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IMDbPro

The Hour Before the Dawn

  • 19441944
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 14m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
187
YOUR RATING
Veronica Lake and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • War
A beautiful Austrian refugee in England--who is also a Nazi agent--marries a scholarly English pacifist. He lives near a secret military base she needs to get information about so she can he... Read allA beautiful Austrian refugee in England--who is also a Nazi agent--marries a scholarly English pacifist. He lives near a secret military base she needs to get information about so she can help in Hitler's planned invasion of England.A beautiful Austrian refugee in England--who is also a Nazi agent--marries a scholarly English pacifist. He lives near a secret military base she needs to get information about so she can help in Hitler's planned invasion of England.
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
187
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Tuttle
  • Writers
    • W. Somerset Maugham(novel)
    • Lesser Samuels(adaptation)
    • Michael Hogan(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Veronica Lake
    • Franchot Tone
    • John Sutton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Frank Tuttle
  • Writers
    • W. Somerset Maugham(novel)
    • Lesser Samuels(adaptation)
    • Michael Hogan(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Veronica Lake
    • Franchot Tone
    • John Sutton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 10User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos13

    Veronica Lake and John Sutton in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake, Binnie Barnes, and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake, Binnie Barnes, and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake, Binnie Barnes, John Sutton, and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake, Binnie Barnes, Philip Merivale, Henry Stephenson, John Sutton, and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)
    Veronica Lake and Franchot Tone in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Veronica Lake
    Veronica Lake
    • Dora Bruckmannas Dora Bruckmann
    Franchot Tone
    Franchot Tone
    • Jim Hethertonas Jim Hetherton
    John Sutton
    John Sutton
    • Roger Hethertonas Roger Hetherton
    Binnie Barnes
    Binnie Barnes
    • May Heathertonas May Heatherton
    Henry Stephenson
    Henry Stephenson
    • Gen. Hethertonas Gen. Hetherton
    Philip Merivale
    Philip Merivale
    • Sir Leslie Buchanonas Sir Leslie Buchanon
    Nils Asther
    Nils Asther
    • Kurt van der Breughelas Kurt van der Breughel
    Edmund Breon
    Edmund Breon
    • Freddy Merrittas Freddy Merritt
    David Leland
    David Leland
    • Tommy Hethertonas Tommy Hetherton
    Aminta Dyne
    • Hertha Parkinsas Hertha Parkins
    Harry Allen
    • Mr. Saundersas Mr. Saunders
    • (uncredited)
    David Clyde
    David Clyde
    • Farmeras Farmer
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Cording
    Harry Cording
    • Samas Sam
    • (uncredited)
    Marie De Becker
    • Ameliaas Amelia
    • (uncredited)
    Leslie Denison
    • Capt. Atterleyas Capt. Atterley
    • (uncredited)
    Charles H. Faber
    • German Pilotas German Pilot
    • (uncredited)
    Deidre Gale
    • Emmaas Emma
    • (uncredited)
    Karen X. Gaylord
    Karen X. Gaylord
    • Maidas Maid
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Frank Tuttle
    • Writers
      • W. Somerset Maugham(novel)
      • Lesser Samuels(adaptation)
      • Michael Hogan(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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 Universal ever since. Its initial television presentation took place in Omaha Tuesday 6 January 1959 on KETV (Channel 7), followed by Chicago Friday 16 January 1959 on WBBM (Channel 2); in Asheville it first aired 6 June 1959 on WLOS (Channel 13), in Grand Rapids aired 7 August 1959 on WOOD (Channel 8), in Seattle 2 September 1959 on KIRO (Channel 7), in Detroit 24 September 1959 on WJBK (Channel 2), in Milwaukee 2 October 1959 on WITI (Channel 6), in Phoenix 7 November 1959 on KVAR (Channel 12), in Johnstown 11 November 1959 on WJAC (Channel 6), in Philadelphia 4 December 1959 on WCAU (Channel 10), in Pittsburgh 5 December on KDKA (Channel 2), in New York City 29 April 1960 on WCBS (Channel 2), and in Los Angeles 14 September 1960 on KNXT (Channel 2).
    • Quotes

      Tommy Hetherton: You don't think the Germans could win, do you, Daddy?

      Roger Hetherton: Yes, I think they could. But they won't.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Still Life 2 (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Beer Barrel Polka
      (Roll Out the Barrel) (uncredited)

      Music by Jaromir Vejvoda (1927)

      Lyrics by Lew Brown and Wladimir A. Timm

      Led by Binnie Barnes during an air raid

    User reviews10

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Good Wartime Spy Drama
    Franchot Tone is a teacher from a landed country family in England. As the events in Europe unroll, from the Anschluss through the seizing of the Sudetenland, he remains a staunch and reasoned pacifist. He loves England, but will not kill. When Britain declares war, he seeks and obtains Conscientious Objector status, and goes to work on a nearby farm. What he does not know is that the woman he loves, Veronica Lake, is not just an Austrian refugee. She is a Nazi spy.

    It's a competent wartime programmer from the solid director Frank Tuttle, filled with the British Colony actors: Binnie Barnes, Henry Stephenson, Phillip Merivale and others. There are some nice performances, especially Miss Barnes as a former entertainer who calms the children during an air raid by leading them in performing "Roll Out the Barrel" to a player piano. Miss Lake is also very good, playing her role very quietly. It's not a world-beater of a movie, but a very well-done effort.
    helpful•1
    0
    • boblipton
    • Aug 27, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 22, 1944 (Portugal)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Timmen före gryningen
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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