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	...	Self - Branch Davidian
Jack Harwell	...	Self - Sheriff
Joseph Penno	...	Self - Former Chief, Houston Fire Department
Dick J. Reavis	...	Self - Author
James D. Tabor	...	Self - Biblical Scholar
David Thibodeau	...	Self - 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:

brutality | fbi brutality | burn | civilian killed by a cop | combustion | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the same real life events as Seconds from Disaster: Waco Cult (2012), Revelations of Waco (2018), Frontline: Waco: The Inside Story (1995), Truth and Lies: Waco (2018), Waco: Madman or Messiah (2018), Retro Report: Waco (2015), Waco: A New Revelation (2000), In Defense Of: Waco: Clive Doyle (2018), 48 Hours: Secrets of Waco (2017), 48 Hours on ID: The Secrets of Waco (2018), Waco, the Big Lie (1993), Retro Report: Waco (2015), Waco (2018), Final 24: David Koresh (2007), Witness to Waco: Inside the Siege (2009) and In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco (1993).

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Connections

Referenced in Infrared Footage (2003)

User Reviews

Think you know all about the Waco standoff? Think again!

Absolute must see documentary for anyone interested in getting to the bottom of this story. Told with unflinching eye and with gripping style. If you think conspiracy theories are for paranoid disturbed people, this could change your mind. Something for you feds too: A good model for government coverups! If you like your news all tidy and easy to consume this is not for you.

Details

Official Sites:

official site Official site; reviews; showings; images

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Waco: The Rules of Engagement

Filming Locations:

Waco, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$142,193

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$142,193

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fifth Estate Productions, SomFord Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Color:

Color