Rescue Dawn (2006)

Director:

Werner Herzog

Writer:

Werner Herzog (written by)

Release Date:

27 July 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | 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:

Pow | Eating Worm | Survival | Helicopter | Jungle

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

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
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 Rock
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:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Thailand

Company:

Gibraltar Films

Trivia:

Dieter Dengler was captured not once but twice in real life. The scene where he was captured while drinking from a river is based on his second capture.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Dieter is dragged behind the water buffalo shortly after his capture, you can see the tracks of the car dragging Christan Bale in the sand.

Quotes:

Dieter: Empty what is full. Fill what is empty. Scratch what itches.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jumper (2008)

Soundtrack:

River in the Rain

An excellent Herzog movie

I saw this at the world premiere last night, and it was really great. Not my favorite Herzog movie, but overall his most well rounded one and definitely his most mainstream. It has a chance of doing quite well at the box office. The acting is all around terrific, and the camera work beautiful.

Most Herzog movies seem like these flawed masterpieces; movies that are worth watching for several moments of intense brilliance. Rescue Dawn had these moments of brilliance, and the rest seemed like a very well made thriller / action movie. However, it didn't quite pack the same punch as the best moments of Fitzcarraldo or Aguirre. Still, I gave it 5/5 on my voting ballot.