Tonight With Friends: Give This Movie Christian Bale Lost 20 Kilos A Chance That No One Has Seen

A film based on a true story, sharp preparation for Christian Bale, Werner Herzog behind the camera, action… Still, Rescue Dawn flopped royally (and unfairly) at the box office, but you can give it another chance if you have access to HBO Max.

Christian Bale in survival mode

The story takes place in 1965, at the beginning of the Vietnam War. US Army pilot Dieter Dengler’s (Bailey) plane is shot down while on a secret mission. A prisoner of the jungle, a spy, he suffers worse abuse, but patiently prepares his escape…

Inspired by the story of German-born real-life pilot Dieter Dengler, to whom Herzog already dedicated a documentary in 2007 (Little Dieter Must Fly), Rescue Dawn was filmed entirely in Thailand. The real Dieter was found half-crazed and emaciated, Christian Bale lost 20 kilos for the role in order to appear believable as the abused prisoner during his 23 days in captivity.

Less a war film than a survival film, Rescue Dawn is a hidden gem in the filmography of Christian Bale, better known for his roles with Christopher Nolan or his “Oscar-winning” performances such as Vice, The Big Short or American Bluff.

A film that was overlooked

Dawn of the Rescue would fail at the box office, grossing only $7 million on a $10 million budget. Exposure on video (especially in France, where the film won’t even be released in theaters) ensures that the distributor won’t lose money. Disappointingly, Bailey would announce this to the media years later talk :

“I can’t help but think (…) of the different experiences we had with Werner Herzog at Dawn of the Rescue. Werner and I were doing things where everyone was watching and saying, ‘But you’re going to die! what are you doing Are you really going to catch a wild snake and maybe get bitten?’ That’s a good time. Crazy helicopter pilots in Thailand chopping down trees because we were flying so low over the jungle; I loved those moments. I really loved them.”