Rent Napoleon (1927)

3.9 of 5 from 100 ratings
5h 32min
Rent Napoleon (aka Napoléon vu par Abel Gance) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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  • Available formats
Synopsis:
Marking a new chapter in the history of one of the world's greatest films, the release of Abel Gance's "Napoleon" is the culmination of a project spanning 50 years. Digitally restored by the BFI National Archive and Academy Award-winning film historian Kevin Brownlow, this cinematic triumph is available to experience on video for the very first time. Originally conceived by Gance as the first of six films about Napoleon, this five-and-a-half-hour epic features full-scale historical recreations of episodes from his personal and political life, that see Bonaparte overcome fierce rivals and political machinations to seal his imperial destiny.
Utilising a number of groundbreaking cinematic techniques, 'Napoleon' is accompanied by Carl Davis' monumental score, and offers one of the most thrilling experiences in the entire the history of film.
Actors:
, Vladimir Roudenko, , , , , , Suzanne Bianchetti, Marguerite Gance, Yvette Dieudonné, , , , , , , , , , Roger Blum
Directors:
Producers:
Henri de Cazotte, Hugo Stinnes, Wengoroff
Writers:
Abel Gance
Aka:
Napoléon vu par Abel Gance
Studio:
BFI Video
Genres:
Action & Adventure, Classics, TV Documentaries, TV Dramas, TV Military & War Dramas, TV Political
Collections:
A Brief History of Coronations on Screen, A Brief History of French Poetic Realism, A Brief History of the Tradition of Quality, A History of Sports Films (Winter Edition), Award Winners, Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Jack Nicholson, Getting to Know: Kenneth Branagh, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 1, The Coppola Clan: Hollywood's Most Creative Family, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Carl Theodor Dreyer, The Instant Expert's Guide to Jean Renoir, The Instant Expert's Guide to Luis Buñuel, The Instant Expert's Guide to Stanley Kubrick
Countries:
France
BBFC:
Release Date:
21/11/2016
Run Time:
332 minutes
Languages:
English DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1, English LPCM Stereo, Silent
Subtitles:
None
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
Colour:
B & W, Tinted and Toned
Bonus:
  • The Charm of Dynamite (Kevin Brownlow, 1968, 51 mins): BBC documentary on Gance's silent films, narrated by Lindsay Anderson
  • Composing Napoleon - An Interview with Carl Davis (2016, 45 mins)
  • Feature-length commentary by Paul Cuff
  • Napoleon digital restoration featurette (2016, 5 mins)
  • Stills and Special Collections Gallery
  • Alternative single-screen ending
  • Individual triptych panel presentations
Disc 1:
This disc includes the following scenes:
- Opening Titles
- The Memorable Winter of 1783
- Geography Lesson
- The Club Des Cordeliers
- The Marseillaise
- The Night of August 10
- Home and Family
- Death Warrant
- The Outlaws
- A Dangerous Sirocco
- Historic Providence
- Special Features
Disc 2:
This disc includes the following scenes:
- Charlotte Corday
- The Siege of Toulon
- Tristan Fleuri's Inn
- Inspection
- Council of War
- Preparations for Battle
- Chatterers
- Little Gibraltar
- Drums of The 6th
- After the Victory
- Special Features
Disc 3:
This disc includes the following scenes:
- The Terror
- Carmes
- Thermidor
- France Needs a Leader
- Saviour of the Convention
- The Reaction
- An Unexpected Request
- Courtship
- Violine
- 9th March 1796
- Special Features
Disc 4:
This disc includes the following scenes:
- The Night of the 21st Ventose
- Ghosts of the Convention
- The Road to Italy
- Josephine and Violine
- Illustrious Men
- Bonaparte Takes Command
- First Contact with the Army of Italy
- The Grand Army
- His Eagle Eye
- A Strange Conductor
- Special Features
BBFC:
Release Date:
21/11/2016
Run Time:
332 minutes
Languages:
English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, English LPCM Stereo, Silent
Subtitles:
None
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
Colour:
B & W, Tinted and Toned
BLU-RAY Regions:
B
Bonus:
  • The Charm of Dynamite (Kevin Brownlow, 1968, 51 mins): BBC documentary on Gance's silent films, narrated by Lindsay Anderson
  • Composing Napoleon - An Interview with Carl Davis (2016, 45 mins)
  • Feature-length commentary by Paul Cuff
  • Napoleon digital restoration featurette (2016, 5 mins)
  • Stills and Special Collections Gallery
  • Alternative single-screen ending
  • Individual triptych panel presentations
Disc 1:
This disc includes the following scenes:
- Opening Titles
- The Memorable Winter of 1783
- Geography Lesson
- The Club Des Cordeliers
- The Marseillaise
- The Night of August 10
- Home and Family
- Death Warrant
- War with France
- The Outlaws
- A Dangerous Sirocco
- Historic Providence
- Special Features
Disc 2:
This disc includes the following scenes:
- Charlotte Corday
- Tristan Fleuri's Inn
- Inspection
- Council of War
- Preparations for Battle
- Chatterers
- Little Gibraltar
- After the Victory
- The Terror
- Thermidor
- France Needs a Leader
- Saviour of the Convention
- An Unexpected Request
- Courtship
- Violine
- 9th March 1796
- Special Features
Disc 3:
This disc includes the following scenes:
- The Night of the 21st Ventose
- Ghosts of the Convention
- The Road to Italy
- Josephine and Violine
- Illustrious Men
- Bonaparte Takes Command
- First Contact with the Army of Italy
- The Grand Army
- His Eagle Eye
- A Strange Conductor
- Special Features

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Reviews (3) of Napoleon

Must see if you have the patience - Napoleon review by dl

Spoiler Alert
02/12/2016

Over 5 and half hours long 3 discs and 3 sittings and oh my what a film for silent lovers, it was such a joy too watch this at home and at my own pace, It’s a very disjointed film but most of the time it really doesnt matter you get so wrapped up in the visual splendour be it the epic begining of a very young Napoleon waging battle in a snow drenched school field to the epic battle scenes that come later, the way these battles are filmed mostly by handheld camera really are quite astounding to see especially with the deep red tint that fills the screen so vividly, and then there is Napoleon himself played brilliantly by Albert Dieudonne every time he fills the screen it turns into something special the facial expressions the close-ups and the soft glow that always seems to surround his presence by the staggering lighting effects on offer, i’d be lying if i said it was all fantastic as you do get some long lulls especially surrounding the Josephine romance which does go on far too long but its soon replaced by that wonderful epic ending.A magnificent gem filled with great technique powerful performances and spellbinding use of colour.8+/10

4 out of 4 members found this review helpful.

Superb storytelling and cinematography - Napoleon review by RD

Spoiler Alert
19/05/2023

We were pleasantly surprised as soon as we started watching this film.

A 1927 silent film didn't seem like an easy few hours, but we were glued to the screen the whole way through.

The music soundtrack added to the scenes very well indeed.

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

Napoleon (1927) Abel Gance - Napoleon review by Tim Megarry

Spoiler Alert
31/12/2021

Abel Gance’s Napoleon (1927), once considered lost but now mostly restored, ranks as a supreme masterpiece of silent cinema which sits proudly alongside the work of WD Griffiths, Pabst, Eisenstein and Lang. It relates Napoleon’s childhood, his involvement with the French Revolution and concludes with his Italian campaign of 1796 and thus biographically remains an unfinished work. But Gance prefigures Hollywood epics forty years into the future in this landmark of film making. Napoleon is innovative and exhilarating in its use of new techniques, on location and in the cutting room, which carry forth a complex and compelling storyline that subtly interweaves an intimate personal narrative with historical events. The sheer scale and ambition of this five and a half hour long film is stunning. Hundreds, if not thousands of actors were involved and a three screen viewing presentation, that anticipates Cinerama and CinemaScope, has been fully reconstructed in the film’s final act. Such pioneering techniques are enhanced by long montage and optical sequences which set a new agenda for cinema. Kevin Brownlow is to be thanked and admired for his painstaking work over so many years in rescuing, conserving and editing this version of Gance’s masterpiece. Carl Davis’s rousing musical score is as monumental as the film it accompanies. Deriving from Hayden and Mozart but mainly from Beethoven the music gives the film the epic quality it deserves. Napoleon must surely be rated as a milestone in cinema history and should become required viewing.

Tim Megarry

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

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