The General Died at Dawn **** (1936, Gary Cooper, Madeleine Carroll, Akim Tamiroff, Dudley Digges, Porter Hall) – Classic Movie Review 5585

Director Lewis Milestone’s 1936 film-noir adventure crime thriller stars Gary Cooper as American mercenary O’Hara who tries to stop ruthless warlord General Yang (Akim Tamiroff) from taking over part of China.

Meanwhile spy Judy Perrie (Madeleine Carroll) lures him on to a train to pinch his cash and do her worst on behalf of her dad, (Porter Hall), who is employed by Yang.

Famed playwright Clifford Odets comes up with an intelligent, literary screenplay (from Charles G Booth’s novel) and director Milestone brings out all the story’s excitement and atmosphere.

Cooper, Carroll and the fine cast are excellent in this deserved big hit of its day. It is perhaps a bit silly to give away the plot in the title, but never mind.

It runs 96 minutes, is made by Paramount, is shot in black and white by Victor Milner, produced by William LeBaron, is scored by Werner Janssen, Gerard Carbonara and Ernst Toch, is designed by Hans Dreier and Ernst Fegté.

Also in the cast are Dudley Digges, William Frawley, J M Kerrigan, Philip Ahn, Lee Tung Foo, Leonid Kinskey, Val Durand, Willie Fung, Hans Fuerberg, John O’Hara, Sarah Edwards, Paul Harvey, Russell Hicks, Barnett Parker, Hans von Morhart, Lewis Milestone and Clifford Odets.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5585

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