Back in the day when cable TV was king, there were only about a handful of premium channels, like HBO and Showtime, each with exclusive programs and movies. I remember how Cinemax even had some adult content late at night.
Nowadays, with several video streaming services from Netflix to Amazon Prime Video to Hulu to Disney+ to Paramount+ to Max to Apple TV+, and so on, it's gotten ridiculous (and annoying) with these companies competing to attract consumers to subscribe to their service with exclusive shows and movies. When I consider all the subscription costs and competition, I start to wonder if this business model is sustainable.
I surmise made-for-TV movies from many years ago didn't have the budgets of full feature-length films. Now, there are TV series whose production value rivals movies shown in theaters. Regardless of the medium used for a film, a good story and its entertainment value are ultimately what matters. Even Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard made TV movies.
Released in 1990 from HBO Pictures, By Dawn's Early Light is a gripping political thriller that's similar to The Sum Of All Fears. While many movies are about the world nearing an apocalypse, By Dawn's Early Light pits the United States and the Soviet Union in the middle of a nuclear war with heavy casualties on both sides. Like The Sum Of All Fears, the movie paints a very realistic and plausible nightmare scenario.
By Dawn's Early Light includes a star-studded cast that includes Martin Landau, Rebecca De Mornay, Powers Boothe, and the late James Earl Jones.
James Earl Jones is famous for many memorable performances, like in The Hunt For Red October and Coming To America, but there's no doubt what he will be best remembered for. Interestingly, Jones didn't want to be credited for playing the voice of Darth Vader until Return of the Jedi. Playing the United States Air Force General in By Dawn's Early Light is one of James Earl Jones' underappreciated roles. By Dawn's Early Light is not widely known or discussed, but it's a movie I highly recommend, especially when you have James Earl Jones.
Rest in power, Mr. Jones. You're a legend and will always be unforgettable.
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