Is Gene DeBruin in Rescue Dawn a true story?
Rescue Dawn includes a character named Gene DeBruin. However, this character is far from a true representation of the real Gene DeBruin. In fact, it is a severe and gross misrepresentation of the true Gene DeBruin that was imprisoned with Dieter Dengler, who is the main character in Rescue Dawn.
Who is Dieter Dengler in Rescue Dawn?
Dieter Dengler was a former POW who was imprisoned with Gene DeBruin. Rescue Dawn allegedly tells the true story of how Gene DeBruin and Dieter Dengler, along with 5 other POWs escaped from Ban Houei Het Pathet Lao Prison in June 1966.
What do you know about Gene DeBruin?
Gene DeBruin's family would like you to know more about him. Gene is a courageous and compassionate man with an incredibly high level of integrity. Recently, the movie, Rescue Dawn, directed by Werner Herzog, was released. Rescue Dawn provides a completely inaccurate and inexcusable portrayal of Gene DeBruin.
What is the controversy over Rescue Dawn?
Rescue Dawn was subjected to severe criticism by members of the family of Eugene DeBruin and Phisit Intharathat, the other survivor of the group.
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Who survived Rescue Dawn?
Dieter DenglerDieter Dengler, a German-born U.S. Navy pilot in squadron VA-145, flying from the carrier USS Ranger, is shot down in his Douglas A-1 Skyraider over Laos. He survives the crash, only to be captured by the Pathet Lao.
Why did Dieter Dengler shoot himself?
After being diagnosed with ALS in 2001, however, depression got the best of Dengler. Due to mental anguish, Dengler decided to roll his wheelchair to a local fire station close to his home and shot himself in the head. He was later buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Is Rescue Dawn true story?
"Rescue Dawn" is based on the true story of Navy Lt. Dieter Dengler, who was shot down in 1966 during a top-secret mission to destroy Viet Cong strongholds in Laos. Lieutenant Dengler, played by actor Christian Bale, was captured and subjected to brutal torture.
When was Dieter Dengler shot?
February 1966In February 1966, during a bombing run near the Laos-Vietnam border, Dieter Dengler's plane was shot down. He was captured and for 7 days was interrogated by a province chief.
Where is Dieter Dengler buried?
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VADieter Dengler / Place of burialArlington National Cemetery is a United States military cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., in whose 639 acres the dead of the nation's conflicts have been buried, beginning with the Civil War, as well as reinterred dead from earlier wars. Wikipedia
What plane did Dieter Dengler fly?
SkyraiderDengler's Squadron was VA-145, the squadron painted on the side of his crashed Skyraider plainly says VA-25. The type of aircraft changed in the crash scene: Dieter Dengler's aircraft was an AD-1 Skyraider.
How long was Dieter Dengler held captive?
six monthsDieter Dengler (May 22, 1938 – February 7, 2001) was a German-born United States Navy aviator during the Vietnam War and, following six months of imprisonment and torture, became the second captured U.S. airman to escape enemy captivity during the war.
Where in Thailand was Rescue Dawn filmed?
Rescue Dawn was shot in the jungles outside of Chiang Mai near the Myanmar border. In fact, this is the same area of Thailand where Rambo (2008) was shot. And those are all the Vietnam war films shot in Thailand!
Where did they film Rescue Dawn?
ThailandDieter snakes through the jungles of Thailand in "Rescue Dawn," filmed entirely on location in Thailand. When he was a child during World War II, Dieter Dengler had an attic room on a German hillside overlooking a valley.
When was Dieter Dengler born?
May 22, 1938Dieter Dengler / Date of birth
Is Rescue Dawn on Netflix?
Is Rescue Dawn on Netflix? Unfortunately, Rescue Dawn is not on Netflix. But you can't go too wrong with what is still considered the most popular streaming service, though. For $9.99 per month Basic, $15.99 Standard, or $19.99 Premium, you can enjoy a huge volume of TV shows, documentaries, kids content, and more.
How long was Dieter Dengler held prisoner?
six monthsUnsourced material may be challenged and removed. Dieter Dengler (May 22, 1938 – February 7, 2001) was a German-born United States Navy aviator during the Vietnam War and, following six months of imprisonment and torture, became the second captured U.S. airman to escape enemy captivity during the war.
When was Dieter Dengler born?
May 22, 1938Dieter Dengler / Date of birth
Where was Rescue Dawn filmed?
of ThailandDieter snakes through the jungles of Thailand in "Rescue Dawn," filmed entirely on location in Thailand. When he was a child during World War II, Dieter Dengler had an attic room on a German hillside overlooking a valley.
Is Rescue Dawn on Netflix?
Is Rescue Dawn on Netflix? Unfortunately, Rescue Dawn is not on Netflix. But you can't go too wrong with what is still considered the most popular streaming service, though. For $9.99 per month Basic, $15.99 Standard, or $19.99 Premium, you can enjoy a huge volume of TV shows, documentaries, kids content, and more.
When will Rescue Dawn be released?
The movie Rescue Dawn will begin showing at select theaters in New York and Los Angeles on July 4 with national distribution on July 13. Its director is Werner Herzog, who is a master at taking nonfictional truthful scenarios and twisting them into fiction, Hollywood style. Such is the case in Rescue Dawn, which is littered with Herzog’s errors of both omission and commission.
Is Rescue Dawn based on a true story?
The movie, Rescue Dawn, will begin showing at select theaters in New York and Los Angeles on July 4th. The movie is vaguely based on the book, "Escape From Laos," written by Dieter Dengler. Dieter Dengler was a former POW who was imprisoned with Gene DeBruin. Rescue Dawn allegedly tells the true story of how Gene DeBruin and Dieter Dengler, along with 5 other POWs escaped from Ban Houei Het Pathet Lao Prison in June 1966.
What happened to Dengler's Skyraider?
Visibility was poor, and as Dengler rolled his Skyraider in on the target after flying for two-and-a-half hours into enemy territory, he was hit by anti-aircraft fire. "There was a large explosion on my right side," he remembered when interviewed shortly before his death in 2001. It was like lightning striking.
How much weight did Dengler gain during the SERE course?
He had also set a record as the only student to gain weight (three pounds) during the SERE course; his childhood experiences had made him unafraid of eating whatever he could find and he had feasted on food the course instructors had thrown in the garbage.
How many prisoners of war escaped together?
Of seven prisoners of war who escaped together from a Pathet Lao prison camp in Laos, Dengler was one of two survivors (the other was Thailand citizen Phisit Intharathat ). Dengler was rescued after 23 days on the run. After the war, he worked as a test pilot of private aircraft and commercial airline pilot.
Why was Dengler tortured?
After an early escape attempt he was recaptured while drinking from a spring. According to Dengler he was tortured in retaliation:
What was Dengler's first experience with aircraft?
Dengler's first experience with aircraft was during World War II when he witnessed an Allied fighter plane firing its guns as it flew very close past a window young Dieter was peering out of in his hometown. From that moment on, Dengler said he knew that he wanted to be a pilot.
Where did Dengler go to basic training?
He was assured that piloting aircraft was what the Air Force was all about so he enlisted in June 1957 and went to basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. After basic training, Dengler spent two years peeling potatoes and then transferred to a motor pool as a mechanic.
Who took Dengler's engagement ring off?
After some weeks Dengler was handed over to the Vietnamese. As they marched him through a village, a man slipped Dengler's engagement ring from his finger. Dengler complained to his guards. They found the culprit, summarily chopped off his finger with a machete and handed the ring back to Dengler.
Overview
Rescue Dawn is a 2006 American epic war drama film written and directed by Werner Herzog, based on an adapted screenplay written from his 1997 documentary film Little Dieter Needs to Fly. The film stars Christian Bale and is based on the true story of German-American pilot Dieter Dengler, who was shot down and captured by villagers sympathetic to the Pathet Lao during an Americ…
Plot
In February 1966, while on a combat mission, Lt. Dieter Dengler, a German-born U.S. Navy pilot in squadron VA-145, flying from the carrier USS Ranger, is shot down in his Douglas A-1 Skyraider over Laos. He survives the crash, only to be captured by the Pathet Lao. Dengler is offered leniency by the province governor, if he will sign a document condemning America, but he refuses. Dengler is tortured and taken to a prison camp. There he meets his fellow prisoners: American pilots Gene …
Cast
• Christian Bale as Lt. Dieter Dengler
• Zach Grenier as Squad Leader
• Marshall Bell as Admiral Berrington
• Toby Huss as Lt. Spook, Escadron Chief
Production
Rescue Dawn is based on the true story of Dieter Dengler, a charismatic pilot who was shot down in Laos while on a covert attack mission for the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. A few months after being captured in 1966, Dengler and other POWs who were being held captive targeted July 4 for their mass escape. The prisoners had overheard the guards in mid-June planni…
Historical accuracy
The film depicts six prisoners in the camp, while in real life there were seven. Herzog says that he found the writing to be difficult with seven characters, and that six was a more manageable number.
Jerry DeBruin, brother of Gene DeBruin, created a website critical of Herzog and the film, claiming that several characters and events have been falsely portray…
Reception
Rescue Dawn was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer theatrically in the United States, and by Pathé Distribution, Hopscotch Films and Central Film GmbH in foreign markets. It was originally scheduled to be released by MGM in December 2006, but was held back for limited release in the United States until 2007, with the full release on July 27 following a limited release in New York City, Toronto and Los Angeles on July 4. The film score was written by German composer Klaus B…
External links
• Rescue Dawn at IMDb
• Rescue Dawn at Box Office Mojo
• Rescue Dawn at Rotten Tomatoes
• Rescue Dawn at Metacritic