By Dawn's Early Light (1990) (TV)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Jack Sholder

Writers (WGA):

William Prochnau (novel)
Bruce Gilbert (teleplay)

Release Date:

19 May 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Action

Tagline:

Four People. Three Minutes. Two Choices. One Chance For Survival.

Plot:

The crew of a nuclear bomber attack the Soviet Union while the President of the United States tries...

Plot Keywords:

Nuclear War | Based On Novel

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Powers Boothe	...	Maj. Cassidy
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Capt. Moreau
James Earl Jones	...	Looking Glass General - 'Alice'
Martin Landau	...	President
Darren McGavin	...	Condor - Secretary of Interior
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	E-4 Admiral - 'Harpoon'
Rip Torn	...	E-4 Col. Fargo
Peter MacNicol	...	Lt. Cmdr. Tom Sedgewicke
Glenn Withrow	...	Lt. Tyler
Ronald William Lawrence	...	Lt. Hooker
Kieran Mulroney	...	Lt. Radnor
Nicolas Coster	...	Gen. Renning - 'Icarus'
Ken Jenkins	...	Looking Glass Colonel - 'Sam'
Randal Patrick	...	Maj. O'Toole
Daniel Benzali	...	FEMA Director Bascombe

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:S | Iceland:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:M | USA:PG-13

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

The role in a nuclear war, of the S.A.C. mobile command post, or 'Looking Glass' airplane was previously shown in the post-apocalyptic drama, Day After, The (1983).

Goofs:

Plot holes: A rationale for the sinking of the aircraft carrier is never provided, given Russia's demonstrated attempt to scale back the conflict.

Quotes:

[President talking of the incompetent acting president]
President: We got Alice in one plane and the mad hatter in another.

Movie Connections:

References Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Soundtrack:

KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF

Top notch nuclear thriller.

There have been many global nuclear war stories, and this is not the best, but I've always loved this film.

It's a combination of cast and perspective. Whereas most films have a single strong storyline, and maybe a couple of smaller sub plots, this film bypasses that usual structure, preferring instead to use 3 or 4 main plotlines, all moving forward, all converging on the same point. Good non-traditional approach managed by a great non-traditional director, Jack Shoulder (The Hidden).

And for a film that did not go to theatres, this one has a strong cast: Powers Booth teams with Rebecca DeMornay to fly the nuclear bomber. James Earl Jones and Jeffrey DeMunn battle Darren McGavin and Rip Torn as they try to overthrow our world during the ensuing panic. And Martin Landau as the Prez trying to keep it all together.

Nice story, good pace, strong finish. I like it.