Napoleon (1927)
A visually stunning biopic exploring Napoleon's rise through revolutionary France, perfect for history buffs and fans of epic storytelling.
Genres: Drama, History, War
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Napoleon(1927)
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Overview
This sweeping silent biopic follows a driven young Corsican from his schooldays—where a snowball fight plays out like a military campaign—through upheaval during the French Revolution and the Terror. The story builds toward his rise as a commanding leader, culminating in a triumphant invasion of Italy in 1797.
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Review Summary
Pros: epic scope; stirring battle scenes; vivid restored visuals | Cons: very long runtime; uneven pacing; slow stretches
Will You Like This?
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a grand, absorbing silent-era historical epic with bold set pieces and a strong sense of momentum; Not for you if you dislike very long runtimes, uneven pacing, or silent films like The Passion of Joan of Arc.
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Full Cast & CrewFeatured Comments/Tips
This is an excellent movie that takes you through all the aspects of Napoleons career. Though, be aware that this movie is five and a half hours long, sou you should consider watching it in 2 or 3 sessions.
A movie to be appreciated, not enjoyed. Gance continues to impress me as a filmmaker, using a wide variety of pretty shocking techniques (handheld-esque camera movement, widescreen??) to enhance emotional impact or to develop themes (lots of superimposition, etc.) I'm particularly in love with his editing style, which can recall the best of Eisenstein when it's done well. But unfortunately, his editing prowess doesn't extend to cutting down the length of this films, as this one is over 5 hours AGAIN. And unlike La Roue, the story and characters just aren't compelling to me in the slightest, so it felt like a slog to get through.
[MUBI] The last great epic of silent movies. Inventing cinema as art. The portrait of a truly idealized Napoleon, turned into the hero of a heroic film. The extension of '"The birth of a nation'" (D.W. griffith, 1915) as epic cinema. But also effective in moments of full emotion (the reunion with the mother, the singing of '"La Marseillaise'"). That great, amazing Act IV. The cinema that we will never watch again.
Featured User Reviews
Where to start? Carl Davis' recently composed inspiring score provides a wonderful accompaniment to the truly epic silent retrospective on the life of Napoleon. I saw a digital restoration recently and the quality of this over 90 year old film (in 2 parts) has lost none of its vivacity and vigour. We start with a snowball fight and end with high drama via some magnificent battle scenes. The tints and hues are subtle and vibrant and Abel Gance directs this with real flair and accomplishment. True, it is long; but compellingly so and if you are at all interested in the story of himself; the French reinvigoration that he led and inspired and of the subsequent historical events that gripped the whole of Europe then this is just the film. It seems way too brief a review for such a masterpiece, but in this case - less is definitely more. His megalomania and shrewd determination is writ large with excellent performances and grand cinematography well ahead of it's time. A big screen must if ever there was one - though take a cushion! (It is also worth acclaiming the skills of those responsible for the preservation and restoration of this film - it is astonishing how much of it has still survived, and in such great quality).
