''Bring On the Night'' is a 1985

documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in te ...

directed by

Michael Apted Michael David Apted, (10 February 1941 – 7 January 2021) was a British television and film director and producer. Apted began working in television and directed the '' Up'' documentary series (1964–2019). He later directed '' Coal Miner's ...

, focusing on the

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a majo ...

-inspired project and band led by the British musician Sting during the early stages of his solo career and first solo tour. Some of the songs in the film appeared on his debut solo album '' The Dream of the Blue Turtles''. Unusually for a documentary, Apted shot the film in 35 mm, focusing primarily on band rehearsals, musician interactions, and interviews with every musician in the band. The film won the

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

for "Best Music Video, Long Form" at the

1987 Grammy Awards The 29th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 24, 1987, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Paul Simon won Album of the Year for ''Graceland'', and Burt Bacha ...

. Much of the film takes place inside the French Château de Courson outside of

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

, where the band met, lived and rehearsed for nine days. Near the end of the film the band plays their first concert at

Théâtre Mogador Théâtre Mogador, founded in 1913 with design by Bertie Crewe, is a Parisian music hall theatre located at 25, rue de Mogador in the 9th district. It seats 1,800 people on three tiers. In 1913 financier Sir Alfred Butt rented an area in Paris. ...

in Paris. The final scene shows Sting attending his wife

Trudie Styler Trudie Styler (born 6 January 1954) is an English actress and film producer. Early life and family Styler was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, the daughter of Pauline and Harry Styler, a farmer and factory worker. When Styler was two years ...

as she gives birth to Jake, their second child and Sting's fourth. Sting said he "resisted" Apted's suggestion of filming the birth, but then he "realized there's a tenuous link between the band being born and the baby, so it fit." ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' noted that Sting appeared "aloof" and "elitist" at the beginning of the film, but loosened up with his new black bandmates through a series of rehearsals. Sting's "pushy" manager

Miles Copeland III Miles Axe Copeland III (born May 2, 1944) is an American music and entertainment executive and former manager of The Police. Copeland later managed Sting's musical and acting career. In 1979, Copeland founded the I.R.S. Records label, producing ...

is seen frequently in the film, complaining about the backing vocalists, and venting his displeasure to

Colleen Atwood Colleen Atwood (born September 25, 1948) is an American costume designer. Atwood has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design twelve times, winning four times - for the films '' Chicago'' (2002), '' Memoirs of a Geisha'' (2 ...

, the costume designer. The film was released as DVD in 2005. The film was named after

the Police The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Poli ...

song "

Bring On the Night ''Bring On the Night'' is the first live album by Sting recorded over the course of several live shows in 1985 and released in 1986. The title is taken from a song by the Police from their 1979 album ''Reggatta de Blanc''. The songs performed ...

" (1979), it is also the title of Sting's 1986 live album featuring music recorded during the 1985 tour chronicled in the film.

Cast

Apted is heard in the film, asking interview questions, but he is not visible or credited. Seen on screen: *

– Sting's manager *

Gil Friesen Gil Friesen (March 10, 1937 – December 13, 2012) was an American music and film executive known for being chairman of A&M Records from 1977 until its sale for $500 million in 1990, co-founder of the Classic Sports Cable Network and executive p ...

– president of

A&M Records A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...

, executive producer * Vic Garbarini – organizer of the band, A&R with A&M Records *

Omar Hakim Omar Hakim (born February 12, 1959) is an American jazz, jazz fusion and pop music drummer, producer, arranger and composer. He has worked with Weather Report, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Sting, Madonna, Dire Straits, Bryan Ferry, Journey, Kat ...

– drummer * Darryl Jones – bass guitarist *

Kenny Kirkland Kenneth David Kirkland (September 28, 1955 – November 12, 1998) was an American pianist and keyboardist. Biography Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, United States, Kirkland was six when he first sat down at a piano keyboard. After years ...

– keyboardist *

Branford Marsalis Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ense ...

– saxophonist * Dolette McDonald – backing vocalist *

Janice Pendarvis Janice Gadsden Pendarvis is an American singer, songwriter, and voiceover artist. She has worked with artists such as Sting, David Bowie, Steely Dan, Peter Tosh, Brandy, the O'Jays, Philip Glass, Jimmy Cliff, Laurie Anderson, the Naked Brothe ...

– backing vocalist * Lou Salvatore – crew * Sting – bandleader, vocalist, guitarist *

– Sting's wife * Kim Turner – Sting's right-hand man, logistics manager *

– costume designer *

Max Vadukul Max Vadukul (born 2 February 1961, Nairobi, Kenya) is a British photographer who is based in New York City.Bellafante, Ginia."Front Row" ''The New York Times'', 7 November 2000. Retrieved 17 February 2008. He is noted for his art reportageGaller ...

– portrait photographer * Jake Sumner – Sting's newborn son

Production

– director * David Manson – producer * Ferdinando Scarfiotti – production designer *

Ralf D. Bode Ralf Detlef Bode (March 31, 1941 – February 27, 2001) was a German-born American cinematographer best known for his work on '' Coal Miner's Daughter''. Biography Born in Berlin, Germany, Bode moved with his family to Vermont in 1954, when he ...

– cinematographer *

Robert K. Lambert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

and Melvin Shapiro – editors

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bring On the Night (Film) 1985 films Films directed by Michael Apted 2005 video albums Live video albums 2005 live albums 1985 documentary films American documentary films Sting (musician) Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video Documentary films about music and musicians Concert films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films