The FRiday Night Movie - Breaker Morant (1980)

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[DemforBush]

First up tonight at the DfB Theater is of the finest movies ever to come out of Australia. Edward Woodward turns in a superb performance in this true story about the real-life exploits - and still controversial - court martial of Harry "Breaker" Morant, an officer fighting on the side of the British during the Boer Wars in South Africa. Co-starring Bryan Brown (Cocktail, the F/X movies).

In English with foreign subtitles.

[DemforBush]

This may the best film I've posted yet. Great movie, and very thought-provoking. Some of the questions raised in the film are just as relevant today, IMHO. 8.5/10.

BTW, if anyone recognizes the language used in the subtitles, could you let me know? It looked Slavic, and I thought perhaps it was Russian, but I am really not sure.

[DemforBush]

Previous week's offerings:

The Stranger7/10

Decision Before Dawn7.5/10

The Woman in the Window8/10

Plunder Road6.75/10

The Hitch-Hiker7/10

The Big Heat8.5/10 (Now blocked by youtube)

Stalag 178/10

The Enemy Below7.5/10.

Kiss of Death7.25/10

The Killers8.0/10

DOA7.5/10

[DemforBush]

Ping.

[Zeneta]

Breaker Morant is a really great movie. I caught it on TCM not that long ago.

[Flag_This]

“Shoot straight you bastards. Don’t make a mess of it.”

[RIghtwardHo]

GREAT MOVIE!!!!

[FredZarguna]

"Was it like this? No. It was not quite so 'handsome.' It was not quite so 'proper.' As to rules and regulations, we had no Red Book, and knew nothing about them. We were out fighting the Boers, not sitting comfortably behind barb-wire entanglements. We got them, and shot them under Rule Three-Oh-Three."

[relictele]

It’s definitely in my all-time Top Ten.

I understand the depth of feeling and the strange (strained?) relationship between Britain and Australia. In some ways the director was disguising his present-day sentiment by applying them to a situation 80 years in the past (at that time).

It’s trendy among know-it-all lefties to slag off the British Empire and praise those who threw off the yoke of so-called oppression but it’s also interesting (and revealing) to see so many nations staying in the Commonwealth and reaffirming their links to the monarchy. Often overlooked - intentionally - are the elements of Western civilization that were retained in the Commonwealth and I’m not just talking about cricket.

Beyond the specific patriotic differences, the film has a more universal theme i.e. that ‘fair trials’ often aren’t, as we see ourselves in the ceaseless venue-shopping by leftists (including judges) who view the law as an obstacle.

The Duality Of Man is present in nearly every character, especially Morant himself who had a foot in both camps - Victorian society and the Australian outback. Handcock was a typical larrikin (Bryan Brown brought amazing energy to the role) but eventually showed his humanistic, even spiritual side in the face of death. Witton went from innocent abroad to a still-young man embittered for life.

It must be said that despite strong performances all round it’s Jack Thompson who steals the show...a ‘country town solicitor’ who nearly upsets Lord Kitchener’s apple cart.

[Maine Mariner]

I agree Edward Woodward was superb in the movie.
He later did the tv series the Equalizer, my late father was a big fan of those episodes.

[SkyDancer]

Breaker Morant was actually English. The Aussies executed him in 1902. Australia didn't exist until 1901.

Harry "The Breaker" Harbord Morant (9 December 1864 – 27 February 1902) was an Anglo-Australian drover, horseman, poet, soldier and convicted war criminal whose skill with horses earned him the nickname "The Breaker". The bulk of his published work appeared in The Bulletin magazine.

During service in the Second Boer War, Morant allegedly participated in the summary execution of nine Boer (Afrikaner) prisoners. His actions led to his controversial court-martial and execution by firing squad. He was found not guilty of a separate charge of killing a German missionary, Daniel Heese, who had been a witness to the shootings.

In the century since his death, Morant has become a folk hero to some in Australia. His story has been the subject of several books, a stage play, and a major Australian feature film.

[Mears]

One of my all time favorite movies.

.

[21twelve]

I’ll watch this tonight. I wonder - you said the film is in english. Perhaps the subtitles are in Australian?

[DemforBush]

Great post! I agree 100% about the depth in this film. It’s one of the things I love most about it. Also quite agree about Jack Thompson. He was tremendous in the role.

[DemforBush]

Woodward was also in the original, 1973 version of The Wicker Man. It’s quite good, and something of a cult classic. Definitely better than the Nicholas Cage remake (”oh no, not the bees!” LOL).

[DemforBush]

Good catch re: being English.

[Maine Mariner]

Yes, my son who is a movie buff bought both versions of the Wicker Man. We are completely in agreement with you! The Woodward movie is far superior to the Cage movie.

[Sans-Culotte]

I love this film and have it on Blu-ray. This was the first time I ever saw Edward Woodward in anything, and he beacame one of my favorite actors. No one could do barely contained rage like Woodward. And the film is fairly accurate as well.

[Tennessee Nana]

Bryan Brown was in the TV series A Town Like Alice

[mware]

Between Breaker Morant and The Wicker Man, Woodward had two of the most shocking death scenes in cinema during that time period.

[elcid1970]

Morant’s last words: “Shoot straight, you bastards! Don’t muck it up!”