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I tried (only once), to watch the 1950's 'War & Peace' starring Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Mel Ferrer. Granted, it was probably in the 1990's at a retrospective in Seattle, but I just couldn't get through the thing. I kept seeing the 'movie stars' as 'movie stars', not dissolving into their respective roles. So I left the theater after perhaps 40 minutes or so. As I recall when I exited, it was a bright sunny day which in Seattle, is rare indeed, so I counted it as a 'win'. The photography was nice, and the music was nice, but the acting...oy!
I just ordered the Criterion Blue-ray of the Oscar Winning 1966 version of 'War & Peace' directed by the great Sergey Bondarchuk. It's listed as a little over 7 hours running time, and I don't know if that's just for the film (I believe so), or if that time is including the extras. But I think the extras are..'extra', and separate. Anyone here seen this Criterion Version, or the film itself, perhaps on a big screen? Blu-Ray DOT com gives it absolutely outstanding ratings in every category. I recall the soundtrack of this film in a gate-fold album I had in the 70's which went missing decades ago, the music was superb, though I know it wasn't the entire score.
Here's a clip. Keep in mind NO CGI effects. Reportedly The Soviet Union used thousands of their own Army Troops as extras and you can see the spectacle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7KH1lM_bZM
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I watched the Criterion a couple of months ago. Although a bit stiff in its pageant-like storytelling and acting, it's a visual "wow" from start to finish. I'd be glad to sit through a complete 70mm screening of it.
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Posted: |
Jan 23, 2020 - 11:57 AM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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WAR AND PEACE (1966) - 8/10
The Soviet production of WAR AND PEACE is certainly an eyeful, what with the staging of magnificent balls, the Battles of Austerlitz and Borodino, the burning of Moscow, and Napoleon's winter retreat from Russia. One can't fault the physical production, which utilizes hundreds of extras, 12,000 Soviet troops portraying Russian and French soldiers, and tens of thousands of costumes, art works, and props.
If the film has a weakness, it's writer-director Sergei Bondarchuk's portrayal of central character "Pierre Bezukhov." Bondarchuck perhaps bit off a little more than he could chew by deciding to play the role himself as well as perform his behind-the-camera duties. He's kind of a lump in the role, and at age 45 was too old to be playing the young misfit Pierre. The film's dialogue is also less than crackling much of the time, but you can probably blame Tolstoy for much of that, given the way that this film slavishly follows the novel. But those reservations aside, this is a monumental film that should be seen at least once.
I had seen the picture prior to this on 70mm film, and this "restored" digital version, drawn from 35mm materials doesn't have the "pop" in the colors or clarity that I recall from the earlier showing. But this edition is fine, with a clean print and good stereo sound and no one should be dissuaded from seeing it on any technical grounds. Its 7-hour length, however, is another matter.
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The Criterion is indeed 7 hours -- a super, amazing, jaw-dropping film. The performances, perhaps because I don't know the actors, all seemed seemless to me with the actors disappearing into the roles. The style of the film is all over the place -- some experimental techniques like a long sequence in which a man and woman sit side by side in silent awkwardness while a sound of water dropping makes a very loud "plop" on the soundtrack in an exaggerated fashion like an audio water torture. Some of the tracking shots are simply breathtaking -- and the battle sequences seem both colossal and very intimate in very unique ways. I'll be curious to see how you react to it!
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I love both versions, for different reasons. Audrey Hepburn is enchanting as Natasha, ideal casting for the role. And the score by Nino Rota is superb. (I wish the complete tracks were available.) Mel Ferrer is pretty wooden, and Fonda is just wrong, especially when yelling, “Damn you, Napoleon! Damn you to hell!” Which sounds laughable.
The only drawback I have with the amazing Russian version is that it’s too short. Originally released in the then U.S.S.R. as 4 separate parts, the composite running time was more than 8 hours. However, over time, whole sections have gone missing, including the rescue of Andrey’s sister by Natasha’s brother, during a serf rebellion, with Napoleon only miles away! At one point, it was reported that a complete 70 mm Panavision print was found in Ukraine, but that is unsubstantiated. So, it appears the current Criterion release is the best we're likely to get for a while.
And I sure wish we could get a complete recording of the Russian score.There was a FSM thread a while back with YouTube recordings of an orchestra playing more excerpts from the score.
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