Hold Back the Dawn
“Three great stars in the story of love...coldly conceived from a man's need, and a woman's desire!”
Synopsis
Romanian-French gigolo Georges Iscovescu wishes to enter the USA. Stopped in Mexico by the quota system, he decides to marry an American, then desert her and join his old partner Anita, who's done likewise. But after sweeping teacher Emmy Brown off her feet, he finds her so sweet that love and jealousy endanger his plans.
Top Cast
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Charles Boyer
Georges Iscovescu
Olivia de Havilland
Emmy Brown
Paulette Goddard
Anita Shaughnessy
Victor Francen
Van Den Luecken
Walter Abel
Inspector Hammock
Curt Bois
Bonbois
Rosemary DeCamp
Berta Kurz
Eric Feldary
Josef Kurz
Nestor Paiva
Flores
Eva Puig
Lupita
Micheline Cheirel
Christine
Madeleine Lebeau
Anni
Billy Lee
Tony
Mikhail Rasumny
Mechanic
Charles Arnt
Mr. MacAdams
Arthur Loft
Mr. Elvestad
Mitchell Leisen
Mr. Saxon
Norman Ainsley
Waiter with Tray (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York City, New York
Festival / Special Debut
September 26, 1941
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Mitchell Leisen
- Screenplay & Story
- Ketti Frings, Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder
- Original Score
- Victor Young
- Original Title
- Hold Back the Dawn
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 1h 56m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Mitchell Leisen
Ketti Frings, Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder
Victor Young
Leo Tover
Doane Harrison
Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Department Leadership Roster
Mitchell Leisen
Director
Charles Brackett
Writer
Billy Wilder
Writer
Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Producer
Leo Tover
Director of Photography
Doane Harrison
Editor
Edith Head
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Hold Back the Dawn.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Hold Back the Dawn.
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Best Picture Nominees
Best Picture Nominees (updated 8/6/26)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hold Back the Dawn
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Hold Back the Dawn about?
Romanian-French gigolo Georges Iscovescu wishes to enter the USA. Stopped in Mexico by the quota system, he decides to marry an American, then desert her and join his old partner Anita, who's done likewise. But after sweeping teacher Emmy Brown off her feet, he finds her so sweet that love and jealousy endanger his plans.
Who directed Hold Back the Dawn?
Hold Back the Dawn was directed by Mitchell Leisen.
Who stars in Hold Back the Dawn?
The principal cast of Hold Back the Dawn includes Charles Boyer, Olivia de Havilland, Paulette Goddard, Victor Francen, Walter Abel.
When was Hold Back the Dawn released and how long is it?
Hold Back the Dawn was released in 1941 with a total runtime of 1h 56m.
Who composed the musical score for Hold Back the Dawn?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Hold Back the Dawn was composed by Victor Young.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Hold Back the Dawn?
Hold Back the Dawn holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).