MovieChat Forums > Decision Before Dawn (1952) Discussion > Cool scene

Cool scene

posted 19 years ago by CmdrCody
23 replies | jump to latest

In the beginning of the movie, when Sgt. Griffen (George Tyne) and Lt. Rennick (Richard Basehart) get lost in the Hagenau Woods and do a u-turn in the jeep and come to a stop to check the map...that's a real German Sd.Ktz.251 halftrack with a Pac-57 anti-tank gun parked in the backround. Very cool.

A lot of the "German" equipment of the XI Panzer Corps is actually French. The Panzers at the bridge that are attacked by the P-47 Thunderbolts are French AMX tanks. That's okay. They look very cool.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] CmdrCody 19 years ago

Ah ha!!! Heir Meister of zee Panzers! I will have to be reduced two steps in rank and returned to my post on the suicide torpedoes in the North Sea. (as depicted in "The Eagle Has Landed."

How could I make such errors of the Fuhrer's equipment? Perhaps a few weeks in the snow on the North Cape area outside our lines near Murmansk will sharpen my memory!

You are The Master!

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] CmdrCody 19 years ago

Actually...mein Herr...I just saw the scene again on Cinemax cable channel this afternoon here in the States. It's possible that it was some other kind of anti-tank gun because the director decided to have it on its side. It has a long barrel like an a/t piece, but there's no telling what it is.

The half-track right next to it is definantly belonging to the Wehrmacht. Or rather...used to.

You are the Master....and Commander.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] CmdrCody 19 years ago

Herr Commandant! Outstanding! You are to procure your 1/72 Elephandt Assault Gun from Dragon. Beware: that's how I got started. One. Then two. Then twenty two!

My wife rolls her eyes when she enters my study.."the inner sanctum"...overfull with sagging bookcases of movies, books and models.

I'm impressed with the bredth and depth of your knowledge on the subject of Zee Panzer Truppen. It is amazing that in August 1942, First Panzer Army was on the banks of the Terek, at the gates of Grozny...almost 2000 miles from Berlin. You know what they say about the Germans: THEY LOVE TO MARCH!

Regards, Oh Great One.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] tacurtis91935 19 years ago

"A lot of the "German" equipment of the XI Panzer Corps is actually French. The Panzers at the bridge that are attacked by the P-47 Thunderbolts are French AMX tanks. That's okay. They look very cool."

You sure those are French tanks? I thought those were American M-24s, but I admit I didn't look too closely. In an otherwise incredibly authentic film, only the (very shiny) non-German tanks stood out.

[–] CmdrCody 19 years ago

tacturtis: I do stand corrected...zee panzers at the bridge are M-24s!

You are promoted two steps in rank!! Achtung!

CmdrCody

[–] tacurtis91935 18 years ago

Here's something interesting. . . apparently Oskar Werner was a real deserter in WWII.

Read about it at

http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=75563

That certainly adds another interesting dimension to the movie, doesn't it?

I would have to say this is my favorite WWII movie. Besides for the real equipment, real "sets", probably ex-Wehrmacht playing their soldier roles, etc., to me it captures the desperation, paranoia and chaos within Nazi Germany around the end. That's certainly something I never thought of until I saw the film. The barmaid's scene is very moving. . . it's interesting to think how that scene was received in 1952 American-audience movie theaters. . . part of the "rehabilitation" of West Germany into the allied camp?

PS: Thanks for the rise in rank, Commander. I'm a huge WWII armour fan. . .

[–] CmdrCody 18 years ago

tacurtis91935: I think you summed-up the movie pretty well. I think everyone who has seen and appreciated this picture are a special breed. The movie is a litle noticed treasure of history.

Thanks for the information about Oskar Werner. I didn't know that about him until your posting. For your disclosure of zee information, you are now promoted to the rank of "Heir Meister of zee Panzers." There is only one other with such rank and he is in Australia. His postings are on this movie board, too.

Best regards. CmdrCody

[–] sfk20 18 years ago

Hans Christian Blech, who played "Tiger", was also in the Wehrmacht and served from 1939 to 1945. I'm willing to bet 75% or more of the German actors in the film were actually involved in the war.

[–] CmdrCody 18 years ago

Remember him as "Col. Hessler's" driver and aide in "The Battle of the Bulge?"
His lines in that picture seemed to be amplified by bitter experience.

CmdrCody

[–] sfk20 18 years ago

Yes, he was the cowardly Corpral Conrad. My favorite part of his however, was as Major Werner Pluskat in The Longest Day. He was also in a series called 08/15 which was about the life of a group of German soldiers in Russia.

[–] CmdrCody 18 years ago

I haven't heard of "8/15"...sounds very cool. Is a German or a UK production?

[–] sfk20 18 years ago

Its German with an all German cast (obviously its also spoken in German). There were three episodes, one about the front, one about home leave, and another about training I think. It all revovles around the same group of soldiers. You can find it on this site, just type in 08/15.

[–] Noir-It-All 15 years ago

This film used to be shown a lot in the Philadephia market in the 1960's. I thought it was great. It seems to have become more rare to view. Loved Oskar Werner in this. What an appealing actor!

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] chriskooter 15 years ago

Ha ha, what a good read! Allthough the comments of the 'Reich Chancellor of Angry Panzer Correctness' comments have been removed, you have to salute (carefull now) CmdrCody's wit and humour in the face of such a bitter onslaught!I love this film, I've had it about 3 years, it was unknown to me before and still unreleased in the UK. Must have watched it a dozen times.

[–] CmdrCody 15 years ago

chriskooter: Thanks for your comments. I think the movie captures the desperation and desolation of the last few months of the War. We're part of a small fraternity who are aware of the picture and appreciate it.

Barkeep: a wee dram for our eloquent friend, chriskooter !

CmdrCody

[–] ChristopherX20 15 years ago

Cant remember it all clearly now,as some years ago i last saw it,maybe the 90's or so?.Anyway i remember the start,or where oskar werner's character is captured right near that half track.And also how was a lufwaffe medic too right.

On the end,was there him crossing a river to get to the allied side or not?,cant quiet remember,if not how did it end exactly,a debrief with some u.s officers?.

Christopher

[–] anghmho 13 years ago

That wasn't George Tyne who was driving. George Tyne didn't show up until Richard Basehart reports for duty at the convent.

[–] CUTiger78 12 years ago

CmdrCody said, "...that's a real German Sd.Ktz.251 halftrack..."

I believe that's a Sd Kfz 250 Neu.

[–] Noir-It-All 9 years ago

The film also shows true devastated buildings and the fanatical Hitler Youth (Tiger's nephew, the antithesis of Uncle Tiger.)