Decision Before Dawn (1951) [NR]

Release Date:
December 21, 1951

Original Title:
Decision Before Dawn

Alternate Titles:
Entscheidung vor Morgengrauen
Le traître

Genres:
Action | Thriller | War

Production Companies:
20th Century Fox

Production Countries:
United States of America

Ratings / Certifications:
US: NR 

Runtime: 119

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!

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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Art Direction:
Ludwig Reiber

Conductor:
Leonid Raab

Director:
Anatole Litvak

Director of Photography:
Franz Planer

Editor:
Dorothy Spencer

Novel:
George Howe

Original Music Composer:
Franz Waxman

Producer:
Anatole Litvak
Frank McCarthy

Screenplay:
Peter Viertel

Second Unit:
Gerd Oswald

Sound:
Harry M. Leonard
Alfred Bruzlin

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