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Synopsis
With the Third Reich disintegrating, several members of the German army are defecting to the Americans and offering their services as spies. US officer Colonel Devlin (Gary Merrill) trusts none of these last-minute converts, but German prisoner Karl Maurer (Oskar Werner) seems to be sincere. Maurer insists that by helping the Americans, he is saving Germany from destruction. Devlin sends Maurer behind enemy lines for counter-espionage with an American officer Dick Rennick (Richard Basehart), who still isn't convinced that the German expatriate means what he says. At several critical junctures, it seems as though Maurer has been lying about his mission, but at the last moment he saves Rennick's life at the cost of his own...but was this act of bravery intentional?
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Based on a true story and filmed in atmospheric black and white, Decision Before Dawn was made entirely on location among the ruins of postwar Europe - unusual for Hollywood films of the time. The story of German POWs being recruited to work as undercover agents in their own country in late 1944 benefits from understated performances and an almost total lack of background music. Much more of an espionage film than a war movie, the heightened sense of reality serves the stifled emotions and confused motives of the characters perfectly. The film only briefly loses its way once - to include the obligatory fallen female - but even this episode is handled well.
Although not top billed, Oskar Werner plays the central character - an idealistic medic caught up in circumstances that have little to do with truth or honesty. One of the finest screen actors ever, Werner gives a superb multi-layered performance, acting as much with his eyes as his voice. The rest of the cast is also good - many of them in far from sympathetic parts. The fact that this was considered to be a prestige film is underlined by the presence of Richard Basehart, an actor whose reputation has undeservedly faded over the years.
The direction of Anatole Litvak provides just the right mixture of drama and suspense - more genuine suspense than in most Hitchcock films. The script is a taut, no-frills affair. It asks questions but provides no easy answers. The film was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. Of course, it didn't win and became rather neglected over the years. Not because it is not a good film, which it certainly is, but possibly because it is not just another bit of mindless entertainment. The drama and suspense engage your emotions, but Decision Before Dawn also gives you a lot to think about.
Although not top billed, Oskar Werner plays the central character - an idealistic medic caught up in circumstances that have little to do with truth or honesty. One of the finest screen actors ever, Werner gives a superb multi-layered performance, acting as much with his eyes as his voice. The rest of the cast is also good - many of them in far from sympathetic parts. The fact that this was considered to be a prestige film is underlined by the presence of Richard Basehart, an actor whose reputation has undeservedly faded over the years.
The direction of Anatole Litvak provides just the right mixture of drama and suspense - more genuine suspense than in most Hitchcock films. The script is a taut, no-frills affair. It asks questions but provides no easy answers. The film was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. Of course, it didn't win and became rather neglected over the years. Not because it is not a good film, which it certainly is, but possibly because it is not just another bit of mindless entertainment. The drama and suspense engage your emotions, but Decision Before Dawn also gives you a lot to think about.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation presents "DECISION BEFORE DAWN" (1951) (119 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- With the Third Reich disintegrating, several members of the German army are defecting to the Americans and offering their services as spies --- US officer Gary Merrill trusts none of these last-minute "converts", but German prisoner Oskar Werner seems to be sincere --- Werner insists that by helping the Americans, he is saving Germany from destruction --- Merrill sends Werner behind enemy lines for counter-espionage with an American officer (Richard Basehart), who still isn't convinced that the German expatriate means what he says.
A thoughtful World War II drama, Decision Before Dawn was filmed on location in Europe and was Oscar Nominated for Best Picture & Film Editing (Dorothy Spencer).
Under the production staff of:
Anatole Litvak [Director]
Peter Viertel [Screenplay]
George Howe [novel "Call It Treason"]
Carl Zuckmayer [Dialogue]
Anatole Litvak [Producer]
Frank McCarthy [Producer]
Franz Waxman [Original Film Music]
Franz Planer [Cinematographer]
Dorothy Spencer [Film Editor]
Ludwig Reiber [Art Director]
BIOS:
1. Anatole Litvak [Director]
Date of Birth: 10 May 1902 - Kiev, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
Date of Death: 15 December 1974 - Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, Īle-de-France, France
2. Richard Basehart [aka: John Richard Basehart]
Date of Birth: 31 August 1914 - Zanesville, Ohio, USA
Date of Death: 17 September 1984 - Los Angeles, California, USA (multiple strokes)
3. Gary Merrill [aka: Gary Franklin Merrill]
Date of Birth: 2 August 1915 - Hartford, Connecticut
Date of Death: 5 March 1990 - Falmouth, Maine
4. Oskar Werner [aka: Oskar Josef Bschließmayer]
Date of Birth: 13 Novembe 1922 - Vienna, Austria
Date of Death: 23 October 1984 - Marburg an der Lahn, Germany
the cast includes:
Richard Basehart - Lt. Dick Rennick
Gary Merrill - Col. Devlin
Oskar Werner - Cpl. Karl Maurer aka Happy
Hildegard Knef - Hilde (as Hildegarde Neff)
Dominique Blanchar - Monique
O.E. Hasse - Col. Von Ecker
Wilfried Seyferth - Heinz Scholtz - SS Man (as Wilfried Seyfert)
Hans Christian Blech - Sgt. Rudolf Barth aka Tiger
Helen Thimig - Fräulein Paula Schneider (as Helene Thimig)
Robert Freitag - Sgt. Paul Richter (as Robert Freytag)
George Tyne - Sgt. Griffin
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 119 min on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox ~ (05/23/2006)
A thoughtful World War II drama, Decision Before Dawn was filmed on location in Europe and was Oscar Nominated for Best Picture & Film Editing (Dorothy Spencer).
Under the production staff of:
Anatole Litvak [Director]
Peter Viertel [Screenplay]
George Howe [novel "Call It Treason"]
Carl Zuckmayer [Dialogue]
Anatole Litvak [Producer]
Frank McCarthy [Producer]
Franz Waxman [Original Film Music]
Franz Planer [Cinematographer]
Dorothy Spencer [Film Editor]
Ludwig Reiber [Art Director]
BIOS:
1. Anatole Litvak [Director]
Date of Birth: 10 May 1902 - Kiev, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
Date of Death: 15 December 1974 - Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, Īle-de-France, France
2. Richard Basehart [aka: John Richard Basehart]
Date of Birth: 31 August 1914 - Zanesville, Ohio, USA
Date of Death: 17 September 1984 - Los Angeles, California, USA (multiple strokes)
3. Gary Merrill [aka: Gary Franklin Merrill]
Date of Birth: 2 August 1915 - Hartford, Connecticut
Date of Death: 5 March 1990 - Falmouth, Maine
4. Oskar Werner [aka: Oskar Josef Bschließmayer]
Date of Birth: 13 Novembe 1922 - Vienna, Austria
Date of Death: 23 October 1984 - Marburg an der Lahn, Germany
the cast includes:
Richard Basehart - Lt. Dick Rennick
Gary Merrill - Col. Devlin
Oskar Werner - Cpl. Karl Maurer aka Happy
Hildegard Knef - Hilde (as Hildegarde Neff)
Dominique Blanchar - Monique
O.E. Hasse - Col. Von Ecker
Wilfried Seyferth - Heinz Scholtz - SS Man (as Wilfried Seyfert)
Hans Christian Blech - Sgt. Rudolf Barth aka Tiger
Helen Thimig - Fräulein Paula Schneider (as Helene Thimig)
Robert Freitag - Sgt. Paul Richter (as Robert Freytag)
George Tyne - Sgt. Griffin
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 119 min on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox ~ (05/23/2006)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
An interesting film not so much for its plot as far as I was concerned, but for the views of conditions in Germany just a few years post war.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An eye opener
Although cinematically crude by to-days standards the premise of this intriguing story was great.It's the only film I have ever seen that explores this side of warfare. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Paul Morris
Old film still captures something special
This film is very well made. It shows what it might have been like for German prisoners of war who'd become disillusioned with Hitler. Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2010 by C. Kirby
Great Classic
This is a great classic within the war-movie genre. Shot on location in damaged postwar Germany, with many well-cast German personnel. Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2009 by Mental Floss
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