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Breaker Morant

Original title: 'Breaker' Morant
  • 19801980
  • PGPG
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Edward Woodward in Breaker Morant (1980)
Home Video Trailer from Fox Lorber
Play trailer0:55
2 Videos
89 Photos
DramaHistoryWar
Three Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers.Three Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers.Three Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
14K
YOUR RATING
    • Bruce Beresford
  • Writers
    • Jonathan Hardy(screenplay by)
    • David Stevens(screenplay by)
    • Bruce Beresford(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Edward Woodward
    • Jack Thompson
    • John Waters
    • Bruce Beresford
  • Writers
    • Jonathan Hardy(screenplay by)
    • David Stevens(screenplay by)
    • Bruce Beresford(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Edward Woodward
    • Jack Thompson
    • John Waters
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 114User reviews
    • 60Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar

    Videos2

    Breaker Morant
    Trailer 0:55
    Watch Breaker Morant
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 28
    Video 28:11
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 28

    Photos89

    Breaker Morant (1980)
    Breaker Morant (1980)
    Breaker Morant (1980)
    Breaker Morant (1980)
    Breaker Morant (1980)
    Breaker Morant (1980)
    Lewis Fitz-Gerald in Breaker Morant (1980)
    Breaker Morant (1980)
    Bryan Brown and Edward Woodward in Breaker Morant (1980)
    Bryan Brown and Edward Woodward in Breaker Morant (1980)
    Bryan Brown and Edward Woodward in Breaker Morant (1980)
    Bryan Brown and Edward Woodward in Breaker Morant (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward Woodward
    Edward Woodward
    • Harry 'Breaker' Morant
    Jack Thompson
    Jack Thompson
    • Major J.F. Thomas
    John Waters
    John Waters
    • Cpt. Alfred Taylor
    Bryan Brown
    Bryan Brown
    • Lt. Peter Handcock
    Charles 'Bud' Tingwell
    Charles 'Bud' Tingwell
    • Lt. Col. Denny
    • (as Charles Tingwell)
    Terence Donovan
    Terence Donovan
    • Cpt. Simon Hunt
    Vincent Ball
    Vincent Ball
    • Col. Ian (Johnny) Hamilton
    Ray Meagher
    Ray Meagher
    • Sar. Maj. Drummond
    Chris Haywood
    Chris Haywood
    • Cpl. Sharp
    Russell Kiefel
    Russell Kiefel
    • Christiaan Botha
    Lewis Fitz-Gerald
    Lewis Fitz-Gerald
    • Lt. George Witton
    Rod Mullinar
    Rod Mullinar
    • Major Charles Bolton
    Alan Cassell
    • Lord Kitchener
    Rob Steele
    Rob Steele
    • Cpt. Robertson
    Chris Smith
    • Cameron Sergeant
    Bruno Knez
    Bruno Knez
    • Rev. Hesse
    John Pfitzner
    • Boer Leader
    Frank Wilson
    • Dr. Johnson
      • Bruce Beresford
    • Writers
      • Jonathan Hardy(screenplay by)
      • David Stevens(screenplay by)
      • Bruce Beresford(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Breaker Morant: The Retrial
    8.0
    Breaker Morant: The Retrial

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      "We shot them under Rule 303" is a reference to the.0.303 inch (7.7 millimetre) cartridge used in British Army rifles.
    • Goofs
      In the film the defendants are allowed to gather in a common room until lights out to socialize and meet with their lawyer and other visitors. In reality there were six defendants in total, including Captain Taylor, who were held in strict solitary confinement from their arrest through sentencing and were not allowed to communicate with each other at all.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Harry Morant: Shoot straight, you bastards. - Don't make a mess of it!

    • Crazy credits
      Introducing Lewis Fitz-Gerald as George Witton.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Hardly Working/The Howling/'Breaker' Morant/Mon Oncle D'Amerique/Caveman (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      At Last
      Traditional tune

      Arranged by Jack Grimsley (uncredited)

      Lyrics by H.H. Morant

      Performed by Edward Woodward

    User reviews114

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Superb wartime courtroom drama
    (Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon.)

    The question raised in this film is the same as that raised in the Nuremberg trials following World War II and at the trial of Lt. William Calley during the Vietnam War, namely should a soldier be punished for following orders?

    The answer to that question depends not only on what the orders were--that is, were they legitimate orders consistent with the "rules of war"--but also on who is asking the question and why they are asking it. After WWII the Allies asked the question and the reason they asked it was because so many people were horrified by Nazi atrocities and wanted someone to punish. If the Axis powers had somehow won the war they might have tried US President Harry S Truman and others for the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities, or indeed for the fire bombings of Dresden. In Vietnam we asked the question of ourselves during the war because our government and military were being accused both at home and abroad of waging a unjustified war and going against our own value system.

    Here the story goes back to the Boer War a hundred years ago in South Africa, as the British command for political reasons puts Lt. Breaker Morant, an Australian soldier fighting with the British forces, and two of his fellow Bushveldt Carbineers on trial for shooting Boer prisoners. Their defense is the same as the Nazi soldiers and that of Lt. Calley: they were just following orders.

    The superb direction by Bruce Beresford (from the play by Kenneth Ross) makes us identify with Morant (Edward Woodward), Lt. Peter Handcock (Bryan Brown) and the third soldier because we can see that the horrors of war pervert the usual logic of right and wrong so completely that we can appreciate what drove them to do what they did. Jack Thompson, playing defense attorney Major J. F. Thomas, expresses this when he tells the court that war changes us and that therefore the usual rules of conduct no longer apply. Incidentally this film is based on actual events.

    Regardless of which side of this very vexing question you come down on, I can promise you will enjoy this outstanding film, winner of 10 Australian Film Institute Awards. In the annuals of war films and courtroom dramas this ranks with the best of them.
    helpful•67
    3
    • DennisLittrell
    • May 4, 2003

    FAQ1

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 3, 1980 (Australia)
      • Australia
      • Criterion Collection
      • English
      • Afrikaans
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Cactus Farm, Burra, South Australia, Australia
    • Production companies
      • The South Australian Film Corporation
      • The Australian Film Commission
      • 7 Network
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 47 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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