The Commandos Strike at Dawn (1942)
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Scripted by Irwin Shaw from a story by C. S. Forester (of "Captain Horatio Hornblower" fame), Commandos Strike at Dawn is a wartime morale-booster, largely set in coastal Norway. Paul Muni stars as Eric Toresen, an apolitical and basically pacifistic Norwegian fisherman who is galvanized into action when his village is occupied by the Nazis. With a group of courageous resistance fighters, Toresen first endeavors to sabotage and demoralize the German troops then escapes to Britain, there to help organize commando raids against his country's oppressors. The supporting cast includes Anna Lee as the hero's true love, Alexander Knox (two years away from his starring stint in the patriotic biopic Wilson) as an icy Nazi commandant, Cedric Hardwicke as a stiff-upper-lip British officer, and Lillian Gish (in her first film appearance since 1931) as an iron-willed Norwegian townsperson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 100 mins
Complete Cast:
- Paul Muni - Erik Toresen
- Lillian Gish - Mrs. Bergesen
- Robert Coote - Robert Bowen
- Rosemary de Camp - Hilma Arnesen
- Elisabeth Fraser - Anna Korstad
- Erville Alderson - Johan Garmo
- Rod Cameron - Pastor
- Arthur Margetson - German Colonel
- Elsa Janssen - Mrs. Korstad
- Walter Sande - Otto
- George Macready - Schoolteacher
- Anna Lee - Judith Bowen
- Cedric Hardwicke - Adm. Bowen
- Ray Collins - Johan Bergesen
- Alexander Knox - German Captain
- Richard Derr - Gunner Korstad
- Barbara Everest - Mrs. Olav
- Louis Jean Heydt - Karl Arnesen
- Ann Carter - Solveig Toresen
- Ferdinand Munier - Mr. Korstad
- Philip Van Zandt - Thirsty Soldier
- Lloyd Bridges - Young Soldier
- Director(s):
- John Farrow
- Writer(s):
- Irwin Shaw
- Producer(s):
- Lester Cowan
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR(Suitable for Children)
- Categories:
- War
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