Cadence

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Martin Sheen directs. Richard Leiterman behind the camera. Georges Delerue scores. Martin Hunter cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Canada, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 136 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
• 2International production across 2 countries: Canada, United States of America.
• 3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
• 4Directed by Martin Sheen, shot by Richard Leiterman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 5Original score by Georges Delerue. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 6Editor Martin Hunter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 7Charlie Sheen and Martin Sheen and Laurence Fishburne carry the top of the cast.
• 8Marketing tagline: "Sometimes you've got to stand out to fit in.".
• 9IMDB entry: tt0101531 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Richard Leiterman

Original score

Georges Delerue

Editing

Martin Hunter

Runtime

97 min · 1h 37m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

PG-13

IMDB

Cadence (1990) ↗

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Cadence Trailer

  Trailer

Community reviews

What people are saying

• John Chard2019-08-30
  ★ 7/10

  You're a bully, and I hate everything you stand for. Cadence (AKA: Stockade) is directed by Martin Sheen and written by Dennis Shryack. It stars Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen and Laurence Fishburne. Music is by Georges Delerue and cinematography by Richard Leiterman. Upon the death of his father, Pfc. Franklin Bean (C Sheen) gets drunk and assaults an MP. Sentenced to 90 days in an army stockade run by bigoted bully MSgt. Otis V. McKinney (M Sheen), Bean finds he is the only white prisoner in the facility... Better than it has any right to be visually, and rising above what looked to be scratchy themes on the page, Cadence rounds out as a more than enjoyable character study. After a poor opening suggests the picture is going to be an hour and half of Charlie Sheen over doing the brat packer persona, picture then settles into its stride once Sheen Junior encounters the aggressive Sheen Senior and is thrown in clink with the Laurence (here credited is Larry) Fishburne led "Soul Patrol Brothers". True enough to say that basic formula sets in as Sheen Junior can't fit in with his new "roomies", whilst he stays firmly in his broody bubble much to the ever increasing consternation of the agitated McKinney. No way is Bean going to let McKinney break him, even as the gruff voiced warden starts to come down hard on his newly adopted brothers, this merely serves as the catalyst for some black and white unity, which if given a chance can always be powerful. At the centre of the character hot pot is a broken water windmill that serves as a beacon of hope for the prisoners, but sure enough we know where this is going and it will form the basis of the last quarter of the story as things invariably go bad before a ray of hope springs from the narrative. It's all very predictable and obvious, but Shryack's screenplay allows the characters depth, with much detailed emotion afforded the lead protagonists. Bonus, too, is that the secondary roles don't just serve as props, they impact hard on proceedings, something all too rare in prison/institution set movies. Smart sound-tracking as well, with Harry Stewart (Sweetbread Crane) singing his own beautiful composition "End of My Journey", a song that lands in your chest and stays there for quite some time. Sheen Junior has rarely been better away from Oliver Stone's guidance, no doubt spurred on by his father's presence in front of and behind the camera. However, Sheen Senior's direction is only safe and basic, while his acting is the films only real weak acting link. You have to feel that with his subsequent non directing career, Martin Sheen found it wasn't for him, certainly blending both acting and directing appears to have been a step too far for the otherwise very talented actor. Fishburne is quality, while F. Murray Abraham shines in one of the smaller roles. A drama with touches of comedy, and full of good honest intentions to offer hope and inspiration, Cadence is a very good movie. That comes on proviso, though, if one can accept it on its formulaic terms. 7/10

  Read full review ↓
• GenerationofSwine2023-01-12
  ★ 10/10

  It's not a great film, and that is really because of ambiguous vagueness that prevails throughout. However it is well acted, and the characters seem real and relatable, and that makes of an over-all enjoyable experience. The fact is, the film entertains despite its flaws, and you won't regret watching it. It's a great rainy day film with just enough head on it to be more than mindless entertainment.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• TH

  The Movie Group

  US

• 

  Republic Pictures

  US

Key crew

• ProducerRichard Davis
• Executive ProducerTim Gamble
• Executive ProducerFrank Giustra
• Executive ProducerPeter E. Strauss
• EditorMartin Hunter
• NovelGordon Weaver

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• prison
• sergeant
• army life

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere1991-01-17· Sundance Film Festival
• Premiere1990-10-17· Denver International Film Festival
• Theatrical (limited)1991-01-18PG-13
• Theatrical1991-02-15PG-13

Also known as

International titles

• Cadence - Ein fremder KlangDE