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Decision Before Dawn (1951)
7.4
As the US Army approaches Nazi Germany, they recruit German prisoners to spy behind German lines. Director:Anatole Litvak |
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119 min - 
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Nominated for 2 Oscars.
Another
1 win
&
2 nominations
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Richard Basehart | ... |
Lt. Dick Rennick
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| Gary Merrill | ... |
Col. Devlin
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| Oskar Werner | ... |
Cpl. Karl Maurer aka Happy
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Hildegard Knef | ... |
Hilde
(as Hildegarde Neff)
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Dominique Blanchar | ... |
Monique
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O.E. Hasse | ... |
Col. Von Ecker
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Wilfried Seyferth | ... |
Heinz Scholtz - SS Man
(as Wilfried Seyfert)
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Hans Christian Blech | ... |
Sgt. Rudolf Barth aka Tiger
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Helen Thimig | ... |
Fräulein Paula Schneider
(as Helene Thimig)
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Robert Freitag | ... |
Sgt. Paul Richter
(as Robert Freytag)
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George Tyne | ... |
Sgt. Griffin
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C.A. Amos | ... |
Himself
(as C.A. Amos 1st Lt. USAF)
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Harold Benedict | ... |
Himself
(as H.L. Benedict S/Sgt. USAF)
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H.W. Briggs | ... |
Himself
(as H.W. Briggs Sgt. USA)
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D.G. Devine | ... |
Himself
(as D.G. Devine Cpl. USAF)
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Storyline
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. Written by Eduardo Casais <eduardo.casais@research.nokia.com>
Plot Summary | Add SynopsisTaglines:
A woman's kiss . . . A lighted cigarette - Each had Its meaning! An exciting and realistic story of war . . . of German Prisoners Sent Back Behind Their Own Lines as Agents of the Allies!Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
(Sweden) See more »Also Known As:
Entscheidung vor Morgengrauen See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
| West Germany:Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Based on a true story. Towards the end of the war, Allied military intelligence services did recruit, train and utilize German POWs to return to Germany and spy for them. See more »Goofs
Miscellaneous: Before Karl (AKA Happy) parachutes back into Germany, the US crewman in the aircraft says that he is glad "every time that a string of hundred pounders leave that bomb rack". The aircraft that they are in is a C47, a cargo plane, and did not have bomb racks. See more »Quotes
Narrator: [First Lines] Of all the questions left unanswered by the last war, and probably any war, one comes back constantly to my mind. Why does a spy risk his life. For what possible reason, If the spy wins, he's ignored. If he loses, he's shot.See more »
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