Commandos Strike at Dawn (1942)

Director:

John Farrow

Writers:

C.S. Forester (story)
Irwin Shaw (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 January 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

IN ALL ITS HEROIC SWEEP...THE FIRST GREAT SCREEN STORY OF TODAY'S GREAT HEROES!

Plot:

A gentle widower, enraged at Nazi atrocities against his peaceful Norwegian fishing village, escapes to Britain and returns leading a commando force against the oppressors.

Plot Keywords:

Execution | Drowning | Whistle | Airfield | Hotel

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Paul Muni	...	EriK Toresen
Anna Lee	...	Judith Bowen
Lillian Gish	...	Mrs. Bergesen
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Admiral Bowen (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
Ray Collins	...	Johan Bergesen
Robert Coote	...	Robert Bowen
Rosemary DeCamp	...	Hilma Arnesen
Alexander Knox	...	German Captain
Elisabeth Fraser	...	Anna Korstad
Richard Derr	...	Gunnar Korstad
Erville Alderson	...	Johan Garme
Barbara Everest	...	Mrs. Olav
Rod Cameron	...	Pastor
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Karl Arnesen
George Macready	...	Schoolteacher

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #8927) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Heals Rifle Range, Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Behind-the-scenes footage made during location filming in Canada is included in the CBC-TV documentary "Canada's War in Colour" (2005).

Quotes:

Mrs. Bergesen: [about the Nazis] They steal blankets, pots, pans, food, everything! They kidnap your husband! A great nation? Conquerors? THEIVES - that's what they are! They ought to be handled in a police court!
EriK Toresen: Finally, Mrs. Bergesen, a police court will be set up and the traffic will be enormous.

Soundtrack:

Commandos March

A good film

The film was particularly interesting for me as my father was stationed at the Canadian/RAF base in 1942 on Vancouver Island. He mentioned how gracious the star's were and that they took the time to visit the lads who were busy flight training. I have recently read an old RAF magazine called (The Patrician)about director, John Farrow and actor Paul Muni being livid after a British extra ruined a battle scene by laughing hysterically in front of the camera. The area of the secret German camp is actually a military/civilian firing range and is still active today. A set of over grown cement stairs that the Commando's used as they struggled up a steep bank can still be seen in the beautiful Saanich Inlet from the water 64 years later.