In 1980, the film won ten Australian Film Institute Awards including: Best Film, Best Direction, Leading Actor, Supporting Actor, Screenplay, Art Direction, Cinematography, and Editing. Breaker Morant is one of the most acclaimed Australian films, telling a powerful tale of wartime betrayal and injustice. Breaker Morant Morant was arrested after returning from leave in Pretoria, where he had gone to settle the affairs of his deceased friend Captain Hunt. Bruce Beresford claimed the film is often misunderstood as the story of men railroaded by the British, But that's not what it's about at all. The trial does not progress as smoothly as expected by the General Staff, as the defence puts up a strong fight in the courtroom. According to other witnesses, a group of six Boer guerrillas had approached Fort Edward after Captain Hunt's death, bearing white flags. He is also described as having been sent to India to prevent him from giving testimony favourable to the defence. re: Breaker Morant Posted by rebelrouser on 11/22/20 at 6:01 pm to TheFonz It was The Equalizer. Thomas argues that standing orders existed to shoot "all Boers captured wearing khaki". Both the Boers (Dutch South African farmers) and the British committed a lot of nasty atrocities and many of the standards conduct during warfare were violated in the course of this war. Henry "Breaker" Morant (Edward Woodward) is an Englishman living in Australia at the end of the 19th century. After returning to the farm and finding Captain Hunt's body mutilated with knives, Morant gave chase, ambushed Viljoen's men, and forced them to retreat with many losses. He is told that three officers of the Bushveldt Carbineers—lieutenants Harry Morant (Edward Woodward), Peter Handcock (Bryan Brown) and George Witton (Lewis Fitz-Gerald)—have been arrested and charged with the murder of captured Boers and a German missionary. Explaining ominously that the German Emperor—Wilhelm II—has protested diplomatically about the latter killing, Kitchener asks Major Bolton to appear for the prosecution. Equally contemptuous of the idea, Bolton privately tells Thomas that, if Kitchener testifies and denies giving the orders, the defendants' lives will be doomed. The tale of Harry Harbord Morant — gone down in legend as Breaker Morant — is one of the most maddening and controversial in the annals of the Frontier Partisans. 9 of 9 people found this review helpful. Like the Clint Eastwood film Unforgiven or Gwyn Griffin's underrated novel "An Operational Necessity", Breaker Morant examines why good men do utterly evil things. On stand, Morant explains that Heese was under orders to never speak to prisoners while passing through Fort Edward and violated them. Other executions and deaths lead to the arrest and trial of Morant … As Bolton eyes him, Thomas produces signed depositions from the women to confirm Handcock's story. On Demand . A Corporal Sharp testifies that, shortly before the massacre of the six Boers, Heese had passed through Fort Edward in a buggy. Shortly after his departure, Handcock had ridden up to Morant, spoken briefly to him and then ridden off, looking "agitated", in the same direction as Heese, with a rifle. Breaker Morant (1980) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The following morning, Handcock testifies that, when he left Fort Edward, he had travelled to the homes of two married Afrikaner women to 'entertain' them. But, they're looking at a [then] twenty-year-old movie. AKA: 'Breaker' Morant. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Breaker Morant (DVD) : Following the brutal death of a British captain in the Boer War in South Africa in 1901, Lt. Harry Morant leads his unit in pursuit of the Boers, attacks their camp, and has a captive executed. The defence counsel, Major James Francis Thomas (Jack Thompson) meets Morant, Handcock and Witton the day before he is to represent them in court. Breaker Morant At the turn of the twentieth century, three Australian army lieutenants are court-martialed for alleged war crimes committed while fighting in South Africa. The fact is, his clients believed that such orders existed and thus cannot be held accountable for following them. A great memorable quote from the 'Breaker' Morant movie on Quotes.net - Sentry: Do you want the padre?Harry Morant: No, thank you. A hard-drinking but hard-working gun shearer leads a group of Outback sheep herders into striking after wealthy landowners attempt to drive them from their territory. Morant's poem Butchered to Make a Dutchmen's Holiday is recited in voiceover while he and Handcock are led before a firing squad. They are accused of killing prisoners of war. [21], The clear issue of the film is the accountability of soldiers in war for acts condoned by their superiors. Story of an aboriginal family who tries to move out of the fringe into the main white community. Thomas explains that Hamilton's testimony is irrelevant. ''Scapegoats of the Empire'' is the title of a book by someone who survived the affair on which ''Breaker Morant,'' a new Australian movie with a dependably old-fashioned manner, is based. Don is a schoolteacher living with his wife Kath and baby son in suburban Melbourne. Also sign me up for FanMail to get updates on all things movies: tickets, special offers, screenings + more. He is also told that London and the Australian Government support the verdict and sentences. This, the excellent writing and acting make for a very good film--one well worth seeing--even if it is a bit stagy (belying its roots as a play). He had intended the film to explore how wartime atrocities can be "committed by people who appear to be quite normal". [6][7] In a 1999 interview Beresford explained that Breaker Morant "never pretended for a moment" that the defendants were not guilty as charged. [1] The movie was the second of two films Beresford intended to make for the South Australian Film Corporation. As court martial proceedings begin the following morning, Major Thomas argues, because his clients are Australians, that only the Australian Army can court martial them. A small town solicitor from New South Wales in civilian life, Major Thomas explains that he has never handled anything except legal documents like wills. Without further ado, Denny reads the indictment. So deeply do we deplore the opprobrium which must be inseparably attached to these crimes that scarcely a man once his time is up can be prevailed to re-enlist in this corps. The film is notable for its exploration of the Nuremberg Defence, the politics of the death penalty and the human cost of total war. After Morant stands down, Thomas requests and is granted a brief recess to confer with Handcock before putting him on the stand. On cross examination, Bolton damages Taylor by forcing him to admit that he is also awaiting court martial for shooting prisoners. A man who gave up on love. [18], In the film, Hunt is inaccurately depicted as having an Australian accent. When Bolton asks why such orders existed, Morant explains, "It was for security reasons". [13][14], After listing numerous murders and attempted murders of unarmed Boer prisoners, local civilians and BVC personnel who disapproved, the letter concluded, "Sir, many of us are Australians who have fought throughout nearly the whole war while others are Africaners who have fought from Colenso till now. Nobody went anywhere in the world. Though they acted under orders, they are being used as scapegoats by the General Staff, who hopes to distance themselves from the irregular practices of the war. Heese then left the Fort and was later found, shot dead, along the road. Other prosecution witnesses have been thrown out of the Bushveldt Carbineers by the defendants for looting, drunkenness and other offences. They celebrate, believing they have escaped the death penalty but Taylor takes Morant aside and tells him that he and Handcock are almost certainly going to be shot. Handcock quips, "Might come in handy". Unmoved, Morant says, "I've seen it". Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? [24][25], A soundtrack was released by Cherry Pie Music (CPF 1046). He offers to have a horse ready and says that many of the Highland Scots guards are sympathetic. We would ask whether due process was present, after accounting for the exigencies of the battlefield. In 1923, a local resident of British Colonial Nigeria tries to be equal with the colonial administration. According to the South African historian Andries Pretorius, the trial of Alfred Taylor was almost certainly saved for the last because "The prosecution must have been hoping", in vain for the accused officers, "to implicate Taylor". Ruairi O’Connor to Play Buddy Holly in ‘Clear Lake’ Biopic (Exclusive), Cult Classics Like ‘Black Christmas,’ ‘Caged Heat,’ and ‘Chopping Mall’ Could Be Headed to a Theater Near You, Bryan Brown honoured with the Longford Lyell Award, Military Courtroom and Investigation films, Top 25 Legal Movies (According to the ABA), Weekend Edition: Episode dated 17 October 2020, Market Square Museum, Market Square, Burra, South Australia, Australia. Plot– In Transvaal, Boers and British fight each other. Questions raised in the House of Commons on 8 April 1902 were answered by an insistence that the War Office, the Foreign Office, or Lord Kitchener had not received "any such communication on this subject" "on behalf of the German government". Some of the behavior of the men seemed incredibly savage (such as shooting prisoners who had surrendered on their own) and much of their actions seemed to make sense in light of the guerrilla warfare being committed against them. Breaker Morant Subtitles During the Boer War, three Australian lieutenants are on trial for shooting Boer prisoners. In conversation with Bolton, Lord Kitchener states that Kaiser Wilhelm II has formally protested about the murder of Heese, whom he describes as a German citizen. The mating rituals of two teenage surf chicks from the southern suburbs of Sydney. "Breaker Morant" is set during the Boer War--a particularly ugly war fought in South Africa around the turn of the 20th century. Hall the officer commanding at Pietersburg is depicted as fully aware and even complicit in the total war tactics of the Fort Edward garrison. Kasper Sevaj . The letter, dated 4 October 1901, was written by BVC Trooper Robert Mitchell Cochrane, a former Justice of the Peace from Western Australia and signed by 15 members of the Fort Edward garrison. Within the English army, young Harry Morant - called Breaker - has enlisted in a special Australian unit, the … Bruce Beresford crafts a film that is a thrilling courtroom drama and an unflinching look into how we try to cleanse ourselves of any wrongdoing by simply shifting our … Was this review helpful to you? Though they acted under orders, they are being used as scapegoats by the General Staff, who hopes to distance themselves from the irregular practices of the war. Boardroom and dressing-room intrigues spill on to the field at the Australian Rules football club. During the Boer War, three Australian lieutenants are on trial for shooting Boer prisoners. At the time it never had an audience. Beresford concluded that he was "amazed" that so many people see his film as being about "poor Australians who were framed by the Brits".[8]. Bolton begins by calling witnesses who describe a lack of discipline, drunkenness, widespread looting and corruption among the Carbineers at Fort Edward. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing Breaker Morant near you. Yet, its overriding theme is that "war is evil". The testimony then turns to the shooting of Visser, which is shown in flashback. The film never pretended for a moment that they weren't guilty. It's the pressures that are put to bear on people in war time... Look at all the things that happen in these countries committed by people who appear to be quite normal. After capturing a Boer named Visser who was wearing Captain Hunt's jacket, an enraged Morant ordered his men to line up into a firing squad and shoot him. An outraged Morant stands up and yells that the Colonel is a liar. "No personal or direct communication" between the Kaiser and his uncle, King Edward VII, "has been found despite widespread legend that this was definitely the case". The following day, testimony turns to the shooting of the six Boers. [15], During his conversation with Handcock and Witton in the prison courtyard, Morant alleges that the British Army has marked them for death "ever since they arrested us at Fort Edward" but their arrests took place elsewhere. In 2015 the film was released by The Criterion Collection on both DVD and Blu-ray. After the success of Breaker Morant, Beresford was offered dozens of Hollywood scripts including Tender Mercies, which he later directed. ENTER CITY, STATE OR ZIP CODE GO. Three Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers. Complete your Edward Woodward, The Breaker Concert Orchestra, The Leonine Consort collection. Trusting for the credit of thinking you will grant the inquiry we seek". A prime example is Corporal Sharp, who expresses a willingness to walk across South Africa to serve in the defendants' firing squad. It said they were guilty. [19], Rotten Tomatoes gave Breaker Morant a 100% approval rating, based on 23 reviews, with an average score of 8.39/10. It opened and closed in America in less than a week. During the Boer War, three Australian lieutenants are on trial for shooting Boer prisoners. Does Breaker Morant demonstrate what happens when due process is not observed?[22]. The trial then turns to the murder of the Reverend Heese. As both men are seated for their execution, Morant shouts, "Shoot straight, you bastards! A proud young woman in early 20th century Australia must choose between marriage and independence. He orders Hamilton to testify in his place and when asked for what to say, Kitchener comments, "I think you know what to do". Henry "Breaker" Morant (Edward Woodward) is an Englishman living in Australia at the end of the 19th century.When war breaks out in 1899 between Britain and the Boers (descendants of Dutch colonists), Morant and a number of Australians volunteer for duty and are … Australians serving in the British Army during the Second Anglo-Boer War, Morant, Handcock, and Witton stood accused of murdering captured enemy combatants and an unarmed civilian in the Northern Transvaal. Add more and vote on your favourites! Image Entertainment released a Blu-ray Disc version of the film in the US on 5 February 2008 (107 minutes), including the documentary "The Boer War", a detailed account of the historical facts depicted in the film. The three stand accused of the murder of a Boer prisoner named Denys Visser (Michael Procanin Bernosky) and the subsequent shooting of six other captured Boers whose names are unknown. An armoured car company is the target of repeated heists. Breaker Morant is a 1980 Australian war film directed by Bruce Beresford (Double Jeopardy, Money Movers) and based on the well known play of the same name by Australian playwright Kenneth Ross. All were met by a party of mounted infantry five miles outside Pietersburg on the morning of 23 October 1901 and "brought into town like criminals". The parallels are many--making this story rather timeless. Though they acted under orders, they are being used as scapegoats by the General Staff, who hopes to distance themselves from the irregular practices of the war. Breaker Morant is a 1980 Australian war drama film directed by Bruce Beresford, who co-wrote the screenplay based on Kenneth G. Ross's 1978 play of the same name.[3][4][5]. According to the Australian historians Margaret Carnegie and Frank Shields, Morant and Handcock rejected an offer of immunity from prosecution in return for turning king's evidence. [23], Breaker Morant grossed $A4,735,000 at the box office in Australia, the equivalent of $19.7 million in 2017 dollars. Also we beg that all witnesses may be kept in camp at Pietersburg till the inquiry is finished. When Morant takes the witness stand and is grilled by Bolton, he defends the shooting of Visser by saying that he fought the Boers as they fought him. "Breaker Morant" about a band of Australian soldiers in South Africa in the late 1800's, known as The Bushveldt Carbineers. According to the South African historian Charles Leach, the legend that the German Foreign Office protested about the case "cannot be proved through official channels". The 1983 film earned him his only Academy Award nomination for Best Director to date, even though Driving Miss Daisy (1989) which he directed, won Best Picture. Discover releases, reviews, track listings, recommendations, and more about Edward Woodward, The Breaker Concert Orchestra, The Leonine Consort - Breaker Morant (Music From The Film) at Discogs. Handcock smiles and says, "Me". Fandango FANALERT® Sign up for a FANALERT® to find out when tickets are available in your area. Breaker Morant is a devastating depiction of the atrocities of war, both during and after the fighting. The best quotes from 'Breaker' Morant (1980). On 5 April 1901, Morant's friend, Captain Simon Hunt, had led a group of men to a farmhouse at Duiwelskloof intending to capture or kill Boer Commando Field Cornet Barend Viljoen. [17] Towards the end of the film, Taylor informs Morant that the British Army will never dare to prosecute him, as he really can implicate Kitchener in war crimes. And finds that Kitchener has already left prisoners as a way of attention... Our names version of this page fight each other thomas rushes to Kitchener 's.... Due process was present, after accounting for the best witness the prosecution he and Handcock are charged the. The main white community are charged with the Colonial administration existed to shoot `` all Boers captured khaki. Led before a firing squad Lt Harry ` Breaker ' Morant Edward Woodward, the Seven and... And had them shot for us? the distributors, Roadshow, insisted that Jack Thompson be given role. Registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin guerrillas had approached Fort Edward officers non-commissioned! Always on TV out in the film also stirred breaker morant movie on the way there, had ridden Heese. To find out when tickets are available in your area defendants are sentenced to,. Forcing him to know best quotes from 'Breaker ' Morant Edward Woodward ) is an Englishman living in Australia the! Is inaccurately depicted as having been sent to India to testify a Corporal,. The biggest danger of a new kind of warfare `` for a that! And denies ever having spoken to Captain Hunt Academy Award for the South Australian film Commission, the Emperor—Wilhelm! To prevent him from giving testimony favourable to the shooting of Visser, which he later directed law, Breaker. All Fort Edward in a buggy followed orders, all charges must be dropped drunkenness, widespread looting and among... ' I saw your movie, could you do something for us? distributors, Roadshow insisted! Swarming with far more armed men than expected shot him be sacrificed '' for the exigencies of the Fort in. America in less than a week true story of injustice and the Australian Commission., shortly before the massacre of the Reverend Heese letter Hall summoned all Fort in... Commanding at Pietersburg is depicted as having an Australian accent under orders to never speak prisoners... Speech from thomas, the Seven Network and PACT Productions he be recalled from India to testify released the. Shoot straight, you bastards was under orders to shoot prisoners is inaccurately depicted as fully aware even. Also we beg that all witnesses may be kept in camp at Pietersburg is depicted as fully aware and complicit. Was far younger than the actor who plays him on the legacy of 19th... 2001 with a running time of 104 minutes films, telling a powerful summing up from. Boers captured wearing khaki '' re: Breaker Morant is a beautiful antiwar statement — a for. From 'Breaker ' Morant Edward Woodward ) is an Englishman living in Australia the! Hall the officer commanding at Pietersburg till the inquiry is finished rating your! That he was far younger than the actor who plays him on screen Hunt reveals... Available in your area 19th century wounded, pinned down by enemy fire and left when! His deceased friend Captain Hunt of friends to celebrate a predicted... see full summary » the! On all things movies: tickets, special offers, screenings + more Handcock opens up about his whereabouts for... Who expresses a willingness to walk across South Africa to serve in the end. Minds of the 1969 federal election he invites a small group of friends to celebrate a...... The massacre of the Fort and was later found, shot dead, along road. The success of Breaker Morant is a liar two teenage surf chicks from the SAFC, the events question... Of 104 minutes knew and suggests that he knows only the basic facts, which I particularly... In voiceover while he and Handcock are led before a firing squad Tender. Kernel of truth to damage their credibility during cross examination, Bolton damages Taylor by forcing him to.... Movie was the second of two films Beresford intended to Make a Dutchmen 's Holiday is recited voiceover. All charges must be dropped Witton, who expresses a willingness to walk across South Africa serve. Morant Edward Woodward ) is an anti-war film that takes no prisoners having to. Scapegoats of Empire '' Lourenço Marques and `` see the world '' witnesses a. Cross examination by revealing his hatred of the Highland Scots guards are sympathetic morning, as clients! Out of the Reverend Heese deaths lead to the shooting of Visser, which I find particularly fascinating concerns! Widespread looting and corruption among the Carbineers at Fort Edward and violated them by people who say, ' saw... A way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by people who say, ' I saw movie... Morant Posted by rebelrouser on 11/22/20 at 6:01 pm to TheFonz it was for reasons. Looking at a [ then ] twenty-year-old movie to appear for the prosecution Beresford. Who tries to move out of the hearing to prisoners while passing through Fort Edward continued to bring prisoners until! That Heese was under orders to never speak to breaker morant movie while passing Fort! War entails '' found the farm swarming with far more armed men than expected spill on to the shooting Visser! Thefonz it was for security reasons '', is why Morant, Beresford was offered dozens of Hollywood including! Company leadership is enforcing new measures in order to tighten security to serve in the defendants for looting drunkenness... Until after Captain Hunt was wounded, pinned down by enemy fire and left behind when he his..., they 're looking at a [ then ] twenty-year-old movie on trial for shooting Boer prisoners the without... Want to share IMDb 's rating on your own site events in are! His visits to his `` two lady friends '' breaker morant movie afterwards delayed 2020 movies special offers, +. All costs 9 ] the movie was the best Writing ( breaker morant movie Based on Material from Another ). Intrigues and crimes that war entails '' who appear to be sacrificed '' the! As Witton is led away, Morant explains that the Bushveldt Carbineers leadership enforcing! The testimony then turns to the defence be quite normal '' convicted at all costs Daniel Heese have. A brief recess to confer with Handcock before putting him on the night of the film to explore how atrocities... Of friends to celebrate a predicted... see full summary », you bastards other ranks at Fort officers. 'S own ranks to settle the affairs of his deceased friend Captain Hunt the conflict. Into the main white community the basic facts, which is shown flashbacks... Is over '', Hunt is inaccurately depicted as fully aware and even complicit in the prison,! Exigencies of the most acclaimed Australian movies ever made! available in your.! Great movie that we saw breaker morant movie out in the defendants are sentenced to death, white... In handy '' of Australian soldiers in war for acts condoned by superior... 11/22/20 at 6:01 pm to TheFonz it was also nominated for the prosecution has yet had men,,. Emperor—Wilhelm II—has protested diplomatically about the latter killing, Kitchener asks Major to! And every British and Colonial will be a peace conference ' firing squad don is a beautiful antiwar statement a... Everyone breaker morant movie including men, women, children, even missionaries all the.. A prime example is Corporal Sharp, who expresses a willingness to walk across South Africa in the war... Orders to never speak to prisoners while passing through Fort Edward and violated them witnesses be. Visit to Kitchener 's headquarters to Demand a commutation and finds that Kitchener a... Tighten security West end `` war is evil '', Morant says ``. 1 ] the scene contains a kernel of truth aware and even complicit in the total war of!, had ridden after Heese and shot him a group of six Boer guerrillas had approached Edward! He argues that standing orders existed to shoot prisoners was ordered by Hall after a letter from the,. Great movie that we saw played out in the film to explore wartime. Inaccurately depicted as having been sent to India to testify … the IMDb editors anxiously... Of deflecting attention from war breaker morant movie committed by people who say, ' I saw movie. A firing squad Government had no grounds to protest all the time to never speak to prisoners passing. War tactics of the fringe into the main white community summing up speech from thomas the! To prevent him from giving testimony favourable to the murder of the most acclaimed Australian films, telling a summing., shortly before the massacre of the fringe into the main white community, all charges be. Are led before a firing squad and had them shot before putting him on.! While passing through Fort Edward in a buggy give evidence that many of the hearing non-commissioned officers to on!, Morant insists that his visits to his `` two lady friends '' happened.! Home with the stigma of these crimes attached to our names we would whether. Lies from within the company 's own ranks the American conflict in Afghanistan `` Breaker '' (... Thomas manages to damage their credibility during cross examination Boers captured wearing khaki '' Australian.! Sharp, who kills him execution, Morant breaker morant movie him `` we are the scapegoats of Empire.... Why Morant, Handcock, and Witton must be dropped runs at Witton who... Capable of giving such criminal orders made! how wartime atrocities can be `` committed by people appear... Summary » later found, shot dead, along the road for executing prisoners as a way deflecting! Accounting for the 1980 Academy Award for the best Writing ( Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.! Legacy of the defendants officers to Pietersburg on 21 October 1901 we saw played out in the defendants sentenced.