Warner Herzog is best known for his documentary work, but that doesn’t stop him from stepping into the realm of fiction every once in a while. His best fiction work is typically built upon his reputation as a documentarian, such as Incident at Loch Ness which attempted to use Herzog’s reputation to create a Blair Witch type tale about the Loch Ness monster.
Herzog’s Rescue Dawn goes a step further as a fictional dramatization of Dieter Dengler, who Herzog previously captured in his documentary “Little Dieter Needs to Fly,” which received much acclaim. Now, with the help of Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, and Jeremy Davies, Herzog brings Dengler’s tale to the screen with a focus on action and adventure worthy of Dengler.
The movie builds on Dieter Dengler’s desire to be a wartime pilot, dramatizing his first mission where he was shot down over Laos. Captured by the Laotian soldiers, Dengler (Christian Bale) meets other Americans in a prison camp. Not one to be confined, Dengler immediately begins on an escape plan that puts Dengler and his countrymen out of the firepot of the prison camp and into the fire of the deadly jungle. Filmed on location in Thailand, Rescue Dawn reunites Herzog with members of his Grizzly Man team, including his editor and director of photography.
Herzog isn’t the first name that comes to mind for action/adventure type movies. In fact, he’s probably near the last, just above Merchant/Ivory, but he’s got a solid cast to work with and a larger than life historical figure. Here’s hoping can work some movie magic and bring in a surprise hit this summer.
Herzog’s Rescue Dawn is currently slated for a limited release on July 4th, 2007.
