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Little Dieter Needs to Fly on DVD (1997)

Little Dieter Needs to Fly cover art
Average rating: 78%
1115920510
4.0
from 368 members
 
Starring: Dieter Dengler
Director: Werner Herzog
Studio: SODA PICTURES
Run time: 71 mins
Certificate: Ex
Genres: Documentary, Drama
Languages: English
Released: 22/10/2007

Brief synopsis of Little Dieter Needs to Fly

"Little Dieter Needs to Fly" is a documentary about Dieter Dengler, a German who grew up with a passion for flight and emigrated to the U.S. to join the navy and become a pilot during the Vietnam War. Dieter was shot down, captured and tortured before becoming one of the few American prisoners to escape. Working with Herzog he recreates his incredible story.

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Rated - 4 starsWerner finds a soulmate

Savage from London, England [Highly rated reviewer] , 23/02/2008

Towards the end of this outstanding documentary, Werner Herzog has the cheek to suggest that his subject, Dieter Dengler, who escaped the Viet-Cong in unimaginably horrendous circumstances, must be hiding something, because he seems so cheerful. As if Herzog himself hasn't subjected everyone around him to catastrophic hardships (people alledgedly died filming 'Fitzcarraldo'), without even having a war going on as an excuse. To be fair, Dengler's sang froid, as he recalls and describes his nightmare is something to behold, and Herzog clearly knows it's a great story, because he allows it to be told without artifice, and with the maximum of tension and, yes, gallantry. Dengler proves awesome company for 70 minutes, and the film is outstanding.

Plus, another Herzog doc, 'Wings of hope', is included as an extra, about a woman who walked out of the South American jungle following a plane crash. It's good, too.

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Rated - 4 starsEntertaining

Bridget Power from London , 22/11/2007

I don't know if its Werner Herzog's masterful filmmaking, or just that Dieter himself is such a character, but I enjoyed this documentary more than others of its ilk. Told with wit, creativity and compassion, this story is both fascinating and shocking. Well worth seeing.

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Rated - 5 stars'Little Dieter Needs to Fly'

A customer from London , 11/02/2008

Fantastic fascinating and moving account of the life of Dieter Dengler. Got this with a view to seeing Herzog's feature based on Dengler 'Rescue Dawn' which I am now very much looking forward to.

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Rated - 5 starsHerzog at his best

fixedg from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 27/03/2008

Herzog in his element capturing the combination of pragmatism & dysfunctionality in the extremes of survival. A compelling story, marvellously edited with pitch-perfect narration.

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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 5 stars'Little Dieter Needs to Fly'

A customer from London , 11/02/2008

Fantastic fascinating and moving account of the life of Dieter Dengler. Got this with a view to seeing Herzog's feature based on Dengler 'Rescue Dawn' which I am now very much looking forward to.

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Rated - 5 starsHerzog at his best

fixedg from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 27/03/2008

Herzog in his element capturing the combination of pragmatism & dysfunctionality in the extremes of survival. A compelling story, marvellously edited with pitch-perfect narration.

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