Trivia for
'Breaker' Morant (1980) More at IMDbPro »

• The location of Burra and its surrounding environs was chosen because it resembled the South African veldt, particularly the British Military Camp, Fort Edward and Pietersberg areas of the South African Transvaal where the 1902 Boer War incident occurred.
  
  
• "We shot them under Rule 303" is a reference to the.303 calibre rifle gauge.
  
  
• Principal photography was delayed due to problems with casting.
  
  
• Producer Robert Bruning left the production in February 1979 due to creative differences. His component was bought out by the South Australian Film Corporation.
  
  
• Rod Steiger was the early main contender to play Lieutenant Harry "Breaker" Morant and later, Australian actor Terence Donovan was highly considered and became the favorite for the part. Donovan had worked with director Bruce Beresford in the South Australian Film Corporation's earlier 1978 production Money Movers (1978). Terence Donovan was eventually given another part, that of Capt. Simon Hunt, as the lead role went to "Callan" star, Edward Woodward due to a desire to have an international star in the leading role following Alan Bates declining it.
  
  
• Other stars that were touted to star in the film in major roles were John Mills, Donald Pleasance, Michael York, Arthur Lowe (of Dad's Army), John Henry and Australian actors John Hargreaves, Ray Barrett and Roger Ward.
  
  
• The poem recited at the dinner party is "Mafeking" by Alfred Austin, the Poet Laureate of the time. It consists of seven stanzas, of which only the last is heard in the film.
  
  
• Three of Morant's poems are used during the film. The first is the poem read by Morant to his colleagues in the cell - "At the River Crossing" (1898) - only the last three verses are read. The second poem is read on the night prior to his execution - "Westward Ho!", first published in The Bulletin on 1893 - the fourth verse (of six) is heard. The third is read during the execution scenes - "Butchered to make a Dutchman's Holiday" (1902) - four of the seven verses are read.
  
  
• The song sung by Morant is "At Last", based on a poem he wrote. The poem was first published in 1902 after his death.
  
  
• The quote from Byron is from the poem "Impromptus", the last two stanzas.
  
  

• SPOILER: During the filming of the final execution scene - as the two men walk to their deaths, Edward Woodward put of his hand towards Bryan Brown, who takes hold of it. This was an unscripted moment improvised on the spot between the two actors - and this was the take used in the finished film. Years later Woodward was shocked to learn that in reality Morant and Handcock had held hands in this exact same fashion.
  
  

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