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Product Description
With an all-star cast le0d by Ethan Hawke, Gary Sinise, Kevin Dillon and Peter Berg, A Midnight Clear is a classic war movie that has won critical acclaim and a cult following.
As the end of World War II approaches a group of American soldiers are assigned to watch activity amidst the stark snow covered landscape of the French-German border and soon discover a battle weary enemy as reluctant to fight as they are. With common ground established the German platoon offer to be 'captured' and a phony battle is staged to save honour. However, a tragic misunderstanding has devastating consequences in this powerful depiction of war's insanity.
Bonus Features:
A Winter's War - Director Keith Gordon on A Midnight Clear (50 min exclusive new documentary)
Commentary by Keith Gordon and Ethan Hawke
Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Keith Gordon
Original Ratio: 1.85:1 / 16:9 anamorphic Dolby Digital 2.0 / 5.1
Review
Exploding with Shattering Impact --New York Daily News
The performances are uniformly excellent as the film moves inexorably towards bloody confrontation --Time Out
The performances are uniformly excellent as the film moves inexorably towards bloody confrontation --Time Out
The performances are uniformly excellent as the film moves inexorably towards bloody confrontation --Time Out
The performances are uniformly excellent as the film moves inexorably towards bloody confrontation --Time Out
The performances are uniformly excellent as the film moves inexorably towards bloody confrontation --Time Out
The performances are uniformly excellent as the film moves inexorably towards bloody confrontation --Time Out
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
There have been many powerful anti war movies made over the years. Perhaps the grandaddy of them all was Lewis Milestone's "All Quiet on the Western Front". But there were others that were just as good like Kubrick's "Paths of Glory", Renoir's "La Grande Illusion", Cimino's "The Deerhunter", and Malick's haunting "The Thin Red Line". This film is not perhaps in that league, but it is certainly a powerful piece of filmmaking. I am very surprised that it is so little known and hard to get hold of. It certainly deserves to be much better known.
The film is set in the Ardednnes during the winter of 1944, towards the end of the second world war just before the Germans last desperate throw of the dice with "The Battle of the Bulge" offensive. An American intelligence unit is sent forward to carry out reconnaissance duties. Each of them has an IQ of a 150 or more, so they are well qualified for their duties. During their patrol they come into contact with a small German unit who wish to surrender. The groups exchange Christmas greetings and a truce is observed between them. But will the peace last?
The film is based on William Wharton's semi autobiographical novel, and the screeplay and direction was by Keith Gordon, a young actor making only his second feature film. Much credit should go to Gordon's flair for visual storytelling. There is one powerful scene of a dead German and American soldier caught in a last frozen embrace as if dancing, which reminded me of a scene from Siegfried Sassoon's great book of the First World War "Memoirs of a Fox Hunting Man". Gordon also recruited a fine ensemble cast of young actors who were largely unkown at the time, but who all went on to varying degees of success.... Read more ›
The film is set in the Ardednnes during the winter of 1944, towards the end of the second world war just before the Germans last desperate throw of the dice with "The Battle of the Bulge" offensive. An American intelligence unit is sent forward to carry out reconnaissance duties. Each of them has an IQ of a 150 or more, so they are well qualified for their duties. During their patrol they come into contact with a small German unit who wish to surrender. The groups exchange Christmas greetings and a truce is observed between them. But will the peace last?
The film is based on William Wharton's semi autobiographical novel, and the screeplay and direction was by Keith Gordon, a young actor making only his second feature film. Much credit should go to Gordon's flair for visual storytelling. There is one powerful scene of a dead German and American soldier caught in a last frozen embrace as if dancing, which reminded me of a scene from Siegfried Sassoon's great book of the First World War "Memoirs of a Fox Hunting Man". Gordon also recruited a fine ensemble cast of young actors who were largely unkown at the time, but who all went on to varying degees of success.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By David Apple
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a truly wonderful film that is not available in the US on Blu-ray or “widescreen”.
So much truly wonderful programing is simply not released in the United States or is released in a heavily censored version.
I truly appreciate Amazon UK, thank you.
So much truly wonderful programing is simply not released in the United States or is released in a heavily censored version.
I truly appreciate Amazon UK, thank you.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By D. Harris
Format:DVD
I saw this film late one night on tv about 8 years ago now, and it was fantastic ! It's taken me ages to find it on dvd.
If you like your war stories with thoughtful characters, and a depth of what I can only assume to be realism (as I was not there) - then this is for you. A sort of early version of "Saints and Soldiers" but with much better acting and effects.....
Very little bad language, as the G.I's are all highly educated intel men and have chosen not to swear, but quite graphic in many other respects. The opening scene is pretty disturbing, and looks to be filmed on location somewhere extremely cold with loads of PROPER snow, not that usual Hollywood "salt" scattered everywhere.
William Wharton seems to be the man, the book "A Midnight Clear" is excellent, and don't forget, he wrote "Birdy", which has been favourably reviewed here on Amazon too.
Anyway, rent or buy "A Midnight Clear", I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it.
If you like your war stories with thoughtful characters, and a depth of what I can only assume to be realism (as I was not there) - then this is for you. A sort of early version of "Saints and Soldiers" but with much better acting and effects.....
Very little bad language, as the G.I's are all highly educated intel men and have chosen not to swear, but quite graphic in many other respects. The opening scene is pretty disturbing, and looks to be filmed on location somewhere extremely cold with loads of PROPER snow, not that usual Hollywood "salt" scattered everywhere.
William Wharton seems to be the man, the book "A Midnight Clear" is excellent, and don't forget, he wrote "Birdy", which has been favourably reviewed here on Amazon too.
Anyway, rent or buy "A Midnight Clear", I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Robert Morris
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
As I saw this film and Castle Keep again recently, I thought about Stanley Weintraub's book Silent Night in which he discusses a brief period prior to Christmas in 1914, on the battlefields of Flanders, when German and British soldiers spontaneously agreed to declare a truce and suspend fighting, thereby defying their commanding officers. Centuries ago, knights and their attendants would work with their enemies to clear a field for combat the next day. Such cooperation had an obvious practical value. That's not what interests Weintraub as he examines a temporary truce during one of the bloodiest wars ever fought. It had little (if any) practical or tactical value but it did (and does) suggest a human need which transcends military obligations. However, war is war. After a brief respite, the carnage inevitably resumes.
A Midnight Clear was directed by Keith Gordon and is based on William Wharton's autobiographical novel. Rather than featuring a star such as Burt Lancaster (as in A Midnight Clear), the lead roles in this film are played by those normally seen in supporting roles. For example, Kevin Dillon, Ethan Hawke, and Gary Sinise. They and all others in the cast are first-rate. Basically, here's the situation. An elite U.S. Army intelligence unit is given a reconnaissance mission in the Ardennes Forest in December of 1944, just before the Battle of the Bulge. The men in the platoon may be far from home as Christmas approaches, lonely and miserably cold, but they retain a certain playful spirit comparable with what Robert Altman celebrates in M.A.S.H. They encounter a German unit and then....
While seeing this film the first time and then again recently, I felt as if I were dreaming that I had returned to the 1940s in a time machine, to Belgium near the end of World War Two.
... Read more ›
By Mr. P. Johnson
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
In 1992, a cast of relative unknowns was assembled for this unusual war film, set during the Ardennes campaign, in 1944. Gary Sinese, Kevin Dillon, and Ethan Hawke, went on to greater things, and some of the reasons why can be seen in their earlier performances here. A small detachment of American soldiers stumbles across some German troops during the fighting. The Germans want to surrender, so a mock battle is staged, after which the Germans become prisoners. However, the truce is tested by events, and eventually breaks down, with a bloody outcome. Intelligent and different, yet still familiar in structure, this interesting film will leave you thinking about another side to war.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unusual
Depressing anti-war movie well worth watching
Sumus semper in excretum sed alta variant
When things go wrong they really spiral out of control
Sumus semper in excretum sed alta variant
When things go wrong they really spiral out of control
Published 3 months ago by spYder
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great film
This is a great film that I have enjoyed watching time and time again. It's a story that probably reflects the true feelings of those who fought during the WW2 on both sides. Read more
Published 5 months ago by frontera23
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic Movie!
A Midnight Clear is without doubt a one-of-a-kind movie, unlike any other. Technically the bluray is perfect, and the film is well told, with grand acting from all actors. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Eriksson Tord
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than SA
This DVD came from London all the way through customs and to my postbox in SA faster than it would take a letter to do the 500 km from my home to Durban - excellent and efficient... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Francois Smith
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Midnight Confusion?
Must say that this film confused me a bit. How can a squad leader not keep all his men in the loop, especially when the 'plan' was so tentative at best? Read more
Published 6 months ago by Bernard A Kilcullen
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Midnight Clear (1992)
A Midnight Clear is a war film set in the Ardennes, in 1944 France. It tells the story of an American squad sent out to locate a German platoon who would rather surrender than die... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ghost
5.0 out of 5 stars
Midnight Clear-I had to come to the UK to get it!
After buying several DVD versions of this film both in the US and Asia and both were Full Screen only NOT Widescreen! Read more
Published 9 months ago by Dan L.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Confused
Having owned the region 1 dvd of this movie in 4.3 I was looking forward to seeing the new widescreen dvd. On putting both dvds on side by side im a little confused. Read more
Published 14 months ago by S. B. Robinson
2.0 out of 5 stars
A mid not clear!
This film is exactly the way I remember it to be but as times and technology move on I would think all films put on to DVD would be digitally remastered but no! Read more
Published 19 months ago by Doc300
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intriguingly moving
Recently got my own copy of A Midnight Clear having seen it some years ago. A good story. Good acting. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2009 by Brendan
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