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By Dawn's Early Light (HBO) [1990]
![By Dawn's Early Light (HBO) [1990]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QZN75FQXL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £17.99
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A boring cold war "drama"
Review date: 2008-10-21 Rating: 2 out of 10
Bah. A boring and confused b-movie film, based on a Third World War drama, with a B52 bomber lost in the sky, a confused plot and a decent cast underemployed.
20K miles from Strangelove and similia.
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very very BAD film!
Review date: 2007-11-23 Rating: 2 out of 10
I don't know where to start with this one. It is a very poor example of what would happen in a nuclear war. A nuclear device is exploded 15 miles from where the president is based yet he escapes to a helicopter that takes him to a hospital then another bomb is detonated the helicopter crashes in a forest that is still intact and a small boy playing in the woods takes the president to the hospital. Despite the destructive power of nuclear weapons, this film has no depictions of blast damage or people with radiation sickness. The military scenaro is pathetic and the worst bit is when the male and female pilots of a B52 fly of into the rising sun in what is, I can only assume, meant to be an attempt to re-populate the planet. This is NOT what would have happened if the cold war continued.
For a more accurate example of nuclear holocaust see the film Threads.
Conclusion: A poor Walt Disney-esque depiction of world war 3.
Pretty good, but could've been so much more
Review date: 2006-09-30 Rating: 6 out of 10
The basic plot is nothing new - Russia and America shake their sticks at each other over a basic mis-understanding and nuclear war seems inevitable. There's some fine acting, notably from James Earl Jones, although Rebecca De Mornay is a little wooden, and the effects are acceptable rather than exciting.
This is, however, an almost perfect copy of Fail Safe (1964); in one, a nuclear bomber goes AWOL and heads towards Russia. The president does his best to recall it and keeps in contact with the Soviet premier throughout. A civilian adviser plays the hawk and tries to convince the president to use this opportunity to destroy Russia with an all-out attack.
In the other, nuclear bombers head towards Russia. The president does his best to recall them and keeps in contact with the Soviet premier throughout. An army hawk tries to convince the (secretary of internal affairs and temporary) president to use this opportunity to destroy Russia with an all-out attack.
In both films, the president prevails and nuclear war is averted. In fact, the two films are too similar for comfort and I can't help but think that most of the plot for By Dawn's Early Light was lifted right out of Fail Safe with just enough minor changes to avert calls of plagiarism.
All in all, a reasonable film, but... it's not scary enough, it's too unrealistic (the pilot of the bomber doesn't really want to drop his bombs so he just turns around!), and I can't see what the relationship between Powers Boothe and Rebecca De Mornay achieved. If you want tension, watch Fail Safe; if you want scary watch The Day After and if you want nuclear holocaust, watch Threads.
Get it whilst you can!
Review date: 2006-03-23 Rating: 10 out of 10
At the time I bought this, it was very difficult to get hold of and I had to get it from USA, on tape.
This movie is THAT good.
Powers Boothe does a superb job and the tension builds from the very beginning to an extremely good ending.
This is Hollywood at it's finest and the whole thing could very easily happen.
JUST WATCH IT ASAP!!
Rent it, Buy it.
Review date: 2006-01-23 Rating: 8 out of 10
Must agree with the frst review, a very under rated film. The plot is very good and the editing keeps the pace right up there. If you strip away the Hollywood glossy this is a very thoughtful film.
At the time, Yes it could have happened, hope for the human spirt is still strong. Buy it, it a good evenings watch !
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
James Earl Jones
Martin Landau
Rebecca De Mornay
Powers Boothe
Creators:
Powers Boothe (Primary Contributor)
Rebecca De Mornay (Primary Contributor)
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900253987
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-01-02
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 96 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1990
Language: English (Original Language)