# Decision Before Dawn > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Decision_Before_Dawn > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Decision_Before_Dawn.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_Before_Dawn > Source revision: 1346036258 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1951 film by Anatole Litvak Decision Before Dawn Theatrical release poster Directed by Anatole Litvak Screenplay by Peter Viertel Based on Call It Treason 1949 novel by George Howe Produced by Anatole Litvak Frank McCarthy Starring Richard Basehart Gary Merrill Oskar Werner Hildegard Knef Narrated by Richard Basehart Cinematography Franz Planer Edited by Dorothy Spencer Music by Franz Waxman Distributed by 20th Century-Fox Release dates August 30, 1951 (1951-08-30) (London)[1] November 1, 1951 (1951-11-01) (U.S.)[2] December 21, 1951 (1951-12-21) (New York/Los Angeles)[3] Running time 119 minutes Country United States Language English Box office $1.55 million (US rentals)[4] ***Decision Before Dawn*** is a 1951 American [war film](/source/War_film) directed by [Anatole Litvak](/source/Anatole_Litvak) and starring [Richard Basehart](/source/Richard_Basehart), [Oskar Werner](/source/Oskar_Werner) and [Hans Christian Blech](/source/Hans_Christian_Blech). It tells the story of the [U.S. Army](/source/United_States_Army) using potentially unreliable German [prisoners of war](/source/Prisoner_of_war) to gather intelligence as clandestine "line-crossers" in the closing days of [World War II](/source/World_War_II). The film was adapted by [Peter Viertel](/source/Peter_Viertel) and Jack Rollens (uncredited) from the novel *[Call It Treason](/source/Call_It_Treason)* by [George L. Howe](/source/George_L._Howe). *Decision Before Dawn* was a critical success and was nominated for the [Academy Award for Best Picture](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture). ## Plot By late 1944, as the Allies march [toward the Rhine](/source/Allied_advance_from_Paris_to_the_Rhine), it is obvious that Germany will lose the war. American Colonel Devlin leads a [military intelligence](/source/Military_Intelligence_Corps_(United_States_Army)) unit that enlists German [POWs](/source/Prisoner_of_war) to cross into German territory and spy on their former comrades. The recruits includes "Tiger", a cynical mercenary, and "Happy", a young, idealistic medical student. Monique, a former [resistance](/source/French_Resistance) operative, trains Happy and others in espionage techniques. Devlin learns that a [Wehrmacht](/source/Wehrmacht) general wants to negotiate the surrender of his entire command, and a mission is organized. Devlin selects Lieutenant Rennick to lead it, but Rennick hates turncoats on both sides of the war. Tiger is chosen for the mission. as he knows the area well. Happy is given the task of locating the 11th [Panzer corps](/source/Panzer_corps), which might oppose the mass surrender. The three men parachute into Germany and then separate. During his search for the 11th Panzer unit, Happy encounters Germans with differing attitudes about the war. On buses and trains, in guest houses and taverns, he meets those who are still defiant, such as [SS](/source/Waffen-SS) courier Scholtz and those who are now resigned to defeat, such as Hilde, a war widow turned prostitute. Eventually, Happy locates the 11th Panzer corps, posing as a medic. He is selected to treat its commander, Oberst von Ecker, at his castle headquarters. Happy narrowly escapes capture by the [Gestapo](/source/Gestapo). He finds a [safe house](/source/Safe_house) in the ruins of heavily bombed [Mannheim](/source/Mannheim), where Rennick and Tiger hide as well. They have learned that the German commander whom they were to contact has been injured and hospitalized under SS guard. Without him, the other German officers cannot and will not surrender to the Allies. Happy, Tiger and Rennick reach the banks of the [Rhine](/source/Rhine_River), where they plan to swim across to American lines. At the last moment, Tiger loses his nerve and flees, forcing Rennick to kill him to preserve the mission. As Rennick and Happy are about to swim for the opposite shore, they are spotted. Facing torture and execution, Happy draws the Germans' attention away from Rennick by surrendering. His sacrifice enables the lieutenant to reach safety. Rennick survives, with his previous ideas about treason now challenged. ## Cast - [Oskar Werner](/source/Oskar_Werner) as [Corporal](/source/Obergefreiter) Karl Maurer ("Happy") - [Richard Basehart](/source/Richard_Basehart) as Lieutenant Dick Rennick - [Hans Christian Blech](/source/Hans_Christian_Blech) as [Sergeant](/source/Feldwebel) Rudolf Barth ("Tiger") - [Gary Merrill](/source/Gary_Merrill) as Colonel Devlin - [Hildegard Knef](/source/Hildegard_Knef) as Hilde - [Wilfried Seyferth](/source/Wilfried_Seyferth) as Heinz Scholtz - [Dominique Blanchar](/source/Dominique_Blanchar) as Monique - [O.E. Hasse](/source/O.E._Hasse) as Oberst (Colonel) von Ecker - [Helene Thimig](/source/Helene_Thimig) as Paula Schneider ## Production The film was adapted from the novel *[Call It Treason](/source/Call_It_Treason)*, which was based on the wartime experiences of author [George L. Howe](/source/George_L._Howe), who served with the [Office of Strategic Services](/source/Office_of_Strategic_Services) unit attached to the [Seventh Army](/source/Seventh_United_States_Army) during World War II.[5] The citizens of [Würzburg](/source/W%C3%BCrzburg), [Nuremberg](/source/Nuremberg) and [Mannheim](/source/Mannheim), where some of the picture's battle scenes were shot, were forewarned of the filming by newspaper and radio announcements. Some were under the control by the American military, as Germany was still under [military occupation](/source/Allied-occupied_Germany) at the time when the film was shot.[6] ## Release *Decision Before Dawn* premiered at the [Odeon Marble Arch](/source/Odeon_Marble_Arch) in [London](/source/London) on August 30, 1951.[1] It opened in select American markets on November 1, 1951.[2] A press preview of the film was held at the [Fox Ritz Theatre](/source/Ritz_Theatre_(Los_Angeles%2C_California)) in Los Angeles on December 19, 1951, with many Hollywood stars in attendance. The film began its general release in the area two days later.[7] ## Reception In a contemporary review for *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, critic [Bosley Crowther](/source/Bosley_Crowther) called the film "as stirring a drama as any you'll want to see, as well as a fair approximation of a nation's moral collapse" and wrote: Within the inflexible framework of a straight undercover spy film, which in this case goes by the title of "Decision Before Dawn," Twentieth Century-Fox and Anatole Litvak have packed not only lots of thrills but a clear and cold look at Western Germany in the last year of World War II. They have also worked into this thriller ... a persuasive amount of compassion for . a German soldier who turns traitor on his own. ... True, there's nothing morally elaborate or conclusive about "Decision Before Dawn." But it packs some impulsive excitement and it plants a seed of understanding in the mind."[8] Critic [Philip K. Scheuer](/source/Philip_K._Scheuer) of the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)* wrote: Although it is unconscionably long—two hours—the picture, once it begins to make any kind of sustained narrative sense, tightens its hold steadily on the spectator and adds up at last to tiptop melodrama. The most impressive thing about it is the way Litvak seems to have got what he wanted in divided Germany. He has practically restaged the mass bombings and relighted the ruins. It is as a possible social document that "Decision Before Dawn" falls down. "Why does a spy risk his life—for what possible reason?" the narrator asks portentously at the beginning. He never answers it; Litvak and his actors don't either, except superficially.[3] Upon viewing the film, [General Douglas MacArthur](/source/General_Douglas_MacArthur) said: "This is the finest picture I have seen this year, and I nominate it for an Academy Award."[9] At the [24th Academy Awards](/source/24th_Academy_Awards), *Decision Before Dawn* was nominated for the [Best Picture Oscar](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture), with [Dorothy Spencer](/source/Dorothy_Spencer) nominated for [Best Film Editing](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Film_Editing). ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-london_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-london_1-1) Tynan, Kenneth (August 30, 1951). "Mr. Litvak claims to explain the traitors". *[The Evening Standard](/source/The_Evening_Standard)*. [London, England](/source/London%2C_England). p. 9. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-premiere_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-premiere_2-1) "Crumbling Reich Theme of Film". *[The Evening News](/source/The_Patriot-News)*. [Harrisburg, Pennsylvania](/source/Harrisburg%2C_Pennsylvania). November 1, 1951. p. 20. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-latreview_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-latreview_3-1) Scheuer, Philip K. (December 22, 1951). "Espionage Movie Fine Melodrama". *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. p. 6. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "Top Box-Office Hits of 1952", *Variety*, January 7, 1953 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Driscoll Jr., Edgar J. (June 21, 1977). ["George L. Howe, 79, Was Architect, Author, OSS Officer in World War II"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-george-howe-obituary/142363944/). *The Boston Globe*. p. 36. Retrieved February 29, 2024 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Decision Before Dawn (1951) - Articles"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120129032401/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/72701/Decision-Before-Dawn/#articles-reviews). Turner Classic Movies. Archived from [the original](https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/72701/decision-before-dawn#articles-reviews) on January 29, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "Preview Set for Tonight". *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. December 19, 1951. pp. 8, Part III. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-nytreview_8-0)** Crowther, Bosley (December 22, 1951). "The Screen: Spy Drama Has Debut". *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. p. 12. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-LAT_9-0)** *Los Angeles Times*, January 12, 1952, p. 12 ## External links - [*Decision Before Dawn*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043459/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [*Decision Before Dawn*](https://web.archive.org/web/1/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/72701/enwp) at the [TCM Movie Database](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies#TCMdb) (archived) - [*Decision Before Dawn*](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/50075) at the *[AFI Catalog of Feature Films](/source/AFI_Catalog_of_Feature_Films)* - [*Decision Before Dawn*](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/decision_before_dawn/reviews) at [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes) v t e Films directed by Anatole Litvak Dolly Gets Ahead (1930) Calais-Dover (1931) No More Love (1931) Lilac (1932) The Song of Night (1932) Tell Me Tonight (1932) The Old Devil (1933) One Night's Song (1933) Sleeping Car (1933) The Crew (1935) Mayerling (1936) The Woman I Love (1937) Tovarich (1937) The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) The Sisters (1938) Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) Castle on the Hudson (1940) All This, and Heaven Too (1940) City for Conquest (1940) Out of the Fog (1941) Blues in the Night (1941) This Above All (1942) The Nazis Strike (1943) Divide and Conquer (1943) The Battle of Russia (1943) The Battle of China (1944) War Comes to America (1945) The Long Night (1947) Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) The Snake Pit (1948) Decision Before Dawn (1951) Act of Love (1953) The Deep Blue Sea (1955) Anastasia (1956) Mayerling (1957) The Journey (1959) Goodbye Again (1961) Five Miles to Midnight (1962) The Night of the Generals (1967) The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun (1970) Authority control databases GND --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Decision Before Dawn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_Before_Dawn) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_Before_Dawn?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.