ROUND MIDNIGHT
France, 1986, 133 minutes, Colour.
Dexter Gordon, Francois Cluzot, Lonette Mc Kee, Herbie Hancock.
Directed by Bertrand Tavernier.
Round Midnight was written and directed by celebrated French director, Bertrand Tavernier (A Week's Vacation, The Watchmaker of St. Pauls, Coup de Torchon, Sunday in the Country). The film shows Tavernier's interest in and admiration for American jazz and American jazz artists. Dedicated to Bud Powell and Lester Young, the film is based on true incidents.
The film is set in the late '50s and early '60s - though the time shifts are a bit hard to pin down. Dexter Gorden received an Oscar nomination for his impressive performance as jazz musician and composer Dale Turner. There is a guest appearance by Martin Scorsese and by Lonette Mc Kee. The film has a jazz score and moves at leisure pace with the jazz background. The film is a story of Americans, black musicians and composers, expatriates in Paris, French and Continental success, the desire for success in the United States. The film offers an interesting portrait of an amiable man with the touch of genius, with the tragic flaw, a drinker.
The film is a must for jazz aficionados - the score won the Oscar - but may not appeal to those who do not have a keen ear for jazz.
1. The impact of the film, its acclaim? The attraction for jazz fans?
2. The jazz world, the American composers and players, the American heritage, New York, Paris, the clubs? Authentic atmosphere?
3. The contribution of the musical score: the background, the songs, performance, instrumentals?
4. The film as a memoir and a tribute? Atmosphere and mood?
Based on real characters and events?
5. Dexter Gordon's portrait of Dale Turner: physical presence, personality on screen? Style? Skill, composition, performance? Drinking? Arrival in Paris. Buttercup looking after him? Controlling him? Drinking, his ruses to hide his drinking? The impact of his playing? Scrounging money and drinks? The other players? Meeting Francis in the street, the drink with him, the friendship, the appreciation, learning? Francis and his help, the continued drinking, hospitals? Francis rescuing him? The meal with the family and meeting Berangere? His moving in? Life with the family? The pressure on Francis, Francis weeping? Giving up? Trustworthiness? Sharing? D'Arcy's arrival? His continued composing? Going to New York, life there? The recording, the exhilaration? Collapse, collapse of relationships? The return to Paris? His death? A good man, self-defeating, wise and sympathetic, talented?
6. The portrait of Francis, his listening to the jazz, his return home, Berringer weeping, his separation from his wife? Meeting Dale, buying the beer? His talking, showing appreciation, his vision of Dale's music? Support? The clash with Buttercup? Inviting him to the meal, Berringer’s liking for Dale, success, failure, weeping, changing? The visit to New York? Achievement? Return? Dale's death? His relationship with his ex-wife, her not giving him inspiration, asking her for money, her refusal and later giving it? His love for his daughter, her putting up with her father? Love, sacrifice for Dale?
7. The portrait of Berringer, the girl, her love for her father, exasperation with him, attraction towards Dale, the scenes of shared experiences? Sylvie, separation, the money?
8. Black jazz, the traditions, skills, arrangements, sounds? In Paris? The Blue Note, New York? Buttercup, her song? D'Arcy and her singing? The talent of the supporting artists? The jazz spirit? The audience response?
9. The Blue Note, the boss, the woman behind the bar, the workers, the patrons, the atmosphere for the development of jazz?
10. New York, Goodley and his hype? Promotion of Dale?
11. A show business story? A music story? A friendship story? The bond's between the French and the Americans? French perceptions and appreciation?
