A Midnight Clear is a 1992 American war drama film written and directed by Keith Gordon , and starring an ensemble cast that features Ethan Hawke , Gary Sinise , Peter Berg , Kevin Dillon , and Arye Gross . It is based on the novel by William Wharton . Set toward the end of World War II , the film tells the story of an American intelligence unit that finds a German platoon that wishes to surrender.
21-487: Strike Entertainment was an American production company founded in 2002 by Marc Abraham , Thomas Bliss and Eric Newman . Strike's films were distributed through Universal Studios as well as various other majors. Its first film produced was The Rundown starring The Rock . The company was dissolved in March 2013. In March 2013, Marc Abraham , Thomas Bliss and Eric Newman dissolved Strike Entertainment after 11 years as
42-559: A Universal-based production company. The Universal first-look deal dissolved the company in Spring 2013, which marked the end of a 15-year tenure at the studio for Abraham and Newman. Abraham and Newman said the partnership simply ran its course and that the parting is amicable. They will continue to work together on a project they still have percolating under the Strike banner. This article about an American film distributor or production company
63-401: A Universal-based production company. The Universal first-look deal dissolved the company is Spring 2013, which marked the end of a 15-year tenure at the studio for Abraham, Bliss and Newman. Abraham and Newman said the partnership simply ran its course and that the parting is amicable. They will continue to work together on a projects they still have percolating under the Strike banner. Abraham
84-463: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Marc Abraham Marc Abraham is an American film producer, director, and former president of Strike Entertainment , a production company he launched in early 2002 with a multi-year, first look arrangement with Universal Pictures . Abraham began his career as a copywriter for Young & Rubicam in New York City after graduating from
105-634: Is a holiday war film in search of a wider audience." Hal Hinson , a reviewer from the Washington Post lauded it as "a war film completely unlike any other, a compelling accomplishment that's more soul than blood and bullets." Vincent Canby of the New York Times praised the film's solid construction, concluding that "In A Midnight Clear , just about everything works." Writing in the Los Angeles Times , reviewer Michael Wilmington characterized
126-844: Is a member of the Writer's Guild, the Producer's Guild, and on the board of the Virginia Film Festival and the Violence Policy Center . He has been honored with the Spirit of Chrysalis Award, which recognized Abraham for his outstanding commitment to helping change lives through jobs, and helping thousands of disadvantaged and homeless individuals and families in Los Angeles. He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted. As producer As executive producer A Midnight Clear In
147-662: The University of Virginia . He left advertising to pursue a full-time writing career and worked as a freelance sportswriter for several newspapers and magazines. He also wrote two books on the International Olympic Games for Universal Press . Abraham's entry into film began with the documentary, Playing to Win , an inside look at the Cuban athletic system. He wrote several screenplays for studios and networks including 20th Century Fox , Warner Bros. and CBS . He also wrote for
168-571: The 2014 film RoboCop under the Strike Entertainment name since it started production in 2012. Abraham directed, wrote and produced the 2015 Hank Williams biopic I Saw the Light , which starred Tom Hiddleston . It was based on Colin Escott 's 1994 book Hank Williams: The Biography . During its first few years, Beacon Communications produced award-winning films like The Commitments which
189-482: The air as planned. However, Wilkins hears the shooting and thinks that the engagement is real. Arriving at the scene, Wilkins opens fire at the Germans who, thinking they have been tricked, immediately shoot back. The situation immediately goes out of control and Knott's squad shoots all the Germans, but Mundy is fatally wounded and Shutzer is shot but survives. Mundy's final words are to beg the others not to tell Wilkins that
210-441: The best-selling series of books from Scholastic. Abraham and fellow producers Thomas Bliss and Eric Newman founded Strike Entertainment in 2002. They produced such films as Children of Men , The Rundown (2003), Slither (2006), Flash of Genius (2008), The Thing (2011), and RoboCop (2014) under Strike's production name. In March 2013, Abraham, Bliss and Newman dissolved Strike Entertainment after 11 years as
231-493: The chateau, the men discover the frozen corpses of a German and an American in a standing embrace, seemingly arranged by the Germans as a grim joke. Settling into their temporary home, they soon discover they are not alone. A group of German soldiers has occupied a position nearby. While out on patrol, Knott, Miller and Shutzer see a trio of German soldiers aiming their weapons at them, but the Germans then vanish without shooting. The Germans, clearly more skilled and experienced than
SECTION 10
#1732901771478252-598: The early phase of the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, a small US Army intelligence and reconnaissance squad (selected for their high IQs ) is sent to occupy a deserted chateau near the German lines to gather information on the enemy's movements. Losses from an earlier patrol has reduced the squad to just six men: Sgt. Knott, Miller, Avakian, Shutzer, Wilkins, and Mundy. On their way to
273-493: The end of the war is imminent, the Germans say that they wish to surrender. However, they ask that the Americans pretend that the Germans were captured in combat in order to protect their families from possible retribution for their desertion. The Americans agree, but keep the plan from Wilkins, who has been mentally unstable since learning of the death of his child back home. The two groups meet and proceed to fire their weapons into
294-465: The film as "...not quite a great war movie but certainly a sensitive, bright and supremely moral one" and added that "At its best, it's a barely muted cry against war's stupidity and injustice. With a clear eye, the movie shows us midnight." Reviewing the film's 2012 DVD release in the Observer , Philip French described the film as "an ironic, at times surreal fable.....and the plot's twists are matched by
315-491: The movie tells the story of a small-time inventor who takes on the Detroit automakers. Also for Universal Pictures , Abraham is producing Trouble is My Business , an adaptation of Raymond Chandler 's detective-noir classic, starring Clive Owen . He produced the remake of The Thing for Strike Entertainment alongside Eric Newman. Even with the disestablishment of Strike Entertainment in 2013, Abraham and Newman still produced
336-453: The popular series 21 Jump Street and Moonlighting . He was a founding partner, along with Armyan Bernstein , at Beacon Communications, a financing and production company founded in 1990. Abraham brought to the big screen Flash of Genius , released by Universal Pictures in Fall 2008, which marked his directorial debut and stars Greg Kinnear and Lauren Graham . Based on a true story,
357-415: The skirmish was intended to be fake. The squad's superior officer arrives, reprimanding them for their conduct, before taking Shutzer back for treatment (they later receive word that he died in the hospital). Left alone again, the four remaining soldiers quietly reflect as they try to celebrate Christmas and clean Mundy's body in a bathtub. Knott makes a $ 100 bet with the despondent Wilkins that he will survive
378-511: The war, Avakian had married, Miller disappeared and Wilkins sent Knott $ 10 with a blank Christmas card each year for ten years to pay Knott for having lost their bet. Parts of the film were shot in Park City, Utah . The film received mostly positive reviews, with an 88% favorable rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes based on 40 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "Beautifully filmed and wonderfully acted, A Midnight Clear
399-487: The war. The squad is soon forced to flee as the Germans attack the area in strength. Carrying Mundy's corpse, the men disguise themselves as medics and escape back to American lines. When there, Knott is informed that Wilkins has been recommended for the Bronze Star and transferred to the motor pool, while the rest of the squad will be sent into the front lines to fight as regular infantry. An epilogue screen tells that after
420-487: The young GIs, soon leave calling cards, start a snowball fight one evening and offer a Christmas truce. At first, the Americans think the Germans are taunting them, but it eventually becomes clear that the Germans wish to talk to them. Shutzer's Yiddish is enough to communicate with them, and they are revealed to be a small group of teenage soldiers led by an aging officer. Having survived the Eastern Front and sensing that
441-664: Was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy in 1992 and also went on to win four BAFTA awards; and Keith Gordon 's A Midnight Clear , starring Ethan Hawke . In a co-venture with Turner Pictures, Abraham executive produced David Mamet 's A Life in the Theatre . Beacon also produced Sugar Hill , starring Wesley Snipes ; Princess Caraboo , starring Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline ; The Road to Wellville , directed by Alan Parker and starring Anthony Hopkins ; and The Baby-Sitters Club , based on
SECTION 20
#1732901771478#477522