Decision Before Dawn

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Mark B *So* close to being great: Shot on location in Europe, when huge swaths were still in ruins, the film is visually stunning. Some of the practical effects, such as the aerial bombardment of a bridge, are very impressive. The German actors do a remarkable job, especially Oskar Werner ("Happy"), who delivers a subtle, nuanced performance. Hildegard Knef also makes the most of her short amount of screen time, as a weary prostitute -- despite being only 26 when the film shot, she exudes a combination of hardness and regret, who comes across as decades older. / The American "leads" are less developed, although Richard Basehart is adequate. I put "lead" in quotes because his character disappears from the film for almost an hour. / The weak point of the film is the convoluted plot, followed by some very awkward dialogue, deficiencies which clash with the otherwise amazing production values. And it's unclear if Basehart's character speaks fluent German, as all of the characters speak English with a German accent in every scene. I realize this was a common practice at the time but it still jars my modern ears. And the soldier's aim is, if possible, worse than the Star Wars stormtroopers. / Like "Best Years of Our Lives," this is a bold film for its time: The war was barely over, Germany was still under occupation, and the idea of dedicating 2/3 of the film to a reasonably sympathetic German character must have been a hard sell in Hollywood. Basehart's Lt. Rennick is a proxy for the audience: He is unenthusiastic about the mission, and loathes turncoats. His gradual acceptance of the dedication of Happy might have left the audiences thinking about their own feelings towards Germans. / The chaotic period of Germany by late 1944, when it was obvious that defeat was imminent, is a ripe, layered subject with endless possibilities. I generally do not like the idea of remakes of classic films, but this script could be expanded into a powerful miniseries, with modern standards of on-screen violence, the ability to develop immersive, large-scale virtual sets like those in 1917, and of course authentic dialogue. It would make for a great Apple+ six-episode series. / (#465 in my "watch every BP-nominated film" Bucket List.) (Does anyone know how to put line breaks into the reviews??? Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/28/25 Full Review 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 4.5/5 Stars •  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 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d Noteworthy because of its different prospective. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  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 5/5 Stars •  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 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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