Almost 100 years later, the greatest film about Napoleon will be released in theaters

Before Ridley Scott, there was Napoleon by Abel Gance

Recently, Ridley Scott has shown excessive ambition with his Napoleon (2023). A film directed by Joaquin Phoenix, with a budget of 200 million dollars, and a duration, in theaters, of over 2h30. The director also took the liberty of keeping a long version of over 4 hours on hand, scheduled for Apple TV+. But all this is ultimately not so impressive when compared to the Napoleon (1927)Abel Gance. An immense film on all levels, and that almost 100 years after its first release it can still leave you speechless.

To think that then, shortly before the appearance of talking cinema, a filmmaker managed to give life to such an ambitious project, thanks to 450,000 meters of film and over a year of editing, it remains pretty crazy. But Napoleon is truly a titanic work, seven hours long, as we do more today and for a long time. And although the film shows his age, the innovations made by Abel Gance in his staging (such as placing the cameras on the horses) are remarkable.

A 7 hour restoration soon in theaters

Rightly considered as such a cinema classicTHE Napoleon by Abel Gance was not always presented in its entirety (cut into several parts), and even less so in optimal quality. Several versions have been offered over the years, including several additional music. Restorations have also been carried out, but a definitive one will finally see the light. For 16 yearsthe Cinémathèque française took on this task, under the direction of director and researcher Georges Mourier, with the aim of restore the original “Grand version”.. And while the result was presented during the 77th Cannes Film Festival, we learn from Le Film Français (via First) to which the feature film will be titled, very soon the release in French cinemas.

Distributed by Pathé Films, Napoleon will be offered in two parts from July 7th. No single 7-hour session therefore, but the possibility of discovering this version restored in these conditions remains exceptional. In addition to this national release, screenings will also take place at the Seine Musicale in Paris on July 4 and 5 as a concert film.

Source: Cine Serie

Ray

Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.