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Paul Muni goes from gentle widower to Nazi-slaying commando leader. The ultimate dad rage fantasy.
TMDB
55
IMDb
65
Rotten Tomatoes
53
Audience Score
53
Google
77
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Commandos Strike at Dawn (1942)

propaganda with a budgetdad revenge fantasywartime melodrama

Overview

DramaWar

A gentle widower with a small daughter finds his peaceful small rural village suddenly invaded by Nazis and, enraged in short order by their atrocities, becomes the leader of an aggressive underground movement.

Flag of USUS
Content warning
world war iifather daughter relationshipsingle fatherfishing villagenazi occupied norway

Standout Aspects

Production

Canadian locations convincingly faking Norway on a tight budget.

Acting

Paul Muni's eyebrows alone deserve separate billing.

Best for:Solo: When you need to feel morally justified about everything.·Background: Fold laundry to 1940s explosions and speeches.
John Farrow

Director

John Farrow

ReleasedDec 30, 1942
Runtime1h 38m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonemixed
Feelmedium
Columbia Pictures

Top Cast

Paul Muni

Paul Muni

Eric Toresen

Ann Carter

Ann Carter

Solveig Toresen

Richard Derr

Richard Derr

Gunnar Korstad

Elisabeth Fraser

Elisabeth Fraser

Anna Korstad

Cedric Hardwicke

Cedric Hardwicke

Admiral Bowen

Robert Coote

Robert Coote

Robert Bowen

Anna Lee

Anna Lee

Judith Bowen

Ray Collins

Ray Collins

Johan Bergesen

Erville Alderson

Erville Alderson

Johan Garme

Louis Jean Heydt

Louis Jean Heydt

Karl Arnesen

Arthur Margetson

Arthur Margetson

German Colonel

Alexander Knox

Alexander Knox

German Captain

Barbara Everest

Barbara Everest

Mrs. Olav

Rosemary DeCamp

Rosemary DeCamp

Hilma Arnesen

Lillian Gish

Lillian Gish

Mrs. Bergesen

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Filmed in British Columbia with actual Canadian troops as extras—the military cooperation was part of the propaganda push.

Cultural

Paul Muni famously fought for this role after being typecast as gangsters; he wanted to prove his 'serious actor' credentials during the war effort. The film itself was rushed into theaters three months after production wrapped.

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