'Round Midnight (1986)

Director:

Bertrand Tavernier

Writers:

David Rayfiel (screenplay) and
Bertrand Tavernier (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

The music and the magic come together...

Plot:

In 'Round Midnight, real-life jazz legend Dexter Gordon brilliantly portrays the fictional tenor sax player Dale Turner...

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Jazz | Paris France | New York City | Time In Title

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Dexter Gordon	...	Dale Turner
François Cluzet	...	Francis Borler
Gabrielle Haker	...	Berangere
Sandra Reaves-Phillips	...	Buttercup
Lonette McKee	...	Darcey Leigh
Christine Pascal	...	Sylvie
Herbie Hancock	...	Eddie Wayne
Bobby Hutcherson	...	Ace
Pierre Trabaud	...	Francis's Father
Frédérique Meininger	...	Francis's Mother
Hart Leroy Bibbs	...	Hershell
Liliane Rovère	...	Madame Queen
Ged Marlon	...	Beau
Benoît Régent	...	Psychiatrist
Victoria Gabrielle Platt	...	Chan Turner

Also Known As:

Autour de minuit (France)
'Round Midnight - A mezzanotte circa (Italy) [it]
'Round Midnight - keskiyön soundi (Finland) [fi]
A Volta da Meia-Noite (Portugal) [pt]
Alrededor de la medianoche (Spain) [es]
Cerca de la medianoche (Argentina) [es]
Kesköö paiku (Estonia) [et]
Kring midnatt (Sweden) [sv]
Mesanyhta kai... kati (Greece) [el]
Okolo pólnocy (Poland) [pl]
Um Mitternacht (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Norway:12 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Lyon, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France

Company:

Little Bear

Trivia:

The character of Francis Borler is based on real-life person Francis Paudras who died in 1997. The character of Dale Turner played by actual jazz musician Dexter Gordon is based on a combination of real-life jazzmen Bud Powell and Lester Young. The real-life friendship between Paudras and Bud Powell has been the subject of several books.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the movie takes place in 1959, in one scene near the end where Francis and Dale are walking along the East River in New York, one can clearly see the twin World Trade Center towers in the background. These towers were not completed until the '70's.

Quotes:

[Francis puts on a record]
Dale: Francis, who is that playing?
Francis: Who is playing? It's you. You just made a record.
Dale: Not bad.

Movie Connections:

References Swamp Water (1941)

Soundtrack:

Watermelon Man

Great Movie with Great Jazz

Dexter Gordon plays Dale Turner, an aging tenor sax player at the end of his days. Beaten but unbowed by years of drug and alcohol abuse Turner arrives in Paris (1959) for a gig at a small, smoky, jazz club. Acknowledged as one of the greats he is joined by other stellar musicians as he quietly struggles to quell his demons and make great music. For a while, at least, he succeeds at both. Gently constructed without much plot this movie is a treat for all, and a grand slam home run for jazz fans.