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IMDbPro

Decision Before Dawn

  • 19511951
  • PGPG
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
Dominique Blanchar, Hildegard Knef, and Oskar Werner in Decision Before Dawn (1951)
Trailer for this story of a man who spied on his own country
Play trailer2:58
1 Video
21 Photos
DramaWar
As the US Army approaches Nazi Germany, they recruit German prisoners to spy behind German lines.As the US Army approaches Nazi Germany, they recruit German prisoners to spy behind German lines.As the US Army approaches Nazi Germany, they recruit German prisoners to spy behind German lines.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
    • Anatole Litvak
  • Writers
    • Peter Viertel(screenplay)
    • George Howe(novel "Call It Treason")
    • Jack Rollens(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Richard Basehart
    • Gary Merrill
    • Oskar Werner
    • Anatole Litvak
  • Writers
    • Peter Viertel(screenplay)
    • George Howe(novel "Call It Treason")
    • Jack Rollens(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Richard Basehart
    • Gary Merrill
    • Oskar Werner
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 60User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars

    Videos1

    Decision Before Dawn
    Trailer 2:58
    Watch Decision Before Dawn

    Photos21

    Decision Before Dawn (1951)
    Decision Before Dawn (1951)
    WC
    Decision Before Dawn (1951)
    Klaus Kinski in Decision Before Dawn (1951)
    Dominique Blanchar and Oskar Werner in Decision Before Dawn (1951)
    Gary Merrill and Oskar Werner in Decision Before Dawn (1951)
    Oskar Werner in Decision Before Dawn (1951)
    Hildegard Knef and Oskar Werner in Decision Before Dawn (1951)
    Hildegard Knef and Oskar Werner in Decision Before Dawn (1951)
    Hildegard Knef and Oskar Werner in Decision Before Dawn (1951)
    Hildegard Knef in Decision Before Dawn (1951)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Basehart
    Richard Basehart
    • Lt. Dick Rennick
    Gary Merrill
    Gary Merrill
    • Col. Devlin
    Oskar Werner
    Oskar Werner
    • Cpl. Karl Maurer - aka Happy
    Hildegard Knef
    Hildegard Knef
    • Hilde
    • (as Hildegarde Neff)
    Dominique Blanchar
    Dominique Blanchar
    • Monique
    O.E. Hasse
    O.E. Hasse
    • Col. Oberst von Ecker
    Wilfried Seyferth
    • Heinz Scholtz - SS Man
    • (as Wilfried Seyfert)
    Hans Christian Blech
    Hans Christian Blech
    • Sgt. Rudolf Barth - aka Tiger
    Helene Thimig
    Helene Thimig
    • Fräulein Paula Schneider
    Robert Freitag
    Robert Freitag
    • Sgt. Paul Richter
    • (as Robert Freytag)
    George Tyne
    George Tyne
    • Sgt. Griffin
    C.A. Amos
    • Self
    • (as C.A. Amos 1st Lt. USAF)
    Harold Benedict
    • Lt. Pete Gevers
    • (as H.L. Benedict S/Sgt. USAF)
    H.W. Briggs
    • Self
    • (as H.W. Briggs Sgt. USA)
    D.G. Devine
    • Lt. Rennick's Driver
    • (as D.G. Devine Cpl. USAF)
    L.E. Dixon
    • Self
    • (as L.E. Dixon Maj. USA)
    B.L. Hendrickson
    • Self
    • (as B.L. Hendrickson T/Sgt. USA)
    D. Kogel
    • Self
    • (as D. Kogel Pvt. USA)
      • Anatole Litvak
    • Writers
      • Peter Viertel(screenplay)
      • George Howe(novel "Call It Treason")
      • Jack Rollens(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of the first films after World War II to portray the German people--outside of the Nazi regime--in a sympathetic light.
    • Goofs
      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.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Dick Rennick: [Intro narration] 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.

    • Connections
      Referenced in That Girl: Decision Before Dawn (1968)
    • Soundtracks
      Ach, wie ist' möglich dann (Treue Liebe)
      (uncredited)
      Written by Friedrich Kücken (1827)

    User reviews60

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    excellent, little-known movie
    Surprisingly good war film unknown to me before I saw it on American Movie Classics. Cast is excellent. Characters are well-drawn. The film is the best portrayal I have yet seen on celluloid of Germany in its stages of final collapse as the end of WWII nears. Some very impressive interiors are beautifully shot - the cathedral that serves as intelligence hq, and the castle or chateau that is the German command hq. Engrossing story of conflicted loyalties, and good action and suspense as well. I can only add my agreement with the positive comments already entered.
    helpful•54
    3
    • rupie
    • Jul 24, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 25, 1952 (Norway)
      • United States
      • West Germany
      • English
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Munich, Bavaria, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Bavaria Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 59 minutes
      • Black and White

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