IMDb > By Dawn's Early Light (1990) (TV)
By Dawn's Early Light
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By Dawn's Early Light (1990) (TV) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   1,048 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
William Prochnau (novel)
Bruce Gilbert (teleplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for By Dawn's Early Light on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 May 1990 (USA) more
Genre:
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... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations more
User Comments:
Top notch nuclear thriller. more (32 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Powers Boothe ... Cassidy

Rebecca De Mornay ... Moreau (as Rebecca DeMornay)

James Earl Jones ... Alice

Martin Landau ... President

Darren McGavin ... Condor

Rip Torn ... Colonel Fargo
Jeffrey DeMunn ... Harpoon

Peter MacNicol ... Sedgwick
Glenn Withrow ... Tyler
Ronald William Lawrence ... Hooker
Kieran Mulroney ... Radnor

Nicolas Coster ... General Renning - 'Icarus'
Ken Jenkins ... Looking Glass Colonel - 'Sam'
Randal Patrick ... O'Toole
Daniel Benzali ... Bascombe
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Additional Details

Runtime:
100 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The Emergency War Order code sent to launch the Strategic Air Command's long-range bombers depicted by the movie was "Alpha-Golf-Hotel-India-Delta" with an authentication time of "20:06:05 Zulu" and an authentication of "Sierra-Foxtrot." more
Goofs:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In the cast credits, the character that reads "Lt Hooker" should read "Sgt Hooker"? After Maj O'Toole's death, Maj Cassidy tells Sgt Hooker that he has just received the first battlefield commission of this war, which means he is now a Second Lieutenant. more
Quotes:
[President talking of the incompetent acting president]
President: We got Alice in one plane and the mad hatter in another.
more
Movie Connections:
References Planet of the Apes (1968) more
Soundtrack:
KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
11 out of 13 people found the following comment useful.
Top notch nuclear thriller., 7 April 1999
Author: Doctor_Bombay from Lucas Buck, NC

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.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for By Dawn's Early Light (1990) (TV)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Um...okay.... robertwnielsen
So who played the Soviet leader? roximunro
Trinity's Child Dignan1
Grand Tour - what was it? bmacleod52
code words? tardis11
Considering the president? xlars
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