About this product

Product Information

RESCUE DAWN sees Werner Herzog adapting his 1997 documentary LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY, which focused on Dieter Dengler, a pilot who was imprisoned by enemy forces during the Vietnam War. Here, Herzog invites his audience to observe a dramatic reconstruction of the events that beset the unfortunate soldier.

Product Identifiers

EAN5060002836200

eBay Product ID (ePID)70286763

Product Key Features

ActorChristian Bale, Jeremy Davies, Steve Zahn, Zach Grenier, Marshall Bell

Film/TV TitleRescue Dawn

DirectorWerner Herzog

LanguageEnglish

Run Time125 Mins

Aspect Ratio1.85 Anamorphic Wide Screen

Release Year2008

FormatBlu-ray

FeaturesCommentary by director Werner Herzog and interviewer Norman Hill\The Making of a True Story Featurette: Unfinished Business: Telling Dieter's Story, Strength of Character, War Stories, What Would Dieter Do?, The Sound Of War\Seven deleted scenes with optional commentary by director Werner Herzog and interviewer Norman Hill\Production photography gallery, Widescreen, Closed Caption

GenreGeneral, Action & Adventure

Additional Product Features

Number of Discs1

Certificate12A/12

Country/Region of ManufactureUnited States of America

Hearing ImpairedEnglish

ComposerKlaus Badelt

Additional InformationIncomparable director Werner Herzog takes another strange turn in his eclectic career with RESCUE DAWN--a major studio picture starring Christian Bale (BATMAN BEGINS). The film is an adaptation of Herzog's 1997 documentary LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY, which focused on Dieter Dengler, a pilot who was imprisoned by enemy forces during the Vietnam War. Dengler escaped and his incredible reminisces about this period in his life spilled onto the screen in Herzog's documentary. Here, Bale plays Dengler, while Herzog constructs a dark masterpiece around him, inviting his audience to observe a dramatic reconstruction of the events that beset the unfortunate soldier. Bale's Dengler is aided by fellow captive Duane (Steve Zahn), and a capable cast of characters who variously play prisoners and sadistic guards. The film is split into two parts, with the harrowing experiences of prison life taking the bulk of Herzog's screen time, followed by a desperate bid for survival in the jungle.<BR>Bale really gets a chance to demonstrate his acting chops as RESCUE DAWN unravels, with the actor heading on a rapid downward spiral as the film progresses. Herzog rarely allows the tension to drop throughout, and while most audiences may expect some relief as Dengler escapes his confines, things get much worse as he heads into the perilous Vietnamese jungle. Herzog presents plenty of raw emotion and a rough, at times barely watchable, portrayal of the human spirit, as Dengler's sanity is severely tested, and often only held together by his companionship with Duane. RESCUE DAWN is a rewarding trip and another wonderful addition to the Herzog canon.

ReviewsVariety - This polished, cleanly made pic still packs a wrenching emotional punch and, if backed by critics and auds, could earn more for Herzog than his last 10 features put together, New York Times - A satisfying genre picture that challenges the viewer's expectations, Time Out - The acting pas de deux on display in RESCUE DAWN more than redeems the new movie's occasional blandness (and odd late-inning jingoism). Herzog has yet to return to the peaks of his '70s successes, but this brings them to mind

ScreenwriterWerner Herzog

Sound sourceDolby Digital 5.1\DTS 5.1

Movie/TV TitleRescue Dawn

Consumer AdviceContains strong language and moderate violence