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Poster for The General Died at Dawn

The General Died at Dawn

Seen it?

1936 | 98 min | Drama, Thriller

Saturday Specialearly rating

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite almost no lasting buzz. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Foreign Correspondent or Empire of the Sun, start here.
The mood
Tense, harrowing.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 38 min.
What might put you off
Made in 1936: an older pace and style.

China, 1930s, during the ravaging civil war. General Pen entrusts O'Hara, an intrepid American adventurer, with the mission of providing a large sum of money to Mr. Wu with the task of buying weapons in Shanghai to help end General Yang's tyranny that keeps an entire province under his ruthless iron boot.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsSolid

    Nominated for 3 Oscars.

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 7K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Lewis Milestone

  • Gary CooperO'Hara
  • Madeleine CarrollJudy Perrie
  • Akim TamiroffGeneral Yang
  • Dudley DiggesMr. Wu
  • Porter HallPeter Perrie
  • William FrawleyBrighton
  • J.M. KerriganLeach
  • Philip AhnOxford
  • Lee Tung FooMr. Chen
  • Leonid KinskeyStewart