War and Peace (1968 film)

War and Peace (Russian: Война и мир; Vojna i mir) was a Soviet-produced film version of the novel War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. Sergei Bondarchuk not only directed the film, but co-wrote the screenplay and starred in the role of Pierre.

The film took 7 years to produce and cost over 100 million dollars. It is estimated that a film of this magnitude would cost over 500 million dollars today, making this arguably the most expensive film ever made [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006JO77/002-6775530-3599248?v=glance&n=130. Pre-production started on Mosfilm in 1961, and filming commenced in 1963. The film was released in 4 parts in the USSR: Part 1 - Andrei Bolkonsky, Part 2 - Natasha Rostova, running time 255 minutes, released 1965. Part 3 - 1812, running time 104 minutes, released 1966. Part 4 - Pierre Bezukhov, running time 125 miutes, released 1966. Total running time is 484 minutes. In the US, it was shortened by more than an hour and shown in two parts which, in some cities consisted of showing part one for one week and part two the next. However, the showings did retain the four part structure in the following manner. Part one was divided in two chapters entitled 'Natasha and Andrei' and 'The Battle of Austerlitz'. The run time was three and a half hours with a fifteen minute intermission between chapters. Part two's chapters were entitled 'Natasha and Pierre' and 'The Burning of Moscow' and the run time was three hours, again with a fifteen minute intermission. The film was dubbed into English with a linking narration both of which were decried by some reviewers.

The battle of Borodino scene included 120,000 soldiers, a fact mentioned in the Guinness Book and are among the most realistic and expansive ever committed to celluloid. Made in the days before CGI, its visual splendor, as well as the fact that all of the people you see are real are facts that standout to those who view the film today. Many museums in the USSR contributed artifacts for the incredible production design for the film, making it one of the most sumptuous films ever created. It was one of the first films in the USSR to be shot in 70 mm (the official process was called "Sovscope 70" in the USA, being the USSR version of "TODD-AO", a large camera/presenation format (65/70mm) with 6-channel stereophonic sound). There are many hand held shots in the film. These are very difficult to achieve with a 70 mm camera. However, a camera was devised for this film (which can be seen on the bonus DVD of the film by RUSCICO). The camera resembles a Bolex camera, and the magazine takes up most of the camera, making the camera very lightweight.

It was released initially on VHS in its truncated, dubbed, pan and scan American form. Recently it was restored to its original length, original language, and original aspect ratio by RUSCICO, a Russian/Belgian DVD company specializing in Russian cinema. This version is available from Image Entertainment in the US.

The longer running time of 511 minutes is a miscalculation based on longer lenght of 70 mm prints.

The film was restored in 1988, from surviving studio 35mm elements, as original 70mm film elements are unavailable, stored somewhere in Ukraine, their condition unknown, subject to feud over Bondarchuk legacy between post-soviet Russia and Ukraine. As a result the film is only printable in 35mm and available on video.

Awards

1969 - Academy Award - Best Foreign Language Film
1969 - Golden Globe - Best Foreign-Language Foreign Film
1969 - National Board of Review Award - Best Foreign Language Film
1968 - New York Film Critics Circle Awards - Best Foreign Language Film

External links

Krieg und Frieden (1968) | Guerre et paix (film) | Война и мир (фильм, 1968)

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