SYNOPSIS
In 1944, a six-man American intelligence and reconnaissance unit is sent by their reckless major on a mission in a remote part of the Ardennes forest on the German front. Isolated in a remote villa in the dead of winter, they wind up developing a cryptic relationship with a small band of German soldiers nearby who've all but given up on the war effort. The disillusioned soldiers come face-to-face with one another in a beautifully filmed series of events, sharing Christmas carols, snowball fights, and a mutual desire to stay alive. Ethan Hawke stars as Will Knot, the young leader of the American unit who agrees to fake a battle with the German soldiers, who want to surrender peaceably but save their reputation. The cast includes Gary Sinise, Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Arye Gross, and Frank Whaley as Will's fellow recon officers. Against the hauntingly beautiful landscape of the Alpine tundra, the young men must face their darkest fears while trying to escape the horrors of war. This powerful and quietly stylish ensemble drama features lyrically beautiful voice-overs delivered by Hawke as he questions the validity of war and his spiritual place in the world. The film is based on the autobiographical novel by William Wharton.
REVIEWS
"One of the most underrated films of the '90s"
Jon Niccum
Lawrence Journal-World
"One of the best war movies you've (probably) never seen."
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com
CAST AND CREDITS
| Actors
|
|
| Peter Berg
|
Bud Miller
|
| Kevin Dillon
|
Mel Avakian
|
| Arye Gross
|
Stan Shutzer
|
| Ethan Hawke
|
Will Knott
|
| Gary Sinise
|
Mother Wilkins
|
| Frank Whaley
|
Father Mundy
|
| John C. McGinley
|
Major Griffin
|
| Larry Joshua
|
Lieutenant Ware
|
| Curt Lowens
|
German Soldier
|
| Rachel Griffin
|
Janice
|
| Tim Shoemaker
|
Morrie
|
| Kelly Gately
|
Young Hero German
|
| Bill Osborn
|
Sergeant
|
| Andre Lamal
|
German
|
| Directors
|
|
| Keith Gordon
|
Director
|
| Writers
|
|
| William Wharton
|
Novel as Source
Material ("Midnight Clear")
|
| Keith Gordon
|
screenplay
|
| Producers
|
|
| Armyan Bernstein
|
Executive Producer
|
| Tom Rosenberg
|
Executive Producer
|
| Marc Abraham
|
Executive Producer
|
| Bill Borden
|
Producer
|
| Dale Pollock
|
Producer
|
| Margaret Hilliard
|
Associate Producer
|
| Mark Abraham
|
Executive Producer
|
| Camera,
Film & Tape
|
|
| David Kessler (II)
|
1st assistant camera
|
| Mike Lookinland (II)
|
2nd assistant camera
|
| Richard Cheattle
|
special stills
|
| John Kiddie
|
unit stills
photographer
|
| Tom Richmond
|
Director of Photography
|
| Editors
|
|
| Don Brochu
|
Editor
|
| Casting
|
|
| Cate Praggastis
|
extra casting
|
| Gary M. Zuckerbrod
|
Casting Director
|
| Cate Praggastis
|
Utah casting director
|
| Production
Management
|
|
| Steve Gehrke
|
Script Supervisor
|
| Margaret Hilliard
|
Unit Production Manager
|
| Judi Voye
|
Production Coordinator
|
| Scott Javine
|
1st Assistant Director
|
| Andrew Langton
|
2nd Assistant Director
|
| Art
Department
|
|
| David Lubin
|
Art Director
|
| Kalina Ivanov
|
Set Designer
|
| Jeffrey D. McDonald
|
Set Designer
|
| David Nichols
|
Production Designer
|
| Janis Lubin
|
Set Decorator
|
| Wardrobe,
Hair & Makeup
|
|
| Gina Homan
|
key makeup & hair
|
| Barbara Tfank
|
Costume Designer
|
| Sound
|
|
| John Stein (III)
|
Sound Mixer
|
| Music
|
|
| T-Bone Burnett
|
song arranger
|
| T-Bone Burnett
|
song producer ("It Came
Upon a Midnight Clear")
|
| Sam Phillips (III)
|
Song Performer
|
| Sam Phillips (III)
|
song arranger
|
| Sam Phillips (III)
|
song producer ("It Came
Upon a Midnight Clear")
|
| Studio Music Department
|
song recording ("The
Jersey Bounce")
|
| Buddy Feyne
|
Song ("The Jersey
Bounce")
|
| Bobby Platter
|
Song ("The Jersey
Bounce")
|
| Tiny Bradshaw
|
Song ("The Jersey
Bounce")
|
| Edward Johnson (II)
|
Song ("The Jersey
Bounce")
|
| Mark Isham
|
music composer
|
| Visual
Effects & Animation
|
|
| Doug White
|
special effects makeup
supervisor
|
| Rick H. Josephsen
|
Special Effects
Coordinator
|
| Physical
Effects
|
|
| Steve Davis (II)
|
Stunt Player
|
| Tim A. Davison
|
Stunt Player
|
| Norman Howell
|
Stunt Player
|
| Paul Godwin
|
Stunt Player
|
| Chad Camilleri
|
Stunt Player
|
| Steve M. Davison
|
Stunt Coordinator
|
| Publicity
|
|
| Karen Fried
|
publicist
|
| Managers
|
|
| Carole Fontana
|
location manager
|
| Accounting
|
|
| Cheri Hall
|
Production Auditor
|
| Below
The Line
|
|
| Gloria Lopez
|
Assistant (to Dale
Pollock)
|
| Rachel Griffin
|
Assistant (to the
director)
|
| Jenny Manriquez
|
Production Associate
|
| Other
Crew
|
|
| Leigh Von Der Esch
|
Thanks
|
| Chris Gamvroulas
|
Thanks
|
| Nancy Volmer
|
Thanks
|
| Toby Ross
|
Thanks
|
| Greg Lawson (II)
|
Thanks
|
| John Cochran
|
Thanks
|
| Lori Cochran
|
Thanks
|
| Nick Condas
|
Thanks
|
| Dean Lyras
|
Thanks
|
| Liz Gordon
|
Thanks
|
| Michael O'Kelley (II)
|
Thanks
|
| Caitlin Scanlon
|
Thanks
|
| T-Bone Burnett
|
Thanks
|
| Sam Phillips (III)
|
Thanks
|
| Worldwide
Distributors
|
|
| Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment
|
Video Distributor
|
| InterStar Releasing
|
Theatrical Distributor
|
| Other
Companies
|
|
| Take One! Casting
|
Utah casting director
|
| Take One! Casting
|
extra casting
|
| C'est Le Guerre Inc
|
technical advisor
|
| Susan Culley &
Associates
|
publicist
|
| Zelda Cheatle Gallery
|
special stills
|
| Utah Film Commission
|
thanks
|
| Park City Film
Commission
|
thanks
|
| Condas Family Ranch
|
thanks
|
| White Pine Ranches
|
thanks
|
| Mark Walsh Collecting
|
thanks
|
| Consolidated Film
Industries (CFI)
|
prints
|
| Rocky Mountain Motion
Pictures Inc
|
Arriflex camera and
lenses
|
| Sovereign Pictures
|
Distribution Sales
(international)
|