Customer Reviews

Commandos Strike at Dawn

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Hollywood's first reaction to the United States' entry into World War II usually took one of two forms. In the Pacific Theater the movie typically chronicled a valiant, but doomed, defense. Wake Island and Bataan were popular movies of early defeat. When Hollywood turned its attention to the European Theater its early movies celebrated indigenous resistance against Nazism by the intrepid citizens of nations like Czechoslovakia, or, in the case of COMMANDOS STRIKE AT DAWN, Norway.
Paul Muni stars as Eric Toresen, a soft-spoken, pacifistic civil servant whose initial response to the German occupation of the small town he lives in is rather detached. "We civilians," he explains, haven't a right to interfere and oppose the military occupation. "This is not exactly our line." Of course, the occupiers are busy rounding up suspected subversives, imposing their doctrine in the local schools, and confiscating personal property for use in the Fatherland. Before long Toresen realizes that `we must learn from them to become gangsters and thugs.' When Toresen discovers a military airfield being built nearby, he plans to sail to England and organize a commando force to destroy it before it becomes operational.
Muni gives a typically good, understated performance as a gentle man caught in vicious times. Although it contains a quisling or two, COMMANDOS STRIKE AT DAWN fulfills its purpose - explaining to Americans why we fight and generally ennobling the heroic freedom fighters in Nazi occupied Europe. A strong recommendation for this early entry in World War II movies.

This movie was made in 1942, and made use of the HMCS Prince David which was on leave from thrashing around in the Aleutians looking for the Japanese. My father was an officer on that ship at the time, and thoroughly enjoyed the cast, especially Sir Cecil Hardwicke. I've watched the movie, and of course it is propaganda, it was made in 1942. That is part of its charm. Remember that at the time, no one knew who would win the war. Vancouver Island makes a good stand in for Norway, and Paul Muni is some brave! It is superior propaganda and a fun experience.

This WWII film does have a certain aspect of propaganda to it, but the tense storyline is riveting and will keep you glued to your chair until the last scene (which isn't exactly what you'll be expecting). Muni puts in a fine performance, as always. Overall, an enjoyable war drama.

As a dad, I found this film, though dated and quaint, both a stirring old war movie that boys will like as well as a good opportunity to teach some strategic realities. There are bad people in the world, they make promises and break them and they strive to enslave good people; for the sake of civilization good people often need to do otherwise bad things like fight and even kill. Rough stuff, but this is the fallen nature of this world.

With a story by Hornblower creator C.S. Forrester and a screenplay by future doorstop novelist Irwin Shaw, 1942's Commandos Strike at Dawn is a solid but overlong wartime propaganda picture that benefits from a good location (Canada standing in for Norway, giving it a similar feel to parts of 49th Parallel), a strong cast (an understated Paul Muni, Ray Collins, Lillian Gish, Cedric Hardwicke and the ever likeable Robert Coote among them, while Alexander Knox does double duty as a cold Nazi and the voice of the commandos' padre delivering a pre-raid sermon) but ultimately just takes too long to get where its going. Certainly the commando raid itself is a long time coming and not particularly excitingly mounted despite obvious extensive cooperation from the Canadian armed forces, although the last few minutes are almost staged as a pure western with commandos and Nazis instead of cowboys and Indians. En route it understandably overplays the acts resistance for morale-boosting purposes, but it the first half is elevated by some of the always-undervalued director John Farrow's typically complicated but unostentatious long tracking shots. For classical music buffs, Igor Stravinsky's Four Norwegian Moods was based on his rejected score for the film, replaced here by a more overtly stirring Oscar-nominated effort by Louis Gruenberg and an uncredited John Leipold.

Commandos Strike at Dawn, 1942 film

This movie is dedicated to the soldiers of Canada, Great Britain, and Norway. The story begins at a rural village in Norway. There is a wedding celebration. [Note the traditional dress of the bride.] People enjoy a peaceful life. The conversations tell about the people. The radio brings news of the War. Germany attacks Poland, invades Denmark, then occupies Norway. "No more resistance" are the orders which must be followed by all. Germany is creating a "New World Order" and will protect the Norwegians. Those who don't follow orders will be shot. "What does `questioning' mean?" Nazi troops march into the village. Radios are confiscated, as well as blankets and other goods. One fisherman is shot. People can do nothing. [What about rations?] Little children are taught new lessons in school. Young men 17 to 25 are conscripted to work in the Narvik mines.

Can the Norwegians strike back against the enemy? Will they destroy bridges? Or give the wrong directions? Those who listen to a radio are shot in public as a warning to the others. Will there be retribution from the "bad people" in the village? Eric flees to a remote farmhouse. Can he hide from the searching Germans? Will five hostages be shot in reprisal? Eric sees airplanes at an isolated pasture. Can he escape to England? Is there a traitor among the resistance? Is there a trick to trace people with a dog whistle? A woman warns Eric about Lars the innkeeper. "I'm in the same boat as you." "Why did you do it?" "Help!" The small open boat sails through a storm to reach England. The Norwegian Government-in-exile will inspect them. Eric tells about the aerodrome. Can he lead the English Commandos to attack it? The aerodrome can attack convoys to Murmansk.

A ship transports the troops to a Norwegian fjord. They will attack the aerodrome and return to the ship. They pray before departure. Soldiers climb over the side into a landing ship. "Good hunting!" The sergeants carry Tommy guns for short range combat. There is an artillery duel. The soldiers form up to return to the ship. Where is Eric's daughter? Can she be rescued? There is shooting and casualties, but people are rescued. "We will come back." The flags of the United Nations are shown at the end. (How many can you recognize?)

You can see a softer edge to this earlier movie compared to alter WW II movies. Until the invasion of Italy in 1943 the Allied Forces could only launch isolated attacks (such as Dieppe) against an entrenched enemy. Strategic bombing was used to attack the factories that produced fighter planes and ball bearings, or the oil fields of Rumania.

I have been trying to find this movie on DVD for a long time. It is a classic ww2 story that illustrates the resistance of the Norwegian people. Very good movie.

Ahh, the Brits the make great B/W war flicks...and the make good ones. It's ok, but worth it.

Made in the 1940's while WWII was still happening, this movie is very typical of the ones made during that time period. One part love story, one part actioneer, and one part propaganda they all start out with a peaceful life that is interrupted by the bad Axis guys. (in this case the Nazis). When pushed to far, everyone fights back and it builds up to a climactic end. Always ending on a note of hope because no one really knew how the war would end at that time.

This is a family favorite because some of it was filmed in the British Columbia "fiords". My Uncle's Canadian Navy ship was used and my uncle has a brief speaking part. It is interesting for those of us who were too young to remember WWII to see a depiction of the occupation of a part of rural Norway by the Germans. WAR!: "Lest we forget", as they say. I am now watching the engaging FOYLE'S WAR series. That sheds some light on the plight of the English during the war. I would love to see THE LAST VICEROY out on DVD. That series was a great history lesson as well.