Decision Before Dawn
1951 · 119 MIN · IMDB 7.2 · 3,118 VOTES · DIR. Anatole Litvak
Overview
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.
Dialogue Timeline — 1,541 lines
A SAMPLE ACROSS THE RUNTIME — EVERY LINE IS SEARCHABLE
00:01:00 THAT'S IF THE WEATHER HOLDS.
00:06:48 [ M.P. ] COME ON.
00:11:30 WELL, IT CAN WAIT TILL MORNING, CAN'T IT?
00:16:40 [ German P.W. ] SERGEANT PAUL RICHTER
00:20:45 THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE THE CASE A MOMENT AGO.
00:25:17 HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE HOSPITAL THERE.
00:29:33 HE LANDED 20 MILES OFF HIS TARGET OUTSIDE AN S.S. BARRACKS...
00:34:01 ???? [ Louder ]
00:38:46 I'M ON SICK LEAVE, RETURNING FROM BASE HOSPITAL 12 AT BAD REICHENHALL.
00:44:45 [ Church Bells Pealing ]
00:50:47 [ Clerk's Voice ] WEREN'T THEY IN FUÜÜRTH?
00:55:09 I SEE YOU'VE BEEN IN THE ARMY TWO YEARS.
00:59:59 AND ONCE IN A WHILE WE GET SOME TRANSIENTS, LIKE YOU.
01:04:16 [ Woman ] AND NOW THERE'LL BE A LITTLE SONG WHICH WAS COMPOSED BY OUR SOLDIERS...
01:09:32 GET OUT, I SAID.
01:16:08 AT EASE. CARRY ON, KLINGER.
01:20:38 THAT DESPITE THEIR BEING IN GENERAL JAEGER'S AREA
01:26:14 THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE THE COURAGE TO KILL
01:32:33 SPOT CHECK. THEY BETTER CALL IT "GRAVE REGISTRATION."
01:37:51 [ Alarm Ringing ]
01:43:01 OKAY.
01:47:36 ARE YOU CRAZY? YOU'LL-- HAPPY! STOP HIM, QUICK!
01:54:12 - FROM THE HOSPITAL IN BERLIN, AND-- JUST-- - AND WHAT?
08:19:04 SIX MONTHS AFTER A PIECE OF ENEMY SHRAPNEL...