Deadline at Dawn

Deadline at Dawn

Year: 1946

Runtime: 83 mins

Language: English

Director: Harold Clurman

RomanceThrillerMysteryThrillers and murder mysteriesNoir and dark crime dramas

When a night of innocent fun turns deadly, a young Navy sailor awakens to find a murdered woman and a bag of cash he cannot explain after a drinking blackout. With only one night before dawn, he races to piece together the clues, uncover the killer and clear his name before the truth slips away.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Deadline at Dawn (1946)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Deadline at Dawn (1946). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1940s, World War II era

The story unfolds in the 1940s during World War II, when wartime duties color the characters’ choices and add urgency to the investigation. The clock is constantly ticking as Alex must depart for duty, amplifying the stakes of every clue. The era's nightlife, radios, and military presence shape the mood of this noir thriller.

Location

New York City, Norfolk, Virginia

Primarily set in New York City with significant moments near a naval base in Norfolk, Virginia. The urban backdrop features bustling streets, dance halls, newsstands, and cramped apartments that frame the noir atmosphere. These locations drive the mystery as clues, alibis, and confrontations unfold against wartime tensions.

🗽 City ⚓ Naval base

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:39

Main Characters – Deadline at Dawn (1946)

Meet the key characters of Deadline at Dawn (1946), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Alex Winkler (Bill Williams)

Alex is a Navy man who has just stolen money to support a former partner but insists he is innocent of Edna's murder. His memory, sense of duty, and growing willingness to take risks push him to chase the truth before he ships out. He remains protective of June and determined to clear his name.

🧭 Navy life 🕵️ Investigation 💔 Romance

June Goffe (Susan Hayward)

June is a dance hall girl who becomes entangled in the murder investigation after guiding Alex and linking Edna's murder to the people around her. She questions Alex's guilt but works with him to uncover the truth, showing grit and resourcefulness. Her actions are driven by loyalty and a desire to understand the mystery's impact on her life.

💃 Dance hall 🕵️ Investigation ❤️ Loyalty

Edna Bartelli (Lola Lane)

Edna is central to the motive web; her past lovers and blackmail letters create powerful threats. She exerts a calculating presence and uses relationships to protect herself, until her murder abruptly changes everyone's course.

💋 Seduction 🗝️ Secrets ⚖️ Power

Sleepy Parsons (Marvin Miller)

Sleepy is a blind piano player performing at a nightclub, his presence links Edna's murder to the club scene. He conveys warmth and perception that help connect scattered clues, though his involvement remains indirect.

🎹 Music 🕵️ Investigation 🕊️ Insight

Jerry Robinson (Phil Warren)

Jerry is Edna's former lover whose confession initially surfaces but is not trusted. His romantic history with Edna seeds complications and misdirection in the investigation.

💔 Past love 🗣️ Confession 🧭 Investigation

Lester Brady (Jerome Cowan)

Lester is a figure connected to blackmail and a forged check; his past and Edna's blackmail schemes drive motives and intensify the mystery.

💳 Forgery 🗝️ Secrets 🕵️ Investigation

Val Bartelli (Joseph Calleia)

Val is Edna's protective brother who suspects Alex and reacts with anger, even physically confronting him. His emotions add a volatile edge to the pursuit of truth.

🧷 Family 💥 Anger 🕵️ Suspicion

Helen Robinson (Osa Massen)

Helen is questioned about her whereabouts the night of the murder; she contributes to the web of alibis and suspicions surrounding Edna's circle.

🕵️ Alibi 💬 Gossip 🗝️ Secrets

Detective Smiley (Al Bridge)

Detective Smiley is a probing presence in the investigation, pushing for answers and contributing to the atmosphere of scrutiny.

🕵️ Detective 👮 Authority

Lt. Kane (Joseph Crehan)

Lt. Kane is the police lieutenant coordinating the case, orchestrating interviews and weighing the various leads as the investigation unfolds.

👮 Authority 🕵️ Investigation

Gus Hoffman (Paul Lukas)

Gus is a taxi driver who follows Alex and becomes entangled in the case; he ultimately confesses to protect a marriage and help Alex.

🚕 Taxi 🧭 Investigation 🤝 Loyalty

Babe Dooley (Joe Sawyer)

Babe is Edna's past lover who appears in the investigation and adds another layer of motive and memory to the murder scenario.

💔 Past love 💭 Grief

Captain Bender (Emory Parnell)

Captain Bender is a police captain who oversees the case, representing the formal authority behind the investigation.

👮 Leadership 🕵️ Investigation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:39

Major Themes – Deadline at Dawn (1946)

Explore the central themes of Deadline at Dawn (1946), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔎 Mystery

Deadline at Dawn functions as a classic whodunit, centering on a murder and a tangled web of suspects. Clues surface through interrogations, overheard conversations, and shifting alibis, while the truth remains elusive. The film sustains tension with misdirection and careful deduction, keeping the audience guessing until the end.

💔 Love & Betrayal

Romantic entanglements drive much of the tension, with June's loyalty tested by her connections to Alex and Edna's past lovers. Jealousy and passion collide with real danger, complicating motives and clouding judgments. The relationships at the center of the mystery reveal how love can blur lines between truth and self-preservation.

🗝️ Secrets

Hidden histories, letters, and blackmail threaten to expose everyone involved, making secrets the fuel of the plot. The discovery of forged checks and Edna's correspondence intensifies suspicion and reshapes motives. The pursuit of truth requires characters to weigh exposure against protection of loved ones.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:39

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Deadline at Dawn Summary

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Deadline at Dawn Summary

Deadline at Dawn Timeline

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Deadline at Dawn Timeline

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Deadline at Dawn (1946) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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Deadline at Dawn (1946) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow