Tag: Morant

Breaker Morant is one of the most acclaimed Australian films, telling a powerful tale of wartime betrayal and injustice. Henry “Breaker” Morant (Edward Woodward) is an Englishman living in Australia at the end of the 19th century. When war breaks out in 1899 between Britain and the Boers (descendants of Dutch colonists), Morant and a number of Australians volunteer for duty and are absorbed into the non-regular units of the British army. Acting under orders from his commanders, Morant oversees the execution of several Boer prisoners; it turns out that one of them was German, and in order to keep the peace with Germany, Britain agrees to courtmartial Morant and two other soldiers, sentencing two to death and one to life imprisonment. Based on a play by Kenneth Ross, Bruce Beresford’s film is powerfully filmed and acted and has become a classic anti-war movie since its 1980 release; the script (co-written by Beresford) was nominated for an Academy Award. The final execution scene is nearly overpowering in its sense of tragedy and futility.

Edward Woodward – Lt. Harry Morant
Bryan Brown – Lt. Peter Hancock
Lewis Fitz-Gerald – Lt. George Witton
Jack Thompson – Major J.F. Thomas
John Waters – Capt. Alfred Taylor
Rod Mullinar – Major Charles Bolton
Charles “Bud” Tingwell – Lieutenant Colonel Denny
Terence Donovan – Capt. Simon Hurst
Vincent Ball – Lt. Ian Hamilton
Frank Wilson – Dr.Johnson
Alan Cassell – Lord Kitchener
Russell Kiefel – Christian Botha
Judy Dick – Mrs. Shields
Wayne Bell – Lieutenant Reed
Ian Gray – B/M Thomas
Chris Haywood – Sentry
Dick Henderson – Captain Nicholson
Alan Lovett – Scots Sentry
Ray Meagher – Sgt Major Drummond
Rob Steele – Captain Robertson
Barbara West – Mrs. Vanderberg