Rescue Dawn

2006
PG-13
2h 5m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

112K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:19

Jungle Adventure Adventure Biography War

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

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

112K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,064

1,771

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 6 nominations

Videos2

Trailer 2:19

Rescue Dawn

Clip 1:59

Rescue Dawn Exclusive Clip

Clip 1:59

Rescue Dawn Exclusive Clip

Photos99

Top cast36

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Christian Bale

Dieter Dengler

Steve Zahn

Duane

Jeremy Davies

Gene

Zach Grenier

Squad Leader

Marshall Bell

Admiral

Toby Huss

Spook

Pat Healy

Norman

Farkas
(as Gregory J. Qaiyum)

James Aaron Oliver

Jet Pilot
(as James Oliver)

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)

Yuttana Muenwaja

Crazy Horse

Kriangsak Ming-olo

Jumbo

Somkuan 'Kuan' Siroon

Nook the Rook

Chorn Solyda

Walkie Talkie

Galen Yuen

Y.C.

Director
- Werner Herzog
Writer
- Werner Herzog
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The film was shot in reverse continuity so Christian Bale, having worked hard to lose weight for the role, would appear the gauntest at the end, and then could simply gain the pounds back over the course of filming, working backwards through time so that when Bale returned to his average weight he would be filming his scenes as Dengler prior to being taken prisoner.

Goofs
During his captivity, Dieter is shown wearing his gold wedding band - it is generally regard as something no American pilot would do. However, on the DVD Walter Herzog explains a deleted scene where Dieter's ring is almost stolen. When the guards are transporting Dengler to prison they stop at a village. A man there threatens to kill Dieter unless he gives him his ring-a gift from his fiancée. When they leave the village Dieter tells the guards his ring was stolen and they return to the village. The guards cut off the villager's ring finger and return Dieter's ring to him. This is a factual event that haunted Dengler the rest of his life.

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

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Evan Almighty/You Kill Me/Rescue Dawn/Sicko/Black Sheep (2007)

Soundtracks
Martial Crisis
Composed by Jack Shaindlin
Courtesy of APM

User reviews248

Review

Featured review

8/10

Realistic and well done

Rescue Dawn is an excellent Vietnam War POW drama directed by Werner Herzog. Christian Bale gives one of his finest and most grueling performances as German/American pilot who is shot down on a secret bombing raid in Laos. Bale and the rest of his POW costars were totally dedicated to their roles losing an unhealthy amount of weight for absolute authenticity and realism. Rescue Dawn is a harrowing and totally realistic trip to Hell, via the humid, scorching jungle and his sadistic captors. Rescue Dawn is a riveting tale of survival and perseverance that is raw and gritty. The cinematography is excellent and the score is powerful, but subtle. For the most part, the politics of the war are not much of a factor in this film and is mostly about what Dieter Dengler(Christian Bale) and his fellow POW's had to endure. Rescue Dawn is a very good film that in my opinion is very underrated.