Round Midnight (film)

Round Midnight (film) is a 1986 American-French musical drama film directed by Bertrand Tavernier and written by David Rayfiel and Bertrand Tavernier. The film is based on the life of Dexter Gordon, an American jazz saxophonist, and features François Cluzet as the French jazz enthusiast who befriends him, and Gabrielle Haker as the love interest. The film also stars Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams (drummer), among other notable jazz musicians, including Bobby McFerrin, Cecil Taylor, and John McLaughlin (musician).

Plot

The film tells the story of Dale Turner, a fictionalized version of Dexter Gordon, a talented but troubled jazz musician struggling with alcoholism and personal demons, similar to those faced by Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Billie Holiday. As Dale Turner navigates the jazz scene in Paris, he befriends a young French jazz enthusiast, Francis Borler, who becomes his confidant and supporter, introducing him to other notable jazz musicians, such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Charles Mingus. The film explores themes of creativity, addiction, and redemption, set against the vibrant backdrop of the jazz clubs of Paris, including the famous Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, where Dale Turner performs alongside other legendary musicians, such as Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Oscar Peterson.

Production

The film was produced by Irwin Winkler and directed by Bertrand Tavernier, who is known for his work on films such as A Sunday in the Country and Coup de Torchon, and who collaborated with Dexter Gordon to create an authentic portrayal of the jazz scene, consulting with other notable jazz musicians, including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Ron Carter. The film was shot on location in Paris and features a mix of professional actors and real-life jazz musicians, including Bobby McFerrin, Cecil Taylor, and John McLaughlin (musician), who perform alongside Dexter Gordon and other legendary musicians, such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Charles Mingus. The film's cinematography was handled by Bruno de Keyzer, who worked with Bertrand Tavernier to capture the gritty, atmospheric feel of the jazz clubs and the city of Paris, including the famous Champs-Élysées and Montmartre.

Cast

The film features a talented cast, including Dexter Gordon as Dale Turner, François Cluzet as Francis Borler, and Gabrielle Haker as Berangere, as well as a number of notable jazz musicians, such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams (drummer), who appear as themselves, performing alongside Dexter Gordon and other legendary musicians, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Charles Mingus. The film also features appearances by other famous jazz musicians, such as Bobby McFerrin, Cecil Taylor, and John McLaughlin (musician), who add to the film's authenticity and musical depth, showcasing the talents of Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Oscar Peterson.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising the performances of Dexter Gordon and François Cluzet, as well as the film's authentic portrayal of the jazz scene, which was influenced by the works of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. The film was nominated for several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor for Dexter Gordon and the César Award for Best Film for Bertrand Tavernier, and won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film, beating out other notable films, such as Platoon (film), The Fly (1986 film), and Aliens (film).

Music

The film features a rich and varied soundtrack, with performances by Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and other notable jazz musicians, including Ron Carter, Tony Williams (drummer), and Bobby McFerrin. The film's score was composed by Herbie Hancock, who won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work on the film, which was influenced by the music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Charles Mingus. The soundtrack also features a number of classic jazz standards, including Body and Soul (song), Round Midnight (song), and Blue Monk, which were performed by Dexter Gordon and other legendary musicians, such as Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Oscar Peterson.

Release

The film was released in 1986 and was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $4 million at the box office and becoming a cult classic among jazz fans and film enthusiasts, who praised the film's portrayal of the jazz scene and its influence on the works of Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola. The film has since been released on DVD and Blu-ray, and continues to be celebrated for its authentic portrayal of the jazz scene and its influence on the music of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie, as well as its impact on the careers of Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, and other notable jazz musicians.