"The Commandos Strike at Dawn" is a film that I must admit, I had never heard of. So it was an enjoyable experience watching it for the first time.
The setting, filmed in Canada, is a small Norwegian fishing village just prior to WWII breaking out. At a wedding we meet the main characters, Eric Toreson (Paul Muni), Johan Bergesen (Ray Collins), his wife (Lillian Gish - looking lovelier than ever), Admiral Bowen of the British Navy (Sir Cedric Hardwicke), his daughter Judith (Anna Lee) and son Captain Robert Bowen (Robert Coote, the town Pastor (Rod Cameron), School teacher (George Macready) hotelier Karl Arnesen (Louis Jean Heydt) his wife Hilma (Rosemary DeCamp) among others.
Toresan is attracted to Judith and a possible relationship develops. But as WWII looms Admiral Bowen, his daughter and son return to England. WWii breaks out and the Germans invade Norway and sent a detachment to the little village headed by a Colonel (Arthur Margetson) and his brutal captain (Alexander Knox). Almost immediately, Johan Bergesen is taken away for "questioning" returning later as a broken man.
Toresan and the other townsfolk try to follow the German rules but the atrocities continue. Finally Toresan has had enough and forms a resistance group. He later kills the German Colonel and is forced to flee for his life, leaving his young daughter in the care of a friend. In hiding, Toresan learns about the building of a German air base.
Fleeing to England in a hidden boat, Toresan and the others learn that Karl Arnesen has informed on them and they take care of him. Reaching England, Toresan informs the British about the German airfield and offers to lead them to the spot. Before leaving on his mission, he renews his acquaintance with Judith and the possibility of marriage is discussed. Robert Bowen is assigned the task of leading the commandos for their strike after dawn.
The commandos surprise the Germans and destroy the air base. Toresan's daughter was supposed to have met her father following the completion of his mission but has been captured by the Germans. Toresan and Bowen lead the commandos on a mission to free the young girl but.................................................................................
Paul Muni as always gives an excellent performance as the fisherman forced into a role for which he is ill prepared. Lillian Gish returns to the screen in an all too brief brief role as a patriot's wife. Alexander Knox is suitably evil as the German Captain. You can't help but notice the six foot four Rod Cameron in an early role. Also George Macready who would go on to play sophisticated heavies makes an early appearance. And watch for Lloyd Bridges as the German soldier asking for directions. Walter Sande and Philip Van Zandt also appear in small roles as Germans.
Filmed in the middle of the war, the ending offers hope for the future at a time when the outcome of the war was as yet unknown.
The setting, filmed in Canada, is a small Norwegian fishing village just prior to WWII breaking out. At a wedding we meet the main characters, Eric Toreson (Paul Muni), Johan Bergesen (Ray Collins), his wife (Lillian Gish - looking lovelier than ever), Admiral Bowen of the British Navy (Sir Cedric Hardwicke), his daughter Judith (Anna Lee) and son Captain Robert Bowen (Robert Coote, the town Pastor (Rod Cameron), School teacher (George Macready) hotelier Karl Arnesen (Louis Jean Heydt) his wife Hilma (Rosemary DeCamp) among others.
Toresan is attracted to Judith and a possible relationship develops. But as WWII looms Admiral Bowen, his daughter and son return to England. WWii breaks out and the Germans invade Norway and sent a detachment to the little village headed by a Colonel (Arthur Margetson) and his brutal captain (Alexander Knox). Almost immediately, Johan Bergesen is taken away for "questioning" returning later as a broken man.
Toresan and the other townsfolk try to follow the German rules but the atrocities continue. Finally Toresan has had enough and forms a resistance group. He later kills the German Colonel and is forced to flee for his life, leaving his young daughter in the care of a friend. In hiding, Toresan learns about the building of a German air base.
Fleeing to England in a hidden boat, Toresan and the others learn that Karl Arnesen has informed on them and they take care of him. Reaching England, Toresan informs the British about the German airfield and offers to lead them to the spot. Before leaving on his mission, he renews his acquaintance with Judith and the possibility of marriage is discussed. Robert Bowen is assigned the task of leading the commandos for their strike after dawn.
The commandos surprise the Germans and destroy the air base. Toresan's daughter was supposed to have met her father following the completion of his mission but has been captured by the Germans. Toresan and Bowen lead the commandos on a mission to free the young girl but.................................................................................
Paul Muni as always gives an excellent performance as the fisherman forced into a role for which he is ill prepared. Lillian Gish returns to the screen in an all too brief brief role as a patriot's wife. Alexander Knox is suitably evil as the German Captain. You can't help but notice the six foot four Rod Cameron in an early role. Also George Macready who would go on to play sophisticated heavies makes an early appearance. And watch for Lloyd Bridges as the German soldier asking for directions. Walter Sande and Philip Van Zandt also appear in small roles as Germans.
Filmed in the middle of the war, the ending offers hope for the future at a time when the outcome of the war was as yet unknown.