Year: 1946
Runtime: 83 mins
Language: English
Director: Harold Clurman
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.
Get a spoiler-free look at Deadline at Dawn (1946) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the neon‑lit streets of post‑war New York, a single night of carefree revelry spirals into a shadowy race against the clock. Alex Winkler, a young Navy sailor on the cusp of his next duty, awakens to a bewildering scene: a stranger’s body and a mysterious satchel of cash tucked into his jacket. The city’s restless energy, the clatter of cabs, and the distant jazz of midnight clubs create a backdrop where every alley could hold a clue and every face a secret.
Drawn into the mystery by circumstance, Alex finds an unlikely ally in June Goffe, a charismatic dance‑hall performer whose own ties to the undercurrent of the city give her insight that the sailor lacks. Their partnership is a study in contrast—Alex’s disciplined, military‑trained instincts meet June’s street‑wise intuition—yet both share a pressing need to untangle the events of the vanished hours before sunrise forces their next step. The chemistry between them fuels an uneasy trust as they navigate smoky nightclubs, dimly lit apartments, and the ever‑watchful eyes of a city that never truly sleeps.
The film’s tone sways between gritty noir and a pulse‑quickening thriller, where the ticking minutes amplify the stakes. Shadows lengthen as dawn approaches, and the air crackles with the tension of hidden motives and whispered rumors. A blind piano player known only as “Sleepy” adds an eerie, melodic thread to the night’s tapestry, underscoring the sense that some truths are heard more than seen.
As the night deepens, the sailor’s fragmented memories and June’s intimate knowledge of the city’s underbelly intertwine, forming a fragile map toward answers. Their journey promises a blend of suspense, atmospheric music, and the timeless allure of a city that holds its stories in the darkness just before daybreak.
Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:53
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Desperate characters chasing the truth through a single, tense night.If you liked the tense, overnight investigation in Deadline at Dawn, explore these movies where characters are in a desperate race against the clock under the cover of darkness. These films are fast-paced and suspenseful, capturing the paranoia and urgency of a single night.
These stories unfold in real-time or over a very compressed timeframe, typically a single night. The protagonist, often an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances, must solve a mystery or prevent a disaster before a firm deadline, leading to a rapid succession of clues, confrontations, and narrow escapes.
These films share a specific structural constraint—the ticking clock—that dictates their fast pacing and high tension. They create a cohesive experience defined by nocturnal atmospheres, gritty urban settings, and protagonists operating under extreme pressure, making them perfect for viewers seeking relentless, single-sitting suspense.
Dark crime tales where a glimmer of light emerges from the shadows.Fans of Deadline at Dawn's blend of gritty investigation and cautious romance will appreciate these noir-influenced films. They balance the darkness of crime with elements of redemption or hope, resulting in complex, emotionally resonant stories that don't end entirely bleakly.
The narrative typically follows an innocent or morally ambiguous character caught in a web of crime. Their quest for truth or redemption forces them to navigate a corrupt world, leading to a conclusion that clears their name or achieves a moral victory, but often at a personal cost or with a melancholic undertone, avoiding a purely happy ending.
This thread groups films that share a specific tonal balance: the gritty tension and moral ambiguity of noir are tempered by a central redemptive journey and an ending that is more complex than simple despair. This creates a unique viewing experience that is both satisfying and emotionally nuanced.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Deadline at Dawn in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Deadline at Dawn is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Deadline at Dawn, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Deadline at Dawn with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Deadline at Dawn. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Deadline at Dawn: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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