Napoleon [Blu-ray]

Napoleon(released April/27)stars,among others,Albert Dieudonné,Gina Manès,Antonin Artaud,and Edmond Van Daële.The BFI releases the definitive version(so far)of the /27 masterpiece by famed director Abel Gance."Masterpiece" is a word I rarely use to describe any film,but this one without doubt,falls well within that category.The story,in four acts,follows Napoleon's life from his school days to the height of his career in Italy in the late 1700s.I could use adjective after adjective,and wax poetically on the achievement Gance made with this film,but none would give it its proper due.Once I start watching I cannot stop,as it is mesmerizing and it quickly draws you in.The special effects and techniques,even for the 20s,used as Gance did here,was avant garde.Although not historically accurate in general,Gance uses actual quotes and incidences to further his film.A technique DW Griffith often employed in films such as Intolerance and The Birth iof a Nation,for instance.We can thank an army of people for the beautiful restoration involved here.But if it were not for Kevin Brownlow's persistence and dedication,this film may not likely exist in any where near the form it is in today.Mr.Brownlow has done so much to advance our knowledge of film in general,but I think history may look back at his tireless efforts on behalf of Napoleon and say that this was his finest hour.Technically speaking the film has been restored to its original a/r(the picture resides within a black square.for the most part) and is 332 minutes long.Unlike the "official Amazon" description given above,there is not a 60 page booklet but only(almost) a 30 page one.It has some wonderful articles on the film,Carl Davis,Mr.Brownlow and more.The extras reside on the last of the four single sided discs herein.It includes Mr.Brownlow's first film on Gance from/68,an interview with Carl Davis and a featurette on the restoration.Commentary is also included throughout the film.The only bugaboo I can see has already been mentioned elsewhere.When you press "play",the default is.....no sound!??? You must go into the set up menu and press Dolby5.1 or 2.My player would not play the Dolby 5.1 track(I have never had a problem with other discs),so why include it if it doesn't work? Having said that,Mr.Davis' score is so lush and full,I found Dolby 2.0 did quite well in any event.In conclusion you have never seen a movie,until you have seen Abel Gance's classic Napoleon,especially in this fuller version.It is a must see for everyone.'Nuff said.

A masterpiece of cinema. I remember watching this on tv many years ago which always stuck with me. Many thanks to BFI for this magnificent restoration with Carl Davis music, clean picture with a 5hr plus running time.With regards to the film itself, Abel Gance and his film crew pulled off some uncanny movie tricks back in the 1920s which are still used today. The lighting,tinting, soft focus,multiple images, POV. I particularly loved the movement of the camera which takes you right in the action making you feel as if you're there. This is evident in the battle of Toulon through the rain swept night plus the authorities chasing Napoleon on horseback which has some good tracking and POV shots.Albert Dieudonne was terrific as Napoleon. He captured your attention from his first shot with his back to the camera. He immediately commanded and expected authority. When characters moved around him in joy or anger he stood still with indifference. With that in mind my favourite scenes were when he was out of his element. His attempts to woo Josephine and their wedding were both hilarious and sad. Since the snowball fight as a child his life has been the battlefield and facing opposition from others. So trying to show love and compassion is alien to him. The director Able Gance makes an appearance as one of the sinister leaders of The Reign of Terror.I advise you to watch this epic with the commentary. Paul Cuff provides some very insightful information which makes you appreciate it even more. The 1968 documentary is also very good. There are interviews with Abel Gance and Albert Dieudonne. Also included are some fascinating behind the scenes footage showing how some of the incredible scenes were filmed.I watched it as soon as it arrived then watched again immediately after with the commentary.

Not only does Napoleon portray an historical topic, but having the four disc set is like owning a piece of history in itself. And you certainly get value for money considering the amount of playing time they cover. The film techniques and ideas in the creation of this masterpiece are incredible when you realise it was made in 1927. In terms of techniques however, I much preferred the single screen ending given as one of the extras, compared to the three screen ending. Incredible techniques or not. I suspect you do have to be a fan of silent movies to enjoy and appreciate this lengthy experience. The acting is obviously melodramatic, as most silent movies are. This, of course, was to make up for the lack of the spoken word. And. although I accept that silent movies of the time involved a lot of close ups, there were far too many scenes involving lengthy facial close ups for my liking. I also felt, in terms of what was being said, that there should have been more dialogue shots offered. I am very interested in the Napoleonic and French Revolutionary periods, which I feel helped me understand what was happening and when, but I am not sure how clear the historical events would appear to those not familiar with the rise of Napoleon or the French Revolution. And in terms of portrayal of military actions, the narrative does not really portray them at the level one may expect. However, this film does include Napoleon's success against the English at the Battle of Toulon 1793 and one of his first Italian victories during his incredible run of victories in 1796. No doubt had Glance being able to continue with his planed six films, they may have involved more battle and actions scenes. Overall, it is an incredible experience, supported with what I can only describe as a haunting and astounding musical score. This disc set is highly recommended.