Breaker Morant - What Makes This Movie Great? (Episode 13)
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- What was the first instituted use of concentration camps? The Boer War.
What's the greatest movie about the Boer War? Probably "Breaker Morant."
In this episode of my series "What Makes This Movie Great?", I'll introduce you to this 1980 Australian movie directed by the great Bruce Beresford, a movie beloved by many for its timeless issues. It's one of the best coutroom, wartime dramas you can see.
See joshmatthews.org for more great movie criticism.
It's a fantastic movie, that more people need to watch. Seems like it's almost forgotten outside of here in Australia.
I'm really glad you're a fan.
I hope it will not be forgotten. thank you.
Not forgotten at all by the Yanks. Know plenty of fellow Americans who love this movie. Greatest military courtroom drama ever made, with an honorable mention to The Caine Mutiny.
I'm a Yank who fell in love with Australia about 40 years ago during my first visit. Breaker Morant is one of my very favorite films. I'm acquainted with an Austrian man (thanks to a political website) who believes that Morant,Hancock and Whitten were properly tried and convicted.He says that he's a former officer in the Australian Navy which,if true,would give his belief some credibility. I'm inclined to believe his claims. I suppose that i shouldn't be surprised that there at least some disagreement even within Australia on this subject.
@@jackfitzpatrick8173 Its hazy. On the face of things, prima facie as tg dry say in legal circles, there's no doubt that they committed the act, and were potentially liable for court martial for murder.
The issue is they were besseched to fight the enemy on their terms, by the British command, their actions based on implications, as they Inferred them, in those orders, the invidousness with which their own side chose to prosecute.
Theirs was not the only example of such acts, and this was the same war in which concentration camps were first employed, the enemy did not respect the established understood rules of war, one of which predates most, being that a soldier cannot be reprimanded for following orders by those who give them, any more than they may hide behind them once the war is done, if they are called by third parties to answer for doing so.
That is where the question of guilt lies. They were potentially exploited as an example, for the greater good, and likely so treated based on their being Australians, or Colonials as they were, from Australia. This was done selectively, when not applied to all, more flew not only in the face of what they'd been subtly encouraged, ergo, veildly ordered, to do, but broke the long established precedent of commanders being responsible for their troops, and troops being a priori exonerated from blame, by their commanders for any such orders being carried out.
None of the three denied the act itself. It is the question of their guilt, in the face of orders, and precedent, and potentially 'racial', if you will, scapegoating.
This was so galvanizing in Australia, against British Military conduct by its command on internal matters, that Australian government forbade execution as penalty for court martial offenses, in WWI, and more, despite repeated pleas, forbade the British command from executing any Australian soldiers under their command in that war too.
@@Apis4 I served in the US Army...late 1960s to mid 1970s. I went through BCT (recruit training) not long after the My Lai incident became public. One of the many classes we were required to attend during BCT was a lecture on "lawful orders" conducted by a company grade officer. He went on to explain that we were under no obligation whatsoever to obey what he called "unlawful orders". He never mentioned My Lai and he never gave us a single example of what would constitute an *unlawful* order. I found *that* fact quite puzzling.
As for Morant and Hancock it seems distinctly possible that they did,in fact,receive an order...perhaps whispered... "no prisoners" It also seems distinctly possible that the scene in the film where Lord Kitchner says "if these Australians have to be sacrificed to put an end to this foolish war..." also represented his actual attitude. But although I never served in,or near,combat (I was luckier than many) I think that Major Thomas's summation in the film: "in war brutal acts are seldom carried out by abnormal men" is right on the money.
The best two Australian films by far.... Breaker Morant and Gallipoli, both 1980-81
as you say, great movies get better...in particular, Gallipoli (dir Peter Weir, with a young Mel Gibson, in for me, his best role)
is essentially a film about friendship, set against a WW1 backdrop, but more than that, it is about an Australia that doesn't exist anymore...
yeah, gallipoli is probably going to be ageless.
i couldn't agree more. Two brilliant movies.
@@wogga8 Thank you.
I'm a yank, and I saw it in the theater when it came out. I loved it then, I love it now. Amazing film....
excellent, thank you.
Simply brilliant movie! Deserves way more recognition than it gets. It's right up there in the pantheon of great military court-room dramas; up there with the Caine Mutiny (Humphrey Bogart), A Few Good Men (Cruise), etc. Also as you point out, this movie takes us into the early days of 'asymmetrical' war. So this makes it even more salient for us in light of the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks for your excellent analysis.
thank you. good mention of Caine Mutiny here, a worthy predecessor or ancestor to this one.
"a few gooey men" can't hold a candle
Great review. This is one of the most under rated movies ever.
thank you.
I stumbled on this movie about 20 years ago. Immediately fell in love with it before I knew the back story. I loved the story and the quality of the dialogue and acting. I did a little research, back before Google and Amazon, and the more I learned the more I liked it. I searched for the book, Scapegoats of the Empire, but couldn't find a copy. No book store could help me. I eventually tracked it down on Amazon. Watched the movie again this week. It remains one of my all-time favorites.
It's also interesting to see some of the follow up documentaries about this story.
The book can be found posted online in pdf format. I can't provide a link at the moment, but it wasn't that difficult to find -- one of those "if i can do it, anyone can do it" things.
Studied this film at high school in year 11 in 1997. Always recall the class getting rather excited whenever Sgt Major Drummond appeared on screen, shouting out "Alf!" - the actor, Ray Meagher being known since the late 80s as Alf Stewart on Home and Away.
excellent, this must be an Australian high school experience?
Once of the most perfect movies I have ever seen. I believe I saw it the first time at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the 80s at a foreign film series showing. I took a course in British Empire history from Russell Linnemann which helped me understand this movie even more. The main actors are so good and the cinematography as well.
excellent. yes, Australia by this time showed it could easily be the equal of Hollywood productions, which is why Hollywood snagged so many Australian directors at this time, including Bruce Beresford.
A marvelous movie
As a young producer in London I was offered the script by Michael Flint who represented the Australian Film Commission. I thought it would never make a great movie! What an idiot!!!!!! I admit it. One of the greatest movies ever made.
To this day there are Australian legal moves to get Morant and his partners pardoned.
Just as a side point Churchill fought in the Boer war, was captured and escaped.
excellent! thank you.
@@LearningaboutMovies You have great taste in movies. A totally underrated classic.
Great movie Jack Thompson’s closing speech is terrific. The relationship between Britain and Australia is perhaps more complex than is depicted here
yes indeed, on both counts.
Brilliant movie which showed perfectly how ruthless the pomms are. Should have used rule 303 on them instead
yes, many here have agreed with that.
Breaker was a POM...
And he knew what he was doing....
All War is Murder....
And life's not fair...
If there is a hearafter I doubt Harry Harbold Morant who wrote of Petticoats in Devon would want a Pardon....
I loved this movie when it was first released, and have admired it for years since. To me, this was a brilliant movie.
This movie is very dear to my heart and have watched it over 20 times. I have been to S Africa and Australia. Also have read George Ramsdale Witton's book "Scape Goats of the Empire."
Harry shouted it best. "They're in a war George and they're trying to end it now, so they need scapegoats. We're scapegoats. We’re scapegoats of the bloody empire!"
Scapegoating of Captain McVay was seen in the movie Mission of the Shark (On You Tube starring Stacey Keach)- about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. The USN had egg all over its face for letting those sailors get savaged by thirst and sharks for three days in open water because the Navy had forgotten to account for the fact that the USS Indianapolis was way overdue.
In my case, it was before the KY Medical Board. The Board had egg all over its face when the public learned that the President of the KY Medical Association ( a physician in my town E-town) had been sodomizing patients and raping his baby sitters for years. KY was 37th in disciplinary actions, a prominent OB-GYN was repeatedly enjoying drinks at a local chain restaurant while his patients were in the stirrups in the labor and delivery, etc. The public was outraged and my career as a physician was ruined as I was served up as a scapegoat for the death of a patient because the nurse, like a drunk who gets behind the wheel, delegated her task of selecting and drawing up a medication in the operating room to an unauthorized tech who had no idea what she was supposed to get. My patient died on the operating table from a lethal injection. The case was splattered all over the Louisville Courier-Journal and nationally televised “A Current Affair.” All in my memoirs "My Medical legal Back Pages" - all based on true events.
From Albany NY to E-town KY to E-City NC, to Natchez MS.
The driving force behind scapegoating is the need to deflect blame and responsibility and pin it on a convenient target to accommodate an agenda of appeasement or distraction. The evidence, the statutes etc. are blatantly disregarded or not allowed into evidence (kind of like the 2020 election sham), and you wind up in a sham trial or the courts outright refuse to hear the case.
The most moving part of Breaker Morant was when Lt. Morant and Capt. Taylor were discussing privately the anticipated verdict during the premature celebration with champagne brought in by two of the court members.
"I wouldn't be too certain of this verdict Harry"
"No. And what about you. Your trial's coming up soon isn't it?
"Oh they don't want me. Kitchner's staff, intelligence and all that. It wouldn't go down very well. But a wild simple fellow like Handcock,.....and a black sheep...."
"We won't be missed."
"That's right. I can have a horse standing by for you. Some of the guards are sympathetic."
"And where would I go?"
Lorenzo Marques, Portuguese territory. You take a boat ...and, see the world."
"I've seen it," said Morant grimly.
Morant was left standing alone in the dark with the bagpipes playing in the background.
are you familiar with Rene Girard's scapegoating theory? if not, I suggest looking it up.
I saw this as freshman in 1981 at Baylor University's Film Society screening. It became then and has remained my favorite film of all time. I have watched it as least once a year since then -- so I've seen it over 40 times! Hardly a day goes by when a phrase from the film doesn't slip into my everyday conversation. To me, it is the only film I've ever seen where there is not one snippet of dialogue that sounds like a memorized line. On a humorous note -- I was so amazed by the film at my initial viewing, I told my date, Shelly B., that I was staying to watch the second showing, and that she was welcome to stay and watch it with me. I don't think our dating relationship lasted much longer.
this is an excellent movie to know well. good story -- thank you!
I've not only seen this movie many times, I *was* Breaker Morant on stage. This movie was adapted from a stage play. I've played the titular role in two complete seasons.
He's a bit of a charged historical figure down here. There has been a drive to have him post humorously exonerated, but the support for that is not 100% in the historic community. The debate is still going on to this day.
wow, excellent! thank you for commenting.
No debate needed, guy was a right criminal! Go read some real history!
I liked your review, but I want to note an interpretation of the film that I think is often overlooked. While the film does make out Morant to be an ultimately sympathetic figure, it's important to not lose sight of the fact that absolving him of his crimes altogether is problematic. What I think the film wants to convey is not that Morant was charged for doing something that he SHOULD have done (Morant, after all, was still responsible for the arbitrary murder of surrendered combatants, and one missionary, after all), but more so that he was victimized for conducting violence that was systemically ingrained into the British imperial apparatus. His trial was politicized (almost like the court-martial from 'Paths of Glory'), and he, Hancock, and Witton were accused and charged largely as "colonials" who could take the fall for crimes that were ultimately shared by others. The film goes to lengths to show how it was not just Morant who was complicit in violence, but also British officers like the intelligence attaché, Thompson, and Hunt. Moreover, if you enter the film with an understanding of British imperial violence generally, and the atrocities of the Boer War specifically, then you'll be cognizant of the fact that nothing about Morant or even the Bushveldt Carbineers' conduct was exceptional.
Where the true hypocrisy of the British command lies is not in charging Morant and his peers for crimes what they did out of necessity in the context of war (imperial violence of their sort is still unjustifiable), but more so that the British conducted this violence on a mass scale, and only pretended that it didn't occur or punished others for it when convenient (as in the case of Morant). That's the ultimate tragedy of 'Breaker Morant,' I think. Not that Morant and Hancock deserve to be vindicated, but also that they were punished for what was broader policy. I've seen a lot of interpretations of the film that seem to justify Morant for what he did, and that he should never have been punished for it. Where I disagree is the basis of punishment: not that Morant was falsely accused, but rather that he took the fall for what everyone else was already doing.
thank you. very helpful and thoughtful.
Agree completely. It’s a better film for the fact that Morant is no angel but ends up being sacrificed, not for what he actually did, but for political reasons
Quite possibly the best movie, dare I say,.............. ever
a dark dark horse candidate.
Brilliant stuff, Josh. I still have to watch my Criterion of Breaker Morant.
thank you. I have that one -- it looks great.
I find this movie very relevant for the issue of police procedures in 2020-2021.
it is always fascinating to see how artworks such as this can be applied to developing circumstances, and I think you certainly have a good point.
Saw this randomly as a kid years ago and stumbled upon it researching "summary Executions" as part of the Wikipedia article there. Great, to-the-point review, and I couldn't agree more with your thoughts and appraisals. Now I have to find it and watching it again. As I recall, it reminded me a bit of "Zulu" 1964
I like what you are doing and will check out your other videos/reviews.
Subscribed/Liked
Thank you. "Zulu" (1960s) is a good one for military strategy, and a lament, possibly, for the British Empire's decline and fall. "Breaker Morant" (1980-ish) is more of an attack on the Empire. There's a line of thinking about the empire that you can trace through movie history, from the 1940s onward, and throw David Lean's movies in there from this period. "Gandhi", and certainly "Gallipoli," make similar claims about the Empire. Thanks for getting me to think about this, and pardon my thinking aloud here.
To be Australia was to be British in those days. I sang God Save The Queen in primary school as late as 1983.
As a young boy, visited Burra prison, South Australia. It was the mainset of Breaker Morant. Very moving... when I first saw the Movie.. was in the classroom prior to our trip.. the last 10minutes... was so profound.
Cried mercilessly.. my classmates laughed. Strangely, in Australia a similar situation is occurring with Special Air Service Regiment personnel our elite operator's. Thanks for the very inciteful analysis of the movie.. may I suggest reviewing "The Odd Angry Shot"? Also "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence" Production values, and acting a bit shaky... but the themes are similar...have subscribed and hope you keep posting.
outstanding comment, thank you.
@@LearningaboutMovies 👍🙏
Excellent movie, and a reminder of what the British Empire was all about when the sun never set on it. The arrogance of those times would be viewed as criminal today, but the fact was that the British leadership looked down their noses on "Colonials" and local indigenous peoples as uncivilized and inferior to themselves. Of course, the discovery of gold and diamonds in South Africa had nothing to do with the British deciding that they needed to bring "Civilization" to the area.....
Hmmmmm....... A really great movie of a tragic story of Australians being used as proxies and then scapegoats for the British war effort.
thank you.
Epic Epic Epic !!! I've watched this movie so many times I wore the VCR tape out. Now have it on DVD, its so good. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
yes, and the Bluray is quite something if you can get it.
Excellent!
I dispute that this movie is "about" the Boer War. It's set during the Boer War, of course, but it's really about Vietnam. It was made in 1980 with Vietnam only five years in our mirrors, with Australian nationalism peaking on the approach to our Bicentennial in 1988. Questions about whether we should be involving ourselves in colonial wars - Britain's or America's, in South Africa or Vietnam - simply to maintain the relationship were very much on the Australian mind. With the revelations about war crimes in Afghanistan, I think a remake could be very timely, although it would miss out on Edward Woodward in the title role - he who John Sessions brilliantly described as, "the only man to have a bicep in his face."
I agree that all historical films are in part about their contemporary moment. great comment, thank you.
I'm a bit conflicted about this one. Beautifully done - I know the places where it was shot. I know the debate about rehabilitation of Morant. But these days his actions would make him a war criminal - just obeying orders didn't save Generals Keitel and Jodl from the noose in Nuremberg. But hey, he's flamboyant and educated and, well, a good bloke .... and Australia can forgive people like that little things like war crimes, if you sexy it up.
It's kind of a dirty secret, I want to like him, even if, on principle, it's wrong.
That's why it's great. It makes you question...
There were no such orders, it's a fabrication by people who've written books on the subject that of course made it's way into the movie, it's a product of Australian lore.
it's also about prejudice by the British against Australians
Great movie, just watched it.
A great film, I agree 100%. The cinematography alone is worth the price of admission. And Bryan Brown is brilliant in his role as Morant
Bryan Brown was Lt Peter Hancock.Morant was played by Edward Woodward.
@@jasonhaskins7955 you are correct, my mistake. A well acted film all around.
A fabulous movie with a great cast. Though somewhat historically inaccurate and some liberal artistic license, Breaker Morant is a good example of what soldiers are called and capable of doing in the horrific midst of war.
I wrote a poem about the whole affair...
The Breaker
By Jacqueline Hemingway
During the second Boer War there came to be,
The Bushveldt Carbineers and some unpleasantry;
When The Breaker, the lover and the boy they did ride,
On the northern Transvaal where their reputation did bide.
While discharging their duty, orders they’d execute,
A number of Boer prisoners during many a pursuit;
No gentlemen’s war it was guerrilla tactics for either side,
On a date with destiny now these three men would collide.
Arrested for murder Morant, Handcock and Whitton not guilty their plea,
Tried in a dubious military courts-martial death the punishment for all three;
Witnesses came forward happy to point the finger of great blame,
Upon these three lieutenants whose reputations they would defame.
There must be scapegoats to condemn for the wrongdoings of war,
Lord Kitchener himself had killed many prisoners before;
If three Australians had to be sacrificed to bring the war to an end,
It seemed a small enough price to pay to allow both sides to amend.
Some asked for mercy for all three or allow time to be appealed,
But Lord Kitchener signed the order before any verdict be revealed;
The outcome already decided and the sentences had been written,
It was death for Morant and Handcock and imprisonment for Whitton.
A firing squad assembled the next day at the break of dawn,
To send these two great men journeying into the great beyond;
The last words to be uttered before bullets sent them to meet their maker,
“Shoot straight you bastards don’t make a mess of it,” said The Breaker.
Thanks very much from Spain.
you're welcome.
Should be mandatory viewing for any armed forces before deployment.
Rule No1. Never shot prisoners, even ones dressed in your army's uniform, murder screams from the grave.
Rule No2. State "Sir can I have that order in writing, I believe that is an illegal order" if in doubt.
Rule No3. Never trust the CoC to have your back. A man's enemies will be those of his own household.
Rule No4. Think twice surrendering to Australians. E.g Boer war, Western front 1918, Crete 1941, Afghanistan. Some members treat war as a all expenses paid hunting trip and you are the prey.
A restored version of this film is coming out next month in Australia.
excellent! thanks for this.
One of my favourites. Although it softens Morant a bit from reality, it portrays everyone fairly to some extent: neither making Morant out to be an innocent scapegoat nor showing Kitchener as a cartoonish villain. The real hero of the film is not Morant, but Major Thomas, who sometimes seems to be defending himself against his own conscience rather than defending the accused.
than kyou.
Super movie, my favorite war/political/legal film, and unlike the thin truths of most "based on a true story" movies, it really ~is~ based on actual events!
Haven't seen it yet. Sounds a little like Paths of Glory, but a little broader in scope
Awesome movie. I was never a great fan of Jack Thompson, however I feel that he excelled in this movie.
he's good in "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence."
They applied Rule 303...
right ...
Morant was British and probably not that innocent
Yes it’s a great movie and a great cast goes to show that anyone is expendable
yes, unfortunately ...
Have seen Breaker Morant several times. Of course it is impossible to judge actions by soldiers in a war using "civil" laws.
A new book on the cour tmarshal of Breaker Morant claims that first he was English and that he actually bragged and admitted to killing Boers who surrendered. Of course, it is the British and British generals who declared war with the Boers and sent colonial soldiers to fight that war who are the real guilty ones.It was the colonial soldiers who paid the highest price, the Irish lost the most as well as the Scots, Australians. The British invaded the Boers territories because of the discovery of diamonds and gold and for no other reason.
Thank you for your insightful review.
you're welcome.
Agreed..one of my favorites.
excellent, yes, so many still like this one.
Two of the officers were Australian while Morant was actually born in England but did live some years in Australia before enlisting.
thank you.
@@LearningaboutMovies You are welcome. Actually, I just reviewed this movie on my fledgling channel but had the luxury of time for some research. I had seen the movie when it was first released - and it is powerful, as you note - but now things are far less clear cut. More Boer deaths were involved than shown in the film but, critically, the trial record mysteriously disappeared - either lost or suppressed. Cheers!
My grandmother was in a British concentration kamp during that war, as a little girl. She must have been a guerilla.
Excellent Movie & excellent commentary on how her Majesty's Gunslingers treated or exploited the local peoples as when the "Sun wasn't setting on the British Empire" Lol. Jus as in every War the English managed to use the Colonials to fight their battles fir them & then discarded them. English Colonialism has caused more MISERY thruout the World then History reports & Thank God the Sun has set on her Empire. Unfortunately it has taken the bayonet & the bullet...& innocent lives to send them packing as they've never left any occupied land voluntarily! Oh..almost forgot, to Hell with king Knucklehead charlie!Lol
Not exactly accurate...but a terrific film. Woodward and Thompson are riveting.
yes!
Great film.
Our colonial rebel friends don't understand the importance of allegiance to the Empire
"Tried for a crime that in war times doesn't seem like a crime"??? Shooting surrendering combatants, shooting unarmed prisoners, using captured prisoners as human shields and killing a German missionary seems like war time crime to me. Considering that the leader Breaker Morant was given orders to shoot all prisoners and supposedly these spoken orders were given by the leader of the British forces, non other that Lord Kitchener himself, is where the story gets murky. Australian soldiers had always been considered as expendable and cannon fodder by British high command even through to the begining of the First World War. It wasn't until Australian Generals were allowed to command their own battalions that Australian soldiers gained the respect of British Empire.
I think you talked yourself into agreeing with me. If a commanding officer gives you an order, it doesn't feel like a crime, does it? It's at least a Catch-22.
never heard of it, interesting
This was an actual True Story, Not fiction. This was a well made movie about 3 guys fighting a Guerilla War as part of what we would call" Special Forces", today Against enemy " Commandos" in the war that coined that very term. They were screwed balls deep, with No kiss, reach around, and just enough KY to make the sand stick. As for"Lord Kitchner", the blood of soldiers who were only doing their duty is on his hands.
the movie makes a strong case that the British used and abused them.
I'm so glad you have discussed this movie! As someone doing my PhD on the Australian New Wave, a lot of these movies don't get the attention they deserve
good for you. The Australian New Wave, like most "new waves," is quite outstanding. Last year, I think in the summer, Criterion Channel had a 15+ film collection on it, with some rather obscure titles. That was fun to go through. Anybody watching this channel should at least know Peter Weir and Bruce Beresford, and obviously most know George Miller. There are others, though! I wish you the best of success.
It's EXCELLENT!!!!!
yes!
A really great movie, but the true story is that they did murder POWs and civilians.
A true kangaroo court. No pun intended.
heh.
The reprisals and brutalities committed on the veldt were no doubt atrocious. On both sides. Never mind the actions of the soldiers, England herself had no business waging a war against a marginal Dutch colony. It was probably looked at as a dress rehearsal for WW1 anyway, when the alliances were strained and Germany ultimately did oppose England.
Sounds similar to Paths of Glory
definitely.
Look out for new book of Morant. Fitzsimon author. ? Spelling
thank you. if you find a link, feel free to come back and post it.
Peter Fitzsimons
Sorry mate they weren’t British they were Australian. Australia became a federation in 1901 and no longer were a collection of colonies of the British Empire.
thanks
The terrain is all wrong. Looks nothing like South Africa. Low budget. Good drama, but Woodward's performance is overly dramatic.
Brilliant film.
yes indeed. thank you.