'Round Midnight (1986)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Bertrand Tavernier

Writers:

David Rayfiel (screenplay) and
Bertrand Tavernier (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

The music and the magic come together...

Plot:

In 'Round Midnight, real-life jazz legend Dexter Gordon brilliantly portrays the fictional tenor sax player Dale Turner...

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Jazz | Paris | Time In Title | New York City

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Dexter Gordon	...	Dale Turner
François Cluzet	...	Francis Borler
Gabrielle Haker	...	Berangere
Sandra Reaves-Phillips	...	Buttercup
Lonette McKee	...	Darcey Leigh
Christine Pascal	...	Sylvie
Herbie Hancock	...	Eddie Wayne
Bobby Hutcherson	...	Ace
Pierre Trabaud	...	Francis's Father
Frédérique Meininger	...	Francis's Mother
Hart Leroy Bibbs	...	Hershell
Liliane Rovère	...	Madame Queen
Ged Marlon	...	Beau
Benoît Régent	...	Psychiatrist
Victoria Gabrielle Platt	...	Chan Turner

Also Known As:

Autour de minuit (France)

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Norway:12 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Lyon, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France

Company:

Little Bear

Trivia:

The character of Francis Borler is based on real-life person Francis Paudras who died in 1997. The character of Dale Turner played by actual jazz musician Dexter Gordon is based on a combination of real-life jazzmen Bud Powell and Lester Young. The real-life friendship between Paudras and Bud Powell has been the subject of several books.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the movie takes place in 1959, in one scene near the end where Francis and Dale are walking along the East River in New York, one can clearly see the twin World Trade Center towers in the background. These towers were not completed until the '70's.

Quotes:

Hershell: You know who's going to be waiting for you at the airfield in Paris, don't you?... You.

Movie Connections:

References The Red Shoes (1948)

Soundtrack:

Fairweather

Nice Story Even For Non-Jazz Fans

This is jazz-fan's delight: tons of jazz, featuring tenor saxophone with some bebop thrown in. Most of the music is nice mellow stuff and interesting to hear, even to a non-jazz buff like me.

The music and interesting story made me purchase the DVD, which I have subsequently watched few a couple of times. The story is pretty laid-back, a simple tale of an American alcoholic sax great playing in France who reforms because of a French fan who cares about him.

Dexter Gordon's unique voice makes helps him become an interesting character to hear and the real-life jazz great proves to be a decent actor, too. Francois Cluzet plays the admirer who goes out of his way to help his idol. Gabrielle Haker is pleasant to watch as Cluzet's young daughter. She always seems to have a pleasant smile on her face.

I don't why this film was rated "R" because there is no sex, no nudity, little profanity except for several "mf's," which must be the reason for the rating. Nevertheless, it's a pretty tame movie.

Even though the story is a bit slow and would probably bore the heck out of most young people today, I found it entertaining and definitely different. It's just a nice, gentle story, whether you are a fan of jazz or not.