedings. The principals were just fine; Gary Cooper, Madeleine Carroll and Akim Tamiroff, and special mention must be made of Philip Ahn, who was the personification of evil Japanese military in many WWII pictures.

It is worth viewing but is a minor entry in the Gary Cooper canon. I liked it and recommend it but I plan to watch it again soon because I think it is one of those pictures in which some subtlety is overlooked in only one viewing.