Breaker Morant (1980)

Three Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers.

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers:

Jonathan Hardy (screenplay by), David Stevens (screenplay by)

Stars:

Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson, John Waters

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 13 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward Woodward	...	Harry 'Breaker' Morant
Jack Thompson	...	Major J.F. Thomas
John Waters	...	Cpt. Alfred Taylor
Bryan Brown	...	Lt. Peter Handcock
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell	...	Lt. Col. Denny (as Charles Tingwell)
Terence Donovan	...	Cpt. Simon Hunt
Vincent Ball	...	Col. Ian (Johnny) Hamilton
Ray Meagher	...	Sar. Maj. Drummond
Chris Haywood	...	Cpl. Sharp
Russell Kiefel	...	Christiaan Botha
Lewis Fitz-Gerald	...	Lt. George Witton
Rod Mullinar	...	Major Charles Bolton
Alan Cassell	...	Lord Kitchener
Rob Steele	...	Cpt. Robertson
Chris Smith	...	Cameron Sergeant

Storyline

During the Boer War, three Australian lieutenants are on trial for shooting Boer prisoners. 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. The trial does not progress as smoothly as expected by the General Staff, as the defence puts up a strong fight in the courtroom.

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Plot Keywords:

court martial | based on true story | based on play | character name as title | nickname in title | 

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Taglines:

"If you encounter any Boers, you really must not loot 'em and if you wish to leave these shores, for pity's sake don't shoot 'em." "THE BREAKER"

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The production shoot for this picture ran for six weeks.

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Goofs

In the closeup of a soldier's finger pulling the trigger of his Enfield rifle during Lt Morant's explanation of "Rule 303" to the court, the rifle stays absolutely still when the shot goes off. In actuality, a high-powered rifle like the .303-caliber Enfield would "jump" noticeably at the instant of firing.

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Quotes

Lt. Col. Denny: I must say, I find this sort of behavior from a soldier in the British Army morally disgraceful. These were married women.
Peter Handcock: Well, they say a slice off a cut loaf's never missed.
Major Thomas: Leftenant Handcock's personal morality is not on trial, sir.
Lt. Col. Denny: [under his breath to a fellow officer] Regrettably.

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Crazy Credits

Introducing Lewis Fitz-Gerald as George Witton.

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Connections

Referenced in David Stratton's Stories of Australian Cinema (2017)

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Soundtracks

Cock of the North
(uncredited)
Traditional - Irish
Arranged by Bill Brown

User Reviews

A great movie that shows the real face of war.

This movie shows what a truly hellish thing war can be. Where no rule but rule `3-0-3' exists. A lot of films show war in one slant or another, glorious or horrific. This one just shows it for what it is. A damned horrible mess. Many of the actors are some of Australia's finest and this movie is a credit to their skill and talent. It has simple production values but it is elevated by their acting abilities and the great script. A definite must for those who favor the war genre in films, and a measuring point for those who seek to make a film about war and the people caught up in it.

Details

Official Sites:

Criterion Collection South Australian Film Corporation

Country:

Australia

Language:

English Afrikaans

Release Date:

3 July 1980 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Breaker Morant

Filming Locations:

Market Square Museum, Market Square, Burra, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD650,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

The South Australian Film Corporation, The Australian Film Commission, 7 Network

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1