Ameriatch One of the best films i have seen

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Clarissa Mora The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Janae Milner Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

rachrules-33444 Most interesting is when Mr Bergesen, the outspoken man who had been trying to warn everyone else about the threats of the day said sarcastically to one of the German officers, "Your Norwegian brother is ready to enter the New World Order". Remember, the favorite line of G.H.W. Bush. His dad, Prescott funded Hitler. I also liked the message Eric told his daughter about people are bad, and people are good. People can make themselves better or make themselves worse.

SnorrSm1989 It is easy to overlook COMMANDOS STRIKE AT DOWN as just one out of many, many other propaganda-films against Nazism made in Hollywood during the war. In fact, this seems to be pretty much what has happened, because despite starring Paul Muni, the for his time unusually versatile and complex actor, and co-starring the legend of the silent screen Lillian Gish (I wish she was given more screen time!), this film rarely gets any mention at all, even in discussion of the aforementioned performers. Yet, among the films of this kind I have seen, this one is, despite some obvious short-comings, by far one of the most exciting, touching and enjoyable.The film covers the story of a few Norwegian people deciding to actively fight against the occupation, Eric Toresen (Muni) being among them. As is to be expected, Muni is the strongest aspect of the film, as he is always able to make the best out of what he's got to deal with; unlike many of his contemporaries, Muni never leaned towards a particular screen image, choosing instead to examine his character for each situation he had to encounter. He never expresses the different emotions that erupt from his character through one particular viewpoint; anger and joy is evoked to various degrees, always depending on the circumstances. The result is that, although there's never any doubt about our sympathy towards Ericson as an honest, good-natured man, he comes across as being quite complex at the same time. In a propaganda-film of this kind, it could be expected, perhaps even accepted, that the definite hero of the film gets sugarcoated throughout, but I never felt that way about Ericson which should say a lot about Muni's talent as an actor.The ability to show various aspects of conditions in this film is not solely thanks to Muni, however. There is one fact which Norwegians are not fond of talking about, but which I, being a Norwegian myself, think would be pointless to avoid mentioning here; during World War II, most Norwegians never dared to speak up against a Nazi. Hitler had given special orders to treat Norway nicely as long as the people didn't protest, and for the most part my country responded to this by not protesting at all. There were only a few like Ericson who eloped to England in order to fight the war from there. In a film like this one, one could expect such aspects of the story to be overlooked, but to my amazement it did occur at least once that even an anti-Nazi suggested to give up the fight, and enjoy the "good things" he expected to get under an occupation.Also as mere entertainment, COMMANDOS is pretty good; California landscape makes pretty well up for the absence of accurate "Norwegian fjords," and there are quite a few touching scenes, especially the one involving Ericson hiding from Nazis in a well with his daughter. There are some instances of overly theatrical dialogue, which doesn't come as a surprise considering how quickly these films were made. All in all, however, COMMANDOS STRIKE AT DAWN holds up well, both as a reminder and as entertainment.A final note -- it was an absurd experience to me hearing the Norwegian national song being sung in American!

eldino33 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.

bkoganbing In Commandos Strike At Dawn, Paul Muni is a Norwegian fisherman who does not like what the Nazis have brought in occupying his country. After a murder he resolves to leave Norway and do something about it.As Eric Toreson, Muni has his most stoic role with the exception of Benito Juarez. But his facial expressions and the controlled anger in his voice tell the story than a lot of theatrics. It's unfortunate that a better story could not be utilized for a man of his talents. I'm still struggling over the idea that before the war an admiral of the Royal Navy, Cedric Hardwicke together with his daughter Anna Lee, are visiting Muni's village. It certainly doesn't look like a vacation spot or that she would take up with Muni who was certainly beneath her in the European class system. A year later Warner Brothers produced The Edge of Darkness also about the Norwegian resistance which starred Errol Flynn. Now Flynn was in no way in Muni's class as an actor, but as an action hero he certainly filled the bill.Lillian Gish is in this film as the wife of Ray Collins who is picked up for his anti-Nazi views and tortured. For someone of her talents, she's given little to do. Western fans will recognize B picture cowboy actor Rod Cameron in the role of the Lutheran parson of the village. George MacReady is the village school teacher in one of the few sympathetic roles he ever had on screen.Doing double duty is Alexander Knox as the Nazi captain among the occupiers of the village. You can also easily recognize Knox's voice as the unseen parson blessing the British commandos as they embark on a raid near Muni's village. It's typical World War II propaganda and if it weren't for the quality of the cast Commandos Strike At Dawn would barely be a blip on the nostalgia radar.