DECISION BEFORE DAWN

US, 1951, 119 minutes, Black and white.
Oskar Werner, Richard Basehart, Cary Merrill, Hildegarde Neff, Dominique Blanchard, O.E. Hasse, Hans Christian Blech.
Directed by Anatole Litvak.

Decision Before Dawn was nominated in 1951 for Best Film (the year of An American in Paris, A Place in the Sun, A Streetcar Named Desire). It is a well-written and well-made war film, focusing on the meaning of espionage. It is based on a book called 'Call it Treason'.

The film belongs to Austrian actor Oskar Werner. Werner was to make a few films for Hollywood and British studios during the next 25 years: Interlude, Shoes of the Fisherman, Ship of Fools, Voyage of the Damned. Regular 20th Century Fox stars, Richard Basehart and Gary Merrill, give standard support. There is a brief performance by Hildegarde Neff, who then made some films in Hollywood. Veteran Hans Christian Blech, to appear in many films over the coming decades as a German officer, gives a good performance as a mercenary spy. The screenplay was written by Peter Viertel, the score by Franz Waxman. Direction is by veteran Anatole Litvak (The Sisters, All This and Heaven Too, Sorry, Wrong Number).

1. A significant war film? The focus on battle action? The bombing of Germany? Espionage? The novel on which the film was based and its title? The quality of the film - Oscar nomination?

2. The use of European locations, the continued devastation and destruction until 1950? Their providing effective sets and mood for the film? Battle sequences? Musical score?

3. The structure of the film as a memoir of Rennig: his explanation of himself, his experience and wounding, attitudes towards the Germans, towards spies - and seeing an execution? His mission, his change of heart, a sense of humanity by the end?

4. Rennig at the opening, tough, the mistaken drive, the encounter with Carl and his companion, taking them prisoner, his going to the convent head-quarters, Carl as a prisoner? The espionage plan?

5. Dev1in as commander, strong, experienced, his plan, decisions and responsibility? The mission with Tiger and its results? The plan for the surrender of the German officer? The membership of his staff, personalities, functions and attitudes? Anti-German?

6. The recruits, the prisoners for espionage? The interviews and those rejected? Tiger and his mercenary motives, his background in the circus? His shrewdness in assessing the result of the war? His mission, the contacts, the clash with his companion and losing him? The truth of his information? His having to be on the final mission?

Paul and the criticism of the Germans? His being killed by the fellow prisoners? The effect on Carl? His volunteering, the interview? Rennig believing him or not? Devlin's assessment? Carl's character, personality, training, the encounter with Monique? The tests for the mission? The parachute jump - and the hostility of the American in the plane? (The irony of the broadcast about his presence, the Gestapo man following him, the irony of his helping him with his glasses, the discovery of the truth and his shooting him) His testing himself in his attitudes of being amongst his fellow Germans again? The voice-over of the commentaries of the various people and their effect on his attitudes? The fat soldier, the money, accompanying him, the ride, drinking and accommodation?

7. Hildegarde Neff and her talking, the exasperation of her experience of the war, love, the death of her child? Her warning Carl? The woman who knew him and his father and his getting through the barrier? His father being at the local hospital, the phone call and listening to his voice? Difficulties at barriers, getting transport, throwing away his documents? The getting of the information required by the Americans? The soldiers being rounded up, his being tested as a medico, his helping the officer - with the possibility of killing him? The possibility of escape? The bombardment, his running, finding the rendezvous? Giving the information to Rennig? Clashes with Tiger? His option of saving Rennig and being captured? Was he a traitor -the audience asked to estimate the understanding of treason and spying? A portrait of a human being? An assessment of World War Two in retrospect?

8. Rennig and his toughness, the mission, meeting Carl, the encounter with the boy, Tiger's violence with him, the boy watching him and not giving him up to the Germans? Rennig swimming the river? His final attitudes - broader than nationality?

9. The sketch of Tiger, his self-centredness, bossiness, participation in the mission? With the boy who could betray them?

10. The fat German and his palling up with Carl, accompanying him, dangers? Black market jewellery?

11. The officer and his illness, Carl's helping him and not killing him?

12. The woman and her pouring out her anger towards Carl? Her warning him?

13. The presentation of the German people during the war, ordinary life, soldiers on leave, hospitals, black market, soldiers in the theatre and finding the jewellery, the bombing of Germany and its effect?

14. 1944 and the ending of the war, the need for intelligence information, the route of the Germans?

15. Themes of war, anti-war, the nature of loyalty and treason?