Saturday, 09 October 2021 12:55

Midnight Clear, A

 

 

 

 

A MIDNIGHT CLEAR


US, 1992, 108 minutes, Colour.
Ethan Hawke, Arye Gross, Gary Sinise, Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Frank Whaley, John C. Mc Ginley, Larry Joshua, Curt Lowens, Rachel Griffin.
Directed by Keith Gordon.


A Midnight Clear is a World War II film, coming rather late in the day, almost 50 years after the events portrayed. However, there were still many World War II films to come, in the late 1990s, Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line. Almost 20 years later, Mel Gibson made the very striking Hacksaw Ridge.


This film is based on a novel by William Wharton, notable also for the film version of Birdy (and also Dad). Wharton shows something of the sardonic view of war by such authors as Kurt Vonnegut.


Actor-director Keith Gordon has adapted the novel for the screen and directed it, one of his earlier films and then he was to move into a substantial television directing career.


The setting is the Ardennes in December 1944, a group of Americans, wary of German groups, encountering some Germans who are feeling the same as themselves and setting up a situation where they could take the Germans prisoners freely and the Germans then would be safe from German reprisals. This is a reminder of the films where enemies were able to share common humanity as in the French film about World War I, Joyeux Noel. However, the best laid plans…


The film has a strong cast of young actors many at the beginning of their careers including Kevin Dillon and Frank Whaley. Arye Gross is the Jewish soldier. John C.Mc Ginley is the single-minded former mortician, commander. However, most of the action centres on Ethan Hawke as the leader of the group, on Peter Berg, actor at that time but to go on to be quite a significant popular Hollywood director, and Gary Sinise as a soldier with mental and emotional problems.


The film is well worth seeing and reflecting on.


1. A World War II film from the 1990s? The novel by William Wharton? His own experiences? Based on a true story?


2. The work of Keith Gordon as actor and director? The eccentric characters he played, the offbeat themes of his films?


3. The young cast, convincing as characters and in the light of their subsequent careers?


4. The opening credits, the European countryside, 1944, the scenery, the homes, the camps? The winter season? The musical score


5. A film about a small group, authorities, their interactions, activities, in war, deaths, survival, plans and deceptions?


6. The narration by Will, about himself and his background, family, his nickname? His explanation of each of the members of the group, their being visualised? The intelligence group, losing half the men? The mission?


7. The opening with Mother, the primal scream, running through the snow, stripping, in the stream, Will following, picking up the the clothes, talking with Mother, the story of his new baby and its death, grief, mental condition, Will wanting to get him out of the action?


8. The other members of the group: Shutzer and his Jewish background, anti-Nazi? Miller, the Aryan look, his role in the group? Father, the background of his being in the seminary, not continuing, yet his prayers and scripture texts, his reason for leaving the seminary that he was not pure enough to be a priest? Mel, his background, action?


9. The flashback, the discussions about sex, virginity, looking for the prostitute, the caution because of the documentaries about VD? The hotel room? Their waiting, nodding off? Finding Janice, her story, her dead fiance, her being willing to have sex with each of the men? Their accompanying her to the bus station?


10. Griffin, mortician, taking himself very seriously, orders above, orders to the men, his not having good reasons for his decisions, the six going out as an intelligence gathering group? The deaths? The return? Reporting to Griffin? His information about the house, not knowing whether it was occupied, sending the six out, the jeep, there to stay and give information? Phone connection?


11. The six men, going together, the spirit between them? The jeep? The winter countryside? Finding the house, the caution, going in, deserted, the wine and the sardines, the artwork? Settling in? Enjoying it? On guard duty? Hearing the noises, suspicions of German presence? Mother and his mental condition? The decisions, the men deferring to Will?


12. Shutzer and Will, hearing the Germans, sighting them? The group and the confrontation by the three Germans, surrender, the disappearance? Puzzle?


13. The Germans appearing, their attitude towards the war, the Germans being defeated, the plan to surrender? Shutzer and his negotiations, able to speak German? Will and his hesitations, being persuaded? The Germans wanting the officer in charge, Miller and his being prepped to be the officer? His manner, walk, authority? Mel and his being persuaded? Father agreeing? Their not telling Mother? Will telling the others about the incident with Mother?


14. The Germans, the officers, the young men? Negotiations, wariness, agreement? The background of Christmas, the exchange of gifts, the singing of the carols and, hymns? These incidents and their comments on the futility of war and hostilities?


15. The plan, Mother staying behind? The Germans lining up, everybody shooting into the air to give an impression of a skirmish? All going well? Mother intervening, shooting, everybody shooting, the German deaths except for one prisoner? Shutzer being wounded? Father being shot?


16. Will, tending Father as he died, Father saying they should not tell Mother what was really happening?


17. Contact with Griffin, his coming, stating that the interior of the house was a pig sty, threatening Will to be up on charges, insubordination? The lieutenant, taking away the bodies?


18. Will with Mother, reassuring him, to recommend him for a decoration and get him away – and this being achieved?


19. The scene with the group having a bath, washing the body of Father?


20. The Germans coming, contact, getting in the jeeps, the difficulties, the crash of one of the jeeps? Watching the Germans go by? Driving, finding the camp had been abandoned?


21. The plan, father spitting the blood, the getting their white gear, forming the crosses with the blood, carrying the body pretending to be Red Cross? Reporting back, Mother honoured, the rest sent to the front line?


22. The film as a glimpse of war, realistic touches, satirical touches, critique of war, critique of offices and decisions, the reality of wounding and death? The insights from a story told almost half a century after the events?

 

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