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Decision Before Dawn

Play trailer Poster for Decision Before Dawn Released Dec 21, 1951 1h 59m Drama War Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
During World War II, an American intelligence unit led by Col. Devlin (Gary Merrill) is recruiting German prisoners of war to infiltrate enemy lines and gather vital information. Lt. Rennick (Richard Basehart) heads a unit of Germans that includes the mistrustful "Tiger" (Hans Christian Blech) and the wide-eyed "Happy" (Oskar Werner). When word arrives that a German general is about to negotiate the surrender of his corps, Devlin sends Rennick and his volunteers on a dangerous mission.
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Decision Before Dawn

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
Bob Thomas Associated Press Movie-making at its best. Aug 7, 2019 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Werner, who served in the Axis forces during the war, gives a magnetic performance. Jan 31, 2012 Full Review TV Guide An outstanding production in all aspects. Rated: 4/4 Jan 31, 2012 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It's most noted for being more sympathetic to peace loving German soldiers than are most American war films. Rated: B- Apr 14, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Litvak's intriguing account of U.S. Intelligence operation during the last year of WWII was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, boasting a good performance from the young Oskar Werner as a sensitive and naive German soldier-traitor. Rated: B+ Jan 24, 2008 Full Review Michael W. Phillips, Jr. Goatdog's Movies The film manages to be suitably hard on the Nazi regime while providing one of the first sympathetic treatments of the German people. Rated: 3.5/5 May 2, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I have watch a lot of early WW2 films recently, from 40s - 60s, and many favour the gung-ho soldiers with weak females and poor battle scenes. This film is completely different. It covers the war from a German perspective. The scenes feel very real. The dialog is great. Its based on a true story. It stands up very well against modern war films, so i highly recommend it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review william d Fair to middling WWII drama. Richard Basehart gets top billing but this is really Oskar Werner's movie. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d Noteworthy because of its different prospective. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a real gem. It is almost as good as The Third Man. What the crew must have gone through. The introduction is a bit ponderous, but once it kicks in, you can't stop watching. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review paul d An excellent, realistic and gritty film, this is a war drama but especially a human drama, with an outstanding performance by Oskar Werner. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A very good 1951 war movie about Germain prisoners of war near the end of the war spying for the Americans great acting especially 2 Germain actors Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Decision Before Dawn

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Decision Before Dawn

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Movie Info

Synopsis During World War II, an American intelligence unit led by Col. Devlin (Gary Merrill) is recruiting German prisoners of war to infiltrate enemy lines and gather vital information. Lt. Rennick (Richard Basehart) heads a unit of Germans that includes the mistrustful "Tiger" (Hans Christian Blech) and the wide-eyed "Happy" (Oskar Werner). When word arrives that a German general is about to negotiate the surrender of his corps, Devlin sends Rennick and his volunteers on a dangerous mission.
Director
Anatole Litvak
Producer
Anatole Litvak, Frank McCarthy
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox, Bavaria Film
Genre
Drama, War, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 21, 1951, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 22, 2013
Runtime
1h 59m
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