From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Breaker Morant
Theatrical Poster
Directed by	Bruce Beresford
Produced by	Matt Carroll
Written by	Story: Kenneth Ross Screenplay: Jonathan Hardy David Stevens Bruce Beresford
Starring	Edward Woodward Jack Thompson John Waters Bryan Brown
Cinematography	Donald McAlpine
Editing by	William M. Anderson
Distributed by	Roadshow Entertainment
Release date(s)	1980
Running time	107 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English
Budget	AU$650,000
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Breaker Morant is a 1980 Australian feature film, directed by Bruce Beresford and starring British actor Edward Woodward as Harry "Breaker" Morant. The all-Australian supporting cast features Bryan Brown as Lieutenant Handcock, Lewis Fitz-Gerald as Witton, and Jack Thompson as Major Thomas.

The 1978 play Breaker Morant: A Play in Two Acts, written by Kenneth G. Ross,^[1] was the source material for the screen story.^[2]

Beresford co-wrote the screenplay with Jonathan Hardy, David Stevens and Kenneth G. Ross.

The film was produced by Matt Carroll. Although the action is set in South Africa, principal photography took place entirely in Australia.

The film was a top performer at the Australian Film Institute awards, with ten wins. It was also nominated for the 1980 Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay.

Contents 1 Plot Summary 2 Background 3 Release 4 Cast 5 Awards 6 Quotes 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External links

Breaker Morant concerns the murder trial of three Australian soldiers, officers of the Bushveldt Carbineers in South Africa. Harry "Breaker" Morant, Peter Handcock and George Witton are accused of the murder of one Boer prisoner, the subsequent murders of six more, and Morant and Handcock are accused of the sniper-style assassination of a German missionary, the Rev. Hesse. Their defense counsel, Major Thomas, has had only one day to prepare their defense.

Lord Kitchener, who ordered the trial, hopes to bring the Boer War to an end with a peace conference. To that end, he uses the Morant trial to show that he is willing to judge his own soldiers harshly if they disobey the rules of war. Though, as one character mentions, there are great complexities associated with charging active-duty soldiers with murder, Kitchener is determined to have a guilty verdict, and the chief of the court supports him.

The causes and occurrences relating to the trial are developed. Morant's execution of the Boer prisoners was revenge for the mutilation and death of his friend and commanding officer, Captain Hunt. Angered by the incident, Morant led an attack on a Boer camp, where a Boer wearing Captain Hunt's khaki jacket was captured. Morant had him executed.

Morant then executes six other Boer prisoners for the same reason, later saying of the incident, "You know the orders from Whitehall. If they show a white flag, we don't see it. I didn't see it." Before their execution, Morant notices the German missionary, Rev. Hesse, speaking with the Boer prisoners. Morant, furious, is convinced that Hesse is a spy, though he has no proof. A conversation with Handcock leads to the latter taking a rifle and horse and following the missionary, who is found shot the next morning.

During the trial, the court's bias toward a guilty verdict becomes apparent, as well as the political machinations behind it. Morant and Handcock repeatedly display their contempt for the proceedings by insulting their accusers and lashing out at the prosecuting attorney. At one point, the presiding officer of the court martial warns Handcock that if he does not behave, he will find himself in "very serious trouble" (this to a man on trial for multiple murders). In a poignant scene, Morant tells a staff officer who had come to the trial to testify in his behalf that he knows that he and Handcock are going to be shot and that the trial had been a sham from the beginning. He makes it clear that he does not care what happens to him any more since his life in England was in shambles and there was nothing to go back to. He declines an offer for assistance in an escape. In an effort to bolster his spirits, his friend describes him as a "black sheep" (Morant) and Handcock as "a simple and wild fellow". Morant replies sardonically, "We won't be missed". The focus is on whether or not orders were issued by Kitchener to shoot Boer prisoners. Major Thomas' case is that there were standing, though unwritten, orders to do so in the sort of circumstances in which Morant did so. Since these were verbally relayed to Captain Hunt, and by Captain Hunt to Morant, there is no way to prove that the orders existed. To the surprise and delight of his clients and the growing discomfort of the British High Command, Major Thomas proves to be an adroit trial lawyer. He repeatedly scores points for the defense by proving that many of the prosecution witnesses were biased against the accused and that the high command was actively interfering with his efforts to defend the three men. He also establishes that both Morant and Handcock were admired by their men for their courage and effective leadership in battle. In one scene, Thomas forces a witness for the prosecution to admit that Handcock's irregular tactics had proven to be effective in suppressing train ambushes. In what perhaps is the most dramatic part of the film, Major Thomas delivers a brilliant summation in which he indicts the British government's policy in South Africa as well as its case against the defendants, whom he describes as sacrificial pawns to be offered up in the name of international brinkmanship. He lists the atrocities and brutalities that he himself has seen and describes these as standard operating procedure instituted with the knowledge and blessing of the General Staff (but similarly without putting them into writing). Thomas points out to the court that it is impossible to fairly judge men for their behavior under the circumstances of war, where conventional norms do not apply. As the camera pans the faces of the board of judges, it is clear that they have been shaken by Thomas's words and that they are in grudging agreement with him. Finally, he pleads with the court to at least show mercy to Witton who was only a junior officer, had no input into the decisions made by Morant and Handcock and was guilty of nothing more than "having shot a Boer who was trying to shoot him".

At this point, it develops that Morant and Handcock were in fact responsible for the murder of Hesse. Handcock, who took care to set up an alibi with two "ladyfriends", admits to Witton that he actually followed Hesse and shot him. When Witton recoils at the killing of the clergyman, Handcock explodes and rails against the war and the British army. He points out that they are all about to be shot for the sake of political expediency for simply fighting a commando war with commando tactics and that the Boers were under no such legal restraints. In any event, the court acquits them of the murder of Hesse, but finds them guilty of the other two charges. The prisoners are formally marched into the presence of the presiding officer who informs them, "You have been found guilty of murder and are sentenced to death". Morant stiffly comes to attention, salutes, and clicks his heels as he shouts out "Sir!". As he is marched back to his cell, Morant shouts out to Witton, "Shot in the morning". When Handcock returns, he growls "Same as Harry". That afternoon, both Handcock and Morant listen as carpenters on the other side of the wall cut wood and nail their coffins together. Handcock sarcastically says "You'd think they could at least measure us for those first.", Morant quips "I'm sure they don't get too many complaints." Morant begins to write his last poems; one of which serves as the backdrop as the men are led off to be shot. He hands his last work to his lawyer and thanks him for his efforts. He reminds him to post the poems as soon as possible since he fears censorship. He remarks, "After all! We poets do crave immortality". When the execution detail comes to get them, the military chaplain asks their religious affiliation. "Pagan!" replies Morant. "What's a pagan?", inquires Handcock. Morant replies, "A pagan is someone who does not believe that there is a God running around the Universe dispensing right and justice". Handcock nods and says to the chaplain, "I'm a Pagan too". As the march to meet the firing squad begins, Morant quips "Well Peter, This is what comes from Empire Building!" As they get to the execution site (two chairs in an open field), Morant and Handcock nod to each other and hold hands in a display of solidarity as they walk to their deaths. When sitting in theirs chairs just before the firing squad shoots, Hancock yells "Aim straight you fools, let's don't make bloody mess of it!"

Kitchener makes arrangements to be absent and therefore unavailable for pleas for a reprieve, though he does commute Witton's sentence to life imprisonment before leaving. Morant and Handcock are shot as Witton is taken to the prison transport. As a final indignity, Handcock's coffin was built too small for his tall frame, and the soldiers are forced to clumsily cram his body in as the soundtrack plays a stirring pan to the British Colonial Armies.

A summary at the end of the movie reveals what happens to some of the characters. Major Thomas returns to his native Australia and continues his law practice, which is otherwise confined to estate planning and wills. Witton serves three years of his sentence, but is released after a national outcry, and writes a book entitled Scapegoats of the Empire, an account of the Breaker Morant affair. This proves so inflammatory and anti-British that it is suppressed during the World Wars.

The film was shot almost entirely on location in and around the South Australian town of Burra, with the Pietersburg courtroom scenes filmed at the former Redruth Gaol. Other South Australian locations included Ayers House and Rostrevor College.

A DVD video is available by REEL Corporation (2001) with a running time of 104 minutes. Image Entertainment will be releasing a Blu-ray version of the film in the US on January 15, 2008.

• Edward Woodward as Lt. Harry 'Breaker' Morant
• Jack Thompson as Maj. J.F. Thomas
• John Waters as Capt. Alfred Taylor
• Bryan Brown as Lt. Peter Handcock
• Charles 'Bud' Tingwell as Lt. Col. Denny
• Terence Donovan as Capt. Simon Hunt
• Vincent Ball as Col. Ian 'Johnny' Hamilton
• Ray Meagher as Sgt. Maj. Drummond
• Chris Haywood as Cpl. Sharp
• Russell Kiefel as Christiaan Botha
• Lewis Fitz-Gerald as Lt. George Ramsdale Witton
• Rod Mullinar as Maj. Charles Bolton
• Alan Cassell as Lord Horatio Kitchener
• Rob Steele as Capt. Robertson
• Chris Smith as Sgt. Cameron

Wins

• Australian Film Institute (1980)
  • AFI Award
  • Best Achievement in Cinematography, Donald McAlpine
  • Best Achievement in Costume Design, Anna Senior
  • Best Achievement in Editing, William M. Anderson
  • Best Achievement in Production Design, David Copping
  • Best Achievement in Sound, Gary Wilkins, William Anderson, Jeanine Chiavlo, and Phil Judd
  • Best Actor in a Lead Role, Jack Thompson
  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Bryan Brown
  • Best Director, Bruce Beresford
  • Best Film, Matt Carroll
  • Best Original Screenplay, Jonathan Hardy, David Stevens, and Bruce Beresford

• Cannes Film Festival (1980)
  • Best Supporting Actor, Jack Thompson

• Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards (1982)
  • KCFCC Award Best Foreign Film

Nominations

• Academy Awards (1981)
  • Oscar
  • Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Jonathan Hardy, David Stevens, and Bruce Beresford

• Golden Globes (1981)
  • Golden Globe Best Foreign Film, Australia

• Morant: We caught them and we shot them under "Rule Three-Oh-Three!" (a reference to the .303 caliber Lee-Enfield rifle used by British and Commonwealth troops of the time).
• Morant (to the suggestion that a jailbreak could be arranged, then he could go "see the world"): I've seen it.
• Morant: There is an epitaph I'd like, though. Matthew 10:36. ["And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."]
• Morant (to firing squad): Shoot straight, you bastards! Don't make a mess of it!

• South Australian Film Corporation
• Trial movies

1. ^ Subsequent to the film's release, Ross -- who began writing under the name "Kenneth Ross" in order to set himself apart from other creative Australians known as "Ken Ross" -- has found that he must write under the name of "Kenneth G. Ross" in order to distinguish himself from that other, also famous, Kenneth Ross: the Scottish/American Kenneth Ross that was the scriptwriter for The Day of the Jackal.
2. ^ Many people labour under the misapprehension that it was Kit Denton's 1973 book The Breaker that was the source (see Ross' successful legal action for details).

• Ross, K.G., Breaker Morant: A Play in Two Acts, Edward Arnold, (Melbourne), 1979. ISBN 0-7267-0997-2

• Ross, Kenneth, "The truth about Harry", The Age, 26 February 2002. (Written on the hundredth anniversary of Morant's execution and the twenty-fourth anniversary of the first performance of his play, the same article appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald of 26 February 2002 in almost identical form) http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/02/25/1014471630364.html

• Breaker Morant at the Internet Movie Database.
• Breaker Morant at the National Film and Sound Archive

v • d • e Cinema of Australia
	Lists of films: 1896-1919  • 1920s • 1930s  • 1940s • 1950s  • 1960s  • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s Actors • Animators • Awards • Directors • Films A-Z • Cinematographers • Composers • Critics • Editors • Festivals • Producers • Schools • Screenwriters