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Feature film — 1951

Decision Before Dawn (1951)

6.81h 59mWar — Action — Thriller

WWII is entering its last phase: Germany is in ruins, but does not yield. The US army lacks crucial knowledge about the German units operating on the opposite side of the Rhine, and decides to send two German prisoners to gather information. The scheme is risky: the Gestapo retains a terribly efficient network to identify and capture spies and deserters. Moreover, it is not clear that "Tiger", who does not mind any dirty work as long as the price is right, and war-weary "Happy", who might be easily betrayed by his feelings, are dependable agents. After Tiger and another American agent are successfully infiltrated, Happy is parachuted in Bavaria. His duty: find out the whereabouts of a powerful German armored unit moving towards the western front.

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A high-signal pick with 50 votes.

20th Century Fox / Bavaria Film

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Director: Anatole Litvak

On screen

Cast & crew

Richard Basehart as Lt. Dick Rennick

Richard Basehart

Lt. Dick Rennick

Gary Merrill as Col. Devlin

Gary Merrill

Col. Devlin

Oskar Werner as Cpl. Karl Maurer - aka Happy

Oskar Werner

Cpl. Karl Maurer - aka Happy

Hildegard Knef as Hilde

Hildegard Knef

Hilde

Dominique Blanchar as Monique

Dominique Blanchar

Monique

O.E. Hasse as Col. Oberst von Ecker

O.E. Hasse

Col. Oberst von Ecker

Wilfried Seyferth as Heinz Scholtz, SS-Mann

Wilfried Seyferth

Heinz Scholtz, SS-Mann

Hans Christian Blech as Sgt. Rudolf Barth - aka Tiger

Hans Christian Blech

Sgt. Rudolf Barth - aka Tiger

Helene Thimig as Fräulein Schneide

Helene Thimig

Fräulein Schneide

George Tyne as Sgt. Griffin

George Tyne

Sgt. Griffin

Robert Freitag as Sgt. Paul Richter

Robert Freitag

Sgt. Paul Richter

H

Harold Benedict

Lt. Pete Gevers

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