Waco: The Rules of Engagement

Sep 19, 1997

2h 16m

★ 7.6

The shocking truth revealed!

Overview

In one of the most tragic face-offs in the history of law enforcement, the deadly debacle at Waco pitted the Branch Davidian sect against the FBI in an all-out war. This documentary makes the most of footage and recordings to examine how the events that led to the tragedy of April 19, 1993, unfolded, and how the FBI's unrelenting approach made what was already a bad situation much worse.

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

Fifth Estate Productions

SomFord Entertainment

Waco: The Rules of Engagement Trailers

Cast

Narrator (voice)

Dan Gifford

Self - Branch Davidian

Clive Doyle

Self - Sheriff

Jack Harwell

Self - Former Chief, Houston Fire Department

Joseph Penno

Self - Author

Dick J. Reavis

Self - Biblical Scholar

James D. Tabor

Self - Branch Davidian

David Thibodeau

Self - U.S. Senate (archive footage) (uncredited)

Joe Biden

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Sonny Bono

Self - U.S. Congress (archive footage) (uncredited)

Howard Coble

Self - U.S. Congress (archive footage) (uncredited)

John Conyers

Self - Branch Davidian (archive footage) (uncredited)

Graeme Craddock

For over 80 years, Merle Hayden has crusaded to recruit members to the utopian movement Lawsonomy. Founded by aircraft pioneer Alfred Lawson, Lawsonomy advocates for economic reform and clean, communal living that transforms followers into a "New Species" that will benefit the human race either in this life or the next. Merle joined Lawson as a teenager and never looked back. His high school sweetheart Betty Kasch, however, is tired of Lawson coming between them. Reunited after over 60 years apart, non-believer Betty wants Merle to join her in Florida. Merle's commitment to preserving Lawson's legacy, artifacts currently rotting in a barn alongside a Wisconsin highway, has Betty worried Merle may leave her for Lawson once again.

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