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As his driver looks on, Lt. Dick Rennick (Richard Baseheart) captures two German soldiers, Sgt. Paul Richter (Robert Freitag) and Cpl. Karl
As his driver looks on, Lt. Dick Rennick (Richard Baseheart) captures two German soldiers, Sgt. Paul Richter (Robert Freitag) and Cpl. Karl "Happy" Maurer (Oskar Werner).
War widow Hilde (Hildegard Knef) is restrained by Corporal Maurer (Oskar Werner).
War widow Hilde (Hildegard Knef) is restrained by Corporal Maurer (Oskar Werner).
Happy (Oskar Werner) is not so happy in the hands of the Germans.
Happy (Oskar Werner) is not so happy in the hands of the Germans.

Thumbnail for Decision Before Dawn (1951) Decision Before Dawn (1951)

Basics Rusty:78
Category: Action/Adventure, Drama, Mystery/Noir/Thriller, WarNotable as: DramaSub-Category: Spy film, War film, Thriller, Action Film, DramaMain subject: World War IIRuntime: 111 - 119 minutesColor: black-and-white filmLanguage: German, French, EnglishCountry: United StatesFilming location: NurembergDirector: Anatole LitvakScreenwriter: Peter Viertel, Carl ZuckmayerMusic: Franz WaxmanCinematography: Franz PlanerStars: Richard Basehart, Gary Merrill, Oskar Werner, Hildegard Knef, Hans Christian Blech, O. E. Hasse, Wilfried Seyferth, Helene Thimig, Robert Freitag Producer: Anatole Litvak, 20th Century Fox, Frank McCarthyAward nominations: Academy Award for Best Film Editing (Dorothy Spencer)
Academy Award for Best Picture (Anatole Litvak, Frank McCarthy)
Award details: (details at IMDb)
Description

Decision Before Dawn is a 1951 American war film directed by Anatole Litvak, starring Richard Basehart, Oskar Werner, and Hans Christian Blech. It tells the story of the American Army using potentially unreliable German prisoners of war to gather intelligence in the closing days of World War II. The film was adapted by Jack Rollens and Peter Viertel from the novel Call It Treason by George Howe. It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and Best Picture.


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