Decision Before Dawn
1951, English. Directed by Anatole Litvak.
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.
- Runtime
- 1h 59m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
Start now and it ends at ….
Popcorn Flick
Fun if you don’t overthink it.
6.8/10 from 50 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch Decision Before Dawn
Decision Before Dawn isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can rent it or buy it online.
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeAvailability in India as of 2 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Anatole LitvakDirector
- Richard BasehartLt. Dick Rennick
- Gary MerrillCol. Devlin
- Oskar WernerCpl. Karl Maurer - aka Happy
- Hildegard KnefHilde
- Dominique BlancharMonique
- O.E. HasseCol. Oberst von Ecker
- Wilfried SeyferthHeinz Scholtz, SS-Mann
- Hans Christian BlechSgt. Rudolf Barth - aka Tiger
- Helene ThimigFräulein Schneide
- George TyneSgt. Griffin
- Robert FreitagSgt. Paul Richter
- Harold BenedictLt. Pete Gevers
Details
- Released
- 21 December 1951
- Country
- United States of America, Germany
- Written by
- Peter Viertel
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
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Decision Before Dawn: quick answers
Is Decision Before Dawn worth watching?
Our verdict is Popcorn Flick: Fun if you don’t overthink it. It scores 6.8/10 from 50 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is Decision Before Dawn?
Decision Before Dawn runs 119 minutes (1h 59m).
Does Decision Before Dawn have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Decision Before Dawn. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Decision Before Dawn parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
Decision Before Dawn is rated NR in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is Decision Before Dawn on?
Decision Before Dawn isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can rent it or buy it online. (Checked 2 November 2026.)
What movies are like Decision Before Dawn?
If you liked Decision Before Dawn, try Kandahar, Fatherland, Ambush.
Who directed Decision Before Dawn?
Decision Before Dawn (1951) was directed by Anatole Litvak and stars Richard Basehart, Gary Merrill, Oskar Werner.