Rescue Dawn (2006)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Werner Herzog

Writer:

Werner Herzog (written by)

Release Date:

27 July 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Drama | War

Tagline:

A true story of survival... declassified.

Plot:

A US Fighter pilot's epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War.

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Laos | Escape | Vietnam War | German American

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 10	4:00 PM	TMC
Mon. Nov. 16	8:20 AM	TMC
Thur. Nov. 19	10:15 PM	TMC

Cast

Zach Grenier	...	Squad Leader
Marshall Bell	...	Admiral
Christian Bale	...	Dieter
Toby Huss	...	Spook
Pat Healy	...	Norman
GQ	...	Farkas (as Gregory J. Qaiyum)
James Oliver	...	Jet Pilot
Brad Carr	...	U.S. Navy Pilot
Saichia Wongwiroj	...	Pathet Lao Guard
François Chau	...	Province Governor (as Francois Chau)
Teerawat Mulvilai	...	Little Hitler (as Teerawat 'Ka-Ge' Mulvilai)
Mr. Yuttana Muenwaja	...	Crazy Horse (as Yuttana Muenwaja)
Kriangsak Ming-olo	...	Jumbo
Somkuan 'Kuan' Siroon	...	Nook the Rook
Chorn Solyda	...	Walkie Talkie

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense war violence and torture.

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:12A | Ireland:15A | USA:PG-13 | Netherlands:16 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Finland:K-13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:14 | Singapore:PG | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Thailand

Company:

Gibraltar Films

Trivia:

When Dieter (Christian Bale) is asked about how he became a pilot, he describes an awesome experience of seeing a fighter plane flying by very close when he was a child in wartime Germany. The experience described is strikingly similar to what Bale's character Jim had nineteen years before in Empire of the Sun (1987).

Goofs:

Continuity: At several points during the film, Dengler can be seen wearing a wedding band, but he is not married because he and several other characters throughout the film make reference to his fiancé.

Quotes:

Duane: You're a strange bird, Dieter. A man tries to kill you and you want his job.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jumper (2008)

Soundtrack:

Voice from Another World

Excellent film

I saw this tonight at a preview in Somerville, Mass - a really excellent film. Just such good storytelling, with great suspense, and the usual Herzog weird touches that I am guessing must have come from him (and not the true story). The acting is also superb - both Christian Bale and Steve Zahn are fantastic. Bale really captured this guy's incredibly indomitable spirit, but also his almost child-like wonder and naivete at the world - which ironically enough helps him survive. I found the whole story really moving. The very ending of the film really disappointed me, but it didn't ruin the evening by any means. Wonderful music too. Interesting also to see the documentary about the REAL Dieter, LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY (http://imdb.com/title/ tt0145046/), also made by Herzog. I saw it at a film festival 10 years ago - and Herzog and Dieter were there! Of course, much of Dieter's 'real-life' obsessive-compulsive behavior - such as opening and closing a door multiple times after passing through - turns out to have been 'suggested' by Herzog! Cheeky filmmakers...