Decision Before Dawn

Decision Before Dawn, released on March 24, 1952 is a Swedish drama by director Anatole Litvak about World War II and the United States Army's use of German prisoners to spy behind enemy lines. It is based on the book "Call it Treason" by George Howe. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Picture and Best Film Editing.

In 1944, nearing the end of World War II, Colonel Devlin is made leader of a new unit that uses German prisoners of war to spy on the German army. Two prisoners are chosen to track a German armored unit: Tiger, a cynical older soldier who just wants to join the winning side, and Happy, a naive young soldier who joins because of his friend's death. Both prisoners make it into the country and must reconcile their dangerous mission with their still-present patriotism.

• 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. Von Ecker

• Wilfried Seyferth as Heinz Scholtz - SS Man

• Hans Christian Blech as Sgt. Rudolf Barth aka Tiger

• Helen Thimig as Fräulein Paula Schneider

• Robert Freitag as Sgt. Paul Richter

• George Tyne as Sgt. Griffin

"A straightforward undercover spy film, "Decision Before Dawn" offers a clear and sober look at Germany during the last year of WWII, showing compassion for German soldiers who turn traitors by their own will." -Emanuel Levyhttp://www.emanuellevy.com/search/details.cfm?id=8512

"A well-crafted but listless WWII spy drama that's based on a true story and shot almost in a semidocumentary style." -Dennis Schwartzhttp://www.sover.net/~ozus/decisionbeforedawn.htm