Operation: Daybreak (1975)

Wonderful character development!

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

SS General Reinhard Heydrich (Anton Diffring) was assassinated by Czech members of the British forces in 1942 and this well made film seeks to convey their story.Well crafted, Lewis Gilbert's film takes an understated approach allowing the story to tell itself. It's a powerful story and doesn't need embellishing, so the film benefits accordingly. However, certain touches do add to the emotion of the piece, such as a younger sister searching for her brother at a time of danger, but being unable to find him. It's a moving scene in a moving film.The cast are universally excellent. Timothy Bottoms and Anthony Andrews do well in straight forward roles, and Martin Shaw impresses in his more challenging role as Karel Curda. Anton Diffring does his Nazi impression to perfection. There may be one or two small changes to the story but this is a film, and not a documentary. Highly recommended.

Was this the movie on HBO, at the earliest years of HBO, where the two assassins are held up in a room that is being flooded by the Germans. The last scene, they take their own lives and you see poker cards floating in the water as it is rising.I have been trying to figure out what movie that was. I was glued to the screen when I was young, but cant remember what the name of the movie was. The movie as I recall, was two assassins that were sent to take out a German Officer, and they attempted at a train station. I cant remember if they succeeded, but they did not get away and were held up in a house, probably a basement.

A fantastic film. I first saw it about 15 years ago and remembered being extremely moved by it, then I recently bought it off the web and watched it again. It was every bit as stirring.The strengths of this movie lie in the beautiful simplicity of the performances. The characters exude courage and patriotism, set against the backdrop of the savage and brutal Nazi regime in Czechoslovakia during WWII. The score is also beautiful and touching in equal measure.What really hits home however, is when you realise that this is a true story. Everything dramatised in the film actually happened. The director (Lewis Gilbert) is intelligent enough to realise that only the lightest of touches are required, there are no grandiose set pieces - he lets the narrative and the characters' emotions speak for themselves. The ending is utterly heart-rending, but the film as a whole stands as the most inspiring tale of valour against hopeless odds. Watch it when you get the chance, you will never forget it.

I saw this picture 20 years ago, and it is one of my favorite all time movies. I do not care for war themed movies, but this movie offered a great story, as well as suspense and added a very human touch, and sensibility. I do not remember where it was shot, but the movie is beautiful. Friendship, betrayal, rage, anguish can be felt. Acting was wonderful, the actor who interpreted the Heydrich was scary, and Timothy Bottoms was awesome. I just wish that I can see it once more, they do not show it on TV, plus it is hard to find at stores or rental places.If you have the chance to see it, I am sure that you will agree with me.Thanks