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IMDbPro

By Dawn's Early Light

  • TV Movie
  • 19901990
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Rebecca De Mornay, James Earl Jones, Powers Boothe, and Martin Landau in By Dawn's Early Light (1990)
ActionDramaThriller
A non-NATO nuclear missile is fired from Turkey at USSR, where it detonates. Soviet response is automatic as it's seen as a NATO missile. Can continued escalation be avoided? We follow the U... Read allA non-NATO nuclear missile is fired from Turkey at USSR, where it detonates. Soviet response is automatic as it's seen as a NATO missile. Can continued escalation be avoided? We follow the US president and a bomber crew.A non-NATO nuclear missile is fired from Turkey at USSR, where it detonates. Soviet response is automatic as it's seen as a NATO missile. Can continued escalation be avoided? We follow the US president and a bomber crew.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
    • Jack Sholder
    • William Prochnau(novel "Trinity's Child")
    • Bruce Gilbert(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Powers Boothe
    • Rebecca De Mornay
    • James Earl Jones
    • Jack Sholder
    • William Prochnau(novel "Trinity's Child")
    • Bruce Gilbert(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Powers Boothe
    • Rebecca De Mornay
    • James Earl Jones
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 61User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy

    Photos6

    Rebecca De Mornay and Powers Boothe in By Dawn's Early Light (1990)
    Rebecca De Mornay in By Dawn's Early Light (1990)
    Rebecca De Mornay and Powers Boothe in By Dawn's Early Light (1990)
    By Dawn's Early Light (1990)
    By Dawn's Early Light (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Powers Boothe
    Powers Boothe
    • Cassidy
    Rebecca De Mornay
    Rebecca De Mornay
    • Moreau
    • (as Rebecca DeMornay)
    James Earl Jones
    James Earl Jones
    • Alice
    Martin Landau
    Martin Landau
    • President
    Darren McGavin
    Darren McGavin
    • Condor
    Rip Torn
    Rip Torn
    • Colonel Fargo
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Harpoon
    Peter MacNicol
    Peter MacNicol
    • Sedgwick
    Glenn Withrow
    Glenn Withrow
    • Tyler
    Ronald William Lawrence
    Ronald William Lawrence
    • Hooker
    Kieran Mulroney
    Kieran Mulroney
    • Radnor
    Nicolas Coster
    Nicolas Coster
    • General Renning - 'Icarus'
    Ken Jenkins
    Ken Jenkins
    • Looking Glass Colonel - 'Sam'
    Randal Patrick
    Randal Patrick
    • O'Toole
    Daniel Benzali
    Daniel Benzali
    • Bascombe
    Robert O'Reilly
    Robert O'Reilly
    • FEMA Radioman
    Annabella Price
    • FEMA Bunker Nurse
    Ann Gillespie
    Ann Gillespie
    • Marie - Looking Glass Officer
      • Jack Sholder
      • William Prochnau(novel "Trinity's Child")
      • Bruce Gilbert(teleplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The computer in NORAD is made up from components of an actual IBM AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Central, built in 1954 to protect the US from Soviet bomber attack. Components of decommissioned systems were sold for scrap and bought by film and television production companies that wanted futuristic-looking computers, despite the fact they were built in the 1950s. Components used in this film were previously used in The Time Tunnel (1966), The Towering Inferno (1974) and WarGames (1983), among many others, and later used in Fail Safe (2000).
    • Goofs
      In the opening scene, the various military alert levels are referred to as "ROUND HOUSE," "COCKED PISTOL," etc. These designations are only used during exercises, to ensure that there is no confusion as to whether an actual change in alert status is being ordered. However, in an actual crisis, such as the one depicted, the statuses would be referred to by their DEFCON (Defense Condition) numbers, from DEFCON 5 (for peacetime readiness) up to DEFCON 1 (for maximum readiness, i.e., war).
    • Quotes

      Fargo: Hell, most Soviet bombers are so old they still use propellers. The Minnesota Air National Guard could probably knock them down.

      Harpoon: Well, do you want to get on the phone and order them into the air, Colonel, because every transistor in Minnesota is BURNED OUT!

    • Connections
      Featured in The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      DON'T CALL HIM A COWBOY
      Written by Debbie Hupp, Johnny MacRae and Bob Morrison

      Performed by Conway Twitty

      Courtesy Warner Bros. Records Inc.

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products, Music City Music Inc.

      (administered by EMI April Music Inc) and Southern Days Music (administered by CMI)

    User reviews61

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Top Notch Nuclear Thriller
    It's a shame that there are few movies that depict the procedures, tactics, and escalating stages of nuclear warfare in as much detail and accuracy as "By Dawn's Early Light." Adapted from the novel Trinity's Child, Jack Shoulder's "By Dawn's Early Light" hits all the right notes in portraying the professionalism, training, and courage of American nuclear forces. The film's numerous scenes, including the E-4 NEACP (National Emergency Airborne Command Post), RC-135 "Looking Glass" plane, and even the Strategic Air Command operations room are incredibly realistic and well-detailed. The numerous conflicting personalities depicted in the film also give it great texture, taking the film a step closer to reality. Cold War buffs and military fans are sure to get a kick out of this film, especially with its stunningly dramatic, hardcore finale. "By Dawn's Early Light" is proof that low budget constraints do not have to derail an entire film.
    helpful•22
    5
    • degracia
    • Oct 22, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 24, 1990 (United States)
      • United States
      • Matte World Digital
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Santa Clarita, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
      • Paravision International S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 40 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby

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    Rebecca De Mornay, James Earl Jones, Powers Boothe, and Martin Landau in By Dawn's Early Light (1990)
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