Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)

A reassessment of the tragedy at Waco that left 76 members of the Branch Davidian religious sect dead.

Director:

William Gazecki

Writers:

William Gazecki, Dan Gifford

Stars:

Dan Gifford, Clive Doyle, Jack Harwell

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Dan Gifford	...	Narrator (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Clive Doyle	...	Himself - Branch Davidian
Jack Harwell	...	Himself - Sheriff
Joseph Penno	...	Himself - Former Chief, Houston Fire Department
Dick J. Reavis	...	Himself - Author
James D. Tabor	...	Himself - Biblical Scholar
David Thibodeau	...	Himself - Branch Davidian

Storyline

This controversial documentary about the stand-off between an unorthodox Christian group - the Branch Davidians, under the leadership of the young, charismatic David Koresh - and the FBI and ATF in Waco, Texas, from February to April 1993 presents a different spin on the events from that of the United States government, which held that the Branch Davidians set the fire that destroyed their compound, and killed the vast majority of them, on April 19, 1993. Using footage from the 51 day siege, from the congressional hearings afterwards, from people involved in all aspects of the siege, and from experts technical, psychological, and religious, the movie suggests that the Branch Davidians were not a cult, but a valid religious group practicing under First Amendment freedoms who fell victim to first the ineptitude of an ATF raid designed to garner the agency positive attention and later the cruel, methodical work of the FBI, who over-saw the murder of the Davidians and then quickly covered...

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Plot Keywords:

branch davidian | atf | fbi | texas | fire | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

official site Official site; reviews; showings; images

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Правила поединка

Filming Locations:

Waco, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fifth Estate Productions,SomFord Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in In Defense Of: Waco: Clive Doyle (2018)

User Reviews

This movie needs to be shown in every high school class

If you want to see real evidence of what a misguided and unchecked government can do to "un-popular" people, this movie provides it. Read what some people are saying about the "Patriot Act" passed after 9/11 and then watch this movie. Is it worth it? Do we really want to give away our freedoms to these people? Regardless of what you saw on TV, you are not fully informed until you watch this movie. I apologize for quoting another reviewer, but it needs repeating: Roger Ebert of Siskel & Ebert said, "What's interesting is if you're looking for people who are unbalanced zealots... you don't find them among the Branch Davidians, you find them among the FBI and the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; those are the people in this movie who deserve to be feared, I think." I think every person responsible for 9/11 needs to be brought to justice, but I think the government has not shown a history of honoring it's duty to protect people's rights, and this movie proves it in dramatic fashion.