The Dawn Express
“Lured into a trap by a Mata Hari... the lives of his loved ones was the price demanded for his honor!”
Synopsis
A Nazi spy ring is after a chemical formula that increases the power of ordinary gasoline for U.S. Army aviation use. Two U.S. chemical companies are developing the formula, with each working on half for security purposes. The spies get half the formula and know that either of two chemists, Robert Norton or Tom Fielding, knows the rest. They capture Fielding, through a ruse by gang member Linda Pavlo, and threaten the life of his sister Nancy and his mother if he does not give them the formula. To protect his friend Fielding, who does know the formula and is engaged to Nancy, Tom pretends to know the secret and boards the Dawn Express plane with the spy leader and his gang.
Top Cast
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Michael Whalen
Robert Norton
Anne Nagel
Nancy Fielding
William Bakewell
Tom Fielding
Constance Worth
Linda Pavlo
Hans Heinrich von Twardowski
Capt. Gemmler
Jack Mulhall
Chief Agent James Curtis
George Pembroke
Prof. Karl Schmidt
Kenneth Harlan
Agent Brown
Robert Frazer
John Oliver
Hans von Morhart
Heinrich
Michael Vallon
Argus
Willy Castello
Otto
C. Montague Shaw
Franklin Prescott (uncredited)
Poppy Wilde
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
March 27, 1942
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Albert Herman
- Screenplay & Story
- Arthur St. Claire
- Original Title
- The Dawn Express
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 2m
- Production Studios
- PRC, Merrick-Alexander Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Albert Herman
Arthur St. Claire
Edward Linden
Department Leadership Roster
Albert Herman
Director
Edward Linden
Director of Photography
Arthur St. Claire
Screenplay
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 The Dawn Express.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Dawn Express.
War: World War II
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Dawn Express
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Dawn Express about?
A Nazi spy ring is after a chemical formula that increases the power of ordinary gasoline for U.S. Army aviation use. Two U.S. chemical companies are developing the formula, with each working on half for security purposes. The spies get half the formula and know that either of two chemists, Robert Norton or Tom Fielding, knows the rest. They capture Fielding, through a ruse by gang member Linda Pavlo, and threaten the life of his sister Nancy and his mother if he does not give them the formula. To protect his friend Fielding, who does know the formula and is engaged to Nancy, Tom pretends to know the secret and boards the Dawn Express plane with the spy leader and his gang.
Who directed The Dawn Express?
The Dawn Express was directed by Albert Herman.
Who stars in The Dawn Express?
The principal cast of The Dawn Express includes Michael Whalen, Anne Nagel, William Bakewell, Constance Worth, Hans Heinrich von Twardowski.
When was The Dawn Express released and how long is it?
The Dawn Express was released in 1942 with a total runtime of 1h 2m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Dawn Express?
The Dawn Express holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).