Le commando frappe à l'aube

Columbia delivered an interesting war propaganda film during WWII and COMMANDOS STRIKE AT DAWN, with Canada substituting for the Norwegian coastline. Although a little overlong and slowly paced at the start, it builds interest about midway and then never lets up being an absorbing war melodrama.

PAUL MUNI is a Norwegian fisherman who flees Norway after a witnessing a cold-blooded killing and then returns from Britain to take on the Nazis as a resistance fighter. The romantic angle has him in love with the Admiral's daughter, ANNA LEE.

The story opens in the blissful peacefulness of a Norwegian village, circa 1939 where Muni and Lee are enjoying the pleasantries of a wedding party and it soon becomes apparent that the scriptwriter Irwin Shaw spends too much time setting up the growing romance between Muni and Lee under John Farrow's leisurely direction. One can only hope that the pace of the story will quicken once the drums of war start beating and the Germans have started their invasion of surrounding countries.

Muni is understandably upset when he witnesses the murder of a young fisherman and the aftermath of a brutal beating by one of the townsmen (RAY COLLINS), and when he sees what the German invaders (led by Alexander KNOX) are doing to his village and that his young daughter (ANN CARTER) is being taught at school to hate non-Germans. On the debit side, LILLIAN GISH, as Collins' wife, has little to do but look worried. Stalwart ROD CAMERON is improbably cast as a Lutheran pastor who has to stand by while a young man is shot by a firing squad.

It takes a good forty minutes into the story before the resistance tactics start to kick in and Muni begins his vengeful acts against the Nazis. A scene involving Muni hiding in a well with his small daughter while the Nazis search his home is especially well handled. Muni's escape to England is the highlight of the story, a suspenseful scene involving one of the six men who is willing to betray them to the Nazis but whose plan has to be foiled by Muni's quick thinking action.

In England, Muni renews his relationship with the Admiral's daughter and the story moves toward a satisfying, if predictable, conclusion. All the performances are first rate, and after a slow start, the picture builds suspense, especially throughout the last half of the film dealing with the escape from Norway. The final skirmish at the airfield with the British taking the Nazis by surprise is as well staged as any action sequence in war movies of this era.

Not the best resistance story I've ever seen, but it's worthwhile for some very moving scenes and Muni's fine, understated performance as the determined Norwegian leader.

Although another of the "common folk against Nazi invasion and occupation" films, this one is better than most. The acting on all levels ranges from good to superior. The plot is complete and dynamic, and the technical elements, like music and setting, are extremely good. Amazingly, the accomplishments of Norway's underground during World War Two are more dramatic than those portrayed in the film. In addition to sabotage, the underground was able to cross and recross the Swedish border, many times to save Nordic Jews. In this instance, reality exceeds the fictional world of the movie industry. This is a well written dramatic film, well worth seeing and preserving!

In 1939 Norway, peace-loving widower Paul Muni (as Erik Toresen) attends the wedding of a fisherman friend. There, he dances with leading lady Anna Lee (as Judith Bowen), daughter of visiting English admiral Cedric Hardwicke. She returns to England and Mr. Muni stays behind, only to witness wicked Adolf Hitler's Nazi forces invade his country. After the Germans demonstrate the expected brutality, Muni becomes a Norwegian resistance leader...

This pedestrian World War II propaganda story is not complimented by its own rewards. The Canadian filming location is lovely and the cast inviting. Especially noteworthy is the big screen return of legendary Lillian Gish (as Hilda Bergesen) after ten years focused on stage work, but in too small a role; Ms. Gish only punctuates how "Commandos Strike at Dawn" adds up to so much less than it should. There is certainly enough here, however, to recommend the film.

****** Commandos Strike at Dawn (12/30/42) John Farrow ~ Paul Muni, Anna Lee, Lillian Gish, Cedric Hardwicke

For we amateur historians this early WWII American propaganda film is a treasure for its insights into attitudes about the German conquest of Europe.

Among the first of a long line of American propaganda films, it was actually filmed on Vancouver Island in Canada, because of its similarity to the Norwegian landscape. Real British and Canadian commandos were used to play the soldiers, both British and German. {The British and Canadians who had been at war for over two years were eager to assist the newly arrived Americans becoming involved}. The cast and crew stayed at the famous Empress Hotel in Victoria, about 10 miles from the filming site.

The script was adopted from a story by C.S. Forester, the famous British novelist of naval and maritime stories. The script was done by Irwin Shaw who would become a noted American novelist.

The film is probably too idealistic in its portrayal of good-hearted Europeans rising up against their Nazi conquerors. Only after the war did Europeans concoct an heroic resistance. The vast majority at the time however passively accepted German occupation. And for good reason. The Germans took brutal reprisals against any sign of resistance. Unlike in the movie, most conquered peoples kept their heads down and waited for the Allied armies to save them. Nonetheless, the film probably reassured American audiences that Europeans were eagerly awaiting to help liberate the continent from Nazi oppressors.

Btw, I had the opportunity to discuss the making of the movie with Ann Carter, who at age 6 played "Solveig", the daughter of Paul Muni's character. I have added some of her recollections in the comments section.

Blaine in Seattle, U.S.A.

There is a problem with this film in that it does not illustrate the depth of Norwegian resistance to the Nazi occupation of Norway. Of course, a short movie can only do so much, and in 1942 all nations, Allied and Axis alike were producing films at a rapid rate. It is even likely that little was known of the Norwegian underground and what was known certainly would not be put into a feature movie for all the world to see. However, the audience must not be left with the impression that the British attacks were the salvation of Norway. During the war some did occur, and some were helpful. It must be remembered that Norway is some distance from England, that the British had battles around the world to contend with, and that the North Sea and its horrid weather, combined with a demand on warships, forced Norway to deal with the occupiers on a more personal basis. Sabotage of materials sent to Germany was normal. Work slowdowns and "accidents" disrupted production. At places like Bergen, the underground was active and effective. In fact, a "mysterious" explosion of an Axis ammunition ship took place in Bergen harbor (said to be the second largest explosion in maritime history), supposedly as the ship was leaving for Narvik. Also, helpful was the fact that German soldiers generally disliked Norwegian postings. The German attack on Oslo was not without it losses. A German battleship (some say it was a large battle cruiser) on its first voyage was sunk in Oslo Fjord with all hands lost (except those saved by the Norweigans who could get to them in time in the freezing water.) Also lost were about 5000 German Troops who were housed below decks. Ironically, the battleship was battered by four large Austrian cannon that were purchased by Norway from Germany after World War One. The Nazis appropriated food, blankets and warm clothing for their forces on the Russian front. The Norweigans contaminated the sardines that were sent with castor oil, thereby making the cold Russian winters ever more unpleasant. Yes, the British helped some, to their credit, but clever Norwegian citizens did much more than blow up a few trains.