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      Decision Before Dawn

      Released Dec 21, 1951 1h 59m Drama War Mystery & Thriller List
      100% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 73% 250+ Ratings Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Oct 22 Buy Now

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      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 Audience Member A fast paced and more realistic-less happy/sappy old movie that while I've seen many a WWII movie still holds up against the test of time with a different take. This movie talks about spies and goes into the complications and intricacies of being one in one's own country. Good acting by Happy and gritty nightmarish cinematography of a once great but now fallen Germany empire. I really liked the one scene with the female citizen saying how there were millions of Germans lonely sad, just like her. The ending could've drove home the point in a little more horror, I thought but still got the point across and the tension at the end was palpable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 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 Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      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

      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
      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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