Again, have to agree with Nick here. CGI would have ruined this epic movie, and where else are you going to get 16,000 of the 1970s Soviet army dressed up in Napoleonic uniforms and trained for months to make it look at least semi-authentic.
EPIC!
The only thing about this film that has always concerned however, is this scene, where Napoleon remembers that he forgot to feed his goldfish before going on campaign...
It was 1970 - no Star Wars, the Cold War, and W.R.G. rules. It was a difficult time...
For me, Steiger WAS Napoleon! Great movie.
ReplyDeleteYes he was fantastic.
Delete'What's he doing? What's Ney doing??'
You've just convinced me - I'll watch it again this evening. I used to hear of people who had watched "The Sound of Music" thousands of times, and shake my head in wonder - for me, the big hitters are "Waterloo" and "Zulu", with "The Sting" and Jacques Tatti's Hulot movies close behind.
ReplyDeleteThank you, M le Duc. Mobilise - mobilise - mobilise...
MSF
I know right? What a classic?
DeleteI'll be watching too.
Certainly compared to Mel's countless 'mythology' movies. (see what I did there), these are a different genre entirely.
I remember going to see this film as a child, it was absolutely mind blowing [a 70's phrase] I thought Rod Steiger was excellent as the great man to be honest. Even Christopher Plummer was half decent. I was lucky enough to buy the programme and of course the later book about the film. Just brilliant really.
ReplyDeleteI was born a year before it was made - so I'm just a kid really.
DeleteI missed it until seeing it on television during the 90s (I think) - and couldn't believe why it had not been hyped more in the intervening years.
That said, I suppose the later 70s era of Kung Fu movies and Star Wars subsequently polluted the minds of the then younger generation.
As the site says - they'll never make another movie like this. It certainly makes the more modern CGI so called 'epics' look cheap in comparison. It's eminently re-watchable too, which is something else that modern movies have lost.
Yes one of the better historical movies (although not perfect) but indeed what an inspiration for impressionable little minds. I rate this along with Zulu, Longest Day, Hell is For Heroes, El Cid, Spartacus, Bridge A Remagen and The Warlord as best of the older and inspirational movies. So glad Spielberg minimised the CGI in Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers too. No real substitute for reality.
ReplyDeleteAhh yes! - the Bridge at Remagen...filmed in Czechoslovakia and almost started WWIII apparently.
Delete...and Angel is still a pig.
Funny that Garry should mention 'The Longest Day'. On re-watching it recently I noticed that Napoleon was there too!
DeleteLike many here, Waterloo is the most-quoted film around our wargames tables!
'That may be, that may be. But I'll match them with my lancers!'.
Certainly. On re-watching I'm finding more and more quotes that I can use for the next game :)
DeleteOMG excellent. "The Old Guard has broken!!!!" I am the resident "Waterloo quote guy" at a friend's Commands and Colors games!
ReplyDelete'Where is Grouchy?'
Delete'What's Ney doing?'
It was the quotable 'Aliens' of its day LOL
I saw the movie when it first came out, with my wargames friends. I liked it. I don't think I have watched it again since, though. A deficiency perhaps worth correcting...
ReplyDeleteCertainly worth watching again. There are a few issues, but nothing compared to concerns with modern movies.
DeleteI saw this when it first came out at the Regal in Lanark, which of course no longer exists. I still watch it now and again, love Steiger as Napoleon and could almost audition for the parts knowing the script "I am France and France is me!"
ReplyDeleteFantastic quotes all over this movie.
DeleteRod Steiger is superb. I'm watching it again today.