Decision Before Dawn(1951)
“A woman's kiss . . . A lighted cigarette - Each had Its meaning! An exciting and realistic story of war . . . of German Prisoners Sent Back Behind Their Own Lines as Agents of the Allies!”
Overview
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.
Director
Anatole Litvak
Studio
20th Century Fox
Cast
Richard Basehart
as Lt. Dick Rennick
Gary Merrill
as Col. Devlin
Oskar Werner
as Cpl. Karl Maurer - aka Happy
Hildegard Knef
as Hilde
Dominique Blanchar
as Monique
O.E. Hasse
as Col. Oberst von Ecker
Wilfried Seyferth
as Heinz Scholtz, SS-Mann
Hans Christian Blech
as Sgt. Rudolf Barth - aka Tiger
Helene Thimig
as Fräulein Schneide
George Tyne
as Sgt. Griffin
Robert Freitag
as Sgt. Paul Richter
Harold Benedict
as Lt. Pete Gevers
Where to Watch
Availability may vary by region. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Movie Facts
Release Year
1951
Runtime
1h 59m
Language
German
Rating
6.8 / 10
Production Companies
20th Century Fox • Bavaria Film
You Might Also Like
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Decision Before Dawn?▼
Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for Decision Before Dawn (1951).
What is Decision Before Dawn about?▼
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.
Who directed Decision Before Dawn?▼
Decision Before Dawn was directed by Anatole Litvak and released in 1951. It is a war, action, thriller film.
How long is Decision Before Dawn?▼
Decision Before Dawn has a runtime of 1 hours and 59 minutes (119 minutes total).
Who stars in Decision Before Dawn?▼
The cast of Decision Before Dawn includes Richard Basehart as Lt. Dick Rennick, Gary Merrill as Col. Devlin, Oskar Werner as Cpl. Karl Maurer - aka Happy, Hildegard Knef as Hilde, Dominique Blanchar as Monique and more.
Explore More by Genre
Need a recommendation?
Tell us your mood and we'll pick the perfect movie for you.