- Actors: Rod Steiger, Christopher Plummer, Orson Welles, Jack Hawkins, Virginia McKenna
- Directors: Sergey Bondarchuk
- Writers: Sergey Bondarchuk, H.A.L. Craig, Mario Soldati, Vittorio Bonicelli
- Producers: Dino De Laurentiis, Richard C. Meyer, Tom Carlile
- Language English, Russian
- Classification: U
- Studio: Cinema Club
- VHS Release Date: 1 July 2002
- Run Time: 123 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CKA0
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,640 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
"A film that will never be equalled for its spectacle and dramatic power" says the stirring trailer on this otherwise sparsely featured DVD. Taking the story of the Napoleonic Wars to Bonaparte's final defeat, Waterloo is an unofficial continuation to director Sergei Bondarchuk's own 70mm super-epic War and Peace (1968). The climactic battle of Waterloo is shown in the second half of the film and re-enacted with such stunning realism by a cast of around 20,000 extras that it looks like documentary footage from history itself (some 20 years later, Gettysburg, 1993, did the same for the American Civil War). Those who hailed the groundbreaking impact of Saving Private Ryan should see Bondarchuk's films, as for sheer scale and intensity--if not bloodiness--they make Spielberg's hit look like an amateur video. Without ever attempting a French accent, Rod Steiger makes a commanding Napoleon, Christopher Plummer a worthy adversary as Wellington, while the supporting cast led by Orson Welles, Jack Hawkins and Virginia McKenna is excellent. The DVD transfer is richly detailed and clear, though the print itself could have done with just a little restoration. Though dated, Abel Glance's Napoleon (1928) remains definitive for many, perhaps explaining why Stanley Kubrick eventually abandoned his planned Napoleon film, instead making the 18th Century period epic Barry Lyndon (1974). --Gary S.Dalkin
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a truly astonishing film. I doubt it could even be attempted today. The number of uniformed extras is astonishing considering the cost of the uniforms involved, especially the beautiful French cavalry and infantry uniforms. The charge of the Scots Grays Cavalry is magnificently filmed, clearly inspired by a famous painting.
The battle is somewhat accurately depicted, insofar as the order of engagements, charges, and skirmishes. Toward the end, however, it becomes confusing, and has obviously been severely edited for time. Other reviewers have stated that the film was originally four hours long. This version is only a little over two hours. I would not have complained had it been a full hour longer, so long as that hour was devoted to accurately depicting the battle, and showing off some of the amazing uniforms, especially of the French cavalry. Frankly, the battle itself seems to have been somewhat shortchanged in this shorter version.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In the tradition of the cinematic epics like Kubrick's "Spartacus" and Mann's "Fall of the Roman Empire," Bondarchuk's "Waterloo" succeeds in depicting Napoleon's desperate and final bid for power and glory. Steiger, no stranger to roles that have consistently challenged his acting ability, is quite good as the deposed French emperor who narrowly lost his final battle. Orson Welles' appearance as Louis XVIII, is far too brief but most welcome, and Plummer as Lord Wellington is a casting director's dream. Dino de Laurentiis has produced some questionable if not laughable films in the past "King Kong" (1976) and "Flash Gordon" (1980); however, "Waterloo" must be seen as one of his better efforts.
Many critics here at Amazon will applaud the many and well-orchestrated battle scenes--a case-in-point are the great aerial shots of the British "squares" organized against Marshall Ney (Dan O' Herlihy) and the French cavalry--and one can easily understand the film's strong visual appeal, but this opus succeeds in other ways too.
The non-battle scenes, for instance, like the ball before the battle which introduces us to Napoleon's nemesis, Wellington, and the scenes of Napoleon dictating letters to his secretaries, are thoughtful touches that broaden the scope of this highly entertaining film and successfully depict an aristocratically genteel milieu shattered by the cataclysm that is nineteenth-century warfare. On the surface, an era characterized by the gentility of the landed gentry and sportsmanlike conduct on the battlefield, later destroyed by the real brutalities and devastation of war.
Unlike too many directors who take liberties with depicting historical events (Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center" quickly come to mind), Bondarchuck successfully and accurately depicts Napoleon in his decline--plagued with self-doubt, his irascible outbursts towards subordinates compounded by his ill-health (now confirmed by modern bio-historians as a combination of dysuria, piles, dermatitis, and stomach cancer) and his symptoms of grandiose delusion .
This is a Region 2 PAL encoded disc, so you will require a multi-region DVD player to view it. This film originally ran at 3 hours on its initial theatrical release in 1970, now cut down to 2 hours and eight minutes. It is a pity that we do not have the film in its entirety with Region 1 encoding as the director originally intended. Although this item is listed here as currently "unavailable," try purchasing it thru the AmazonUK site.
Many critics here at Amazon will applaud the many and well-orchestrated battle scenes--a case-in-point are the great aerial shots of the British "squares" organized against Marshall Ney (Dan O' Herlihy) and the French cavalry--and one can easily understand the film's strong visual appeal, but this opus succeeds in other ways too.
The non-battle scenes, for instance, like the ball before the battle which introduces us to Napoleon's nemesis, Wellington, and the scenes of Napoleon dictating letters to his secretaries, are thoughtful touches that broaden the scope of this highly entertaining film and successfully depict an aristocratically genteel milieu shattered by the cataclysm that is nineteenth-century warfare. On the surface, an era characterized by the gentility of the landed gentry and sportsmanlike conduct on the battlefield, later destroyed by the real brutalities and devastation of war.
Unlike too many directors who take liberties with depicting historical events (Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center" quickly come to mind), Bondarchuck successfully and accurately depicts Napoleon in his decline--plagued with self-doubt, his irascible outbursts towards subordinates compounded by his ill-health (now confirmed by modern bio-historians as a combination of dysuria, piles, dermatitis, and stomach cancer) and his symptoms of grandiose delusion .
This is a Region 2 PAL encoded disc, so you will require a multi-region DVD player to view it. This film originally ran at 3 hours on its initial theatrical release in 1970, now cut down to 2 hours and eight minutes. It is a pity that we do not have the film in its entirety with Region 1 encoding as the director originally intended. Although this item is listed here as currently "unavailable," try purchasing it thru the AmazonUK site.
50 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film has probably the greatest battle scene ever shown, the detail and comparison to the original battlefield is excellent. The film however, in this form, suffers from poor cuts and editing. When will a release of the original 4 hour epic take place? this has over 2 hours dedicated to the battle. Still a great film withgreat performances, and a must for either the historical or war fan.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dated but still good
For the time this film was produced its good.
The mass battle scenes are not CG so its for real, lets not be to judgemental about this. Read more
The mass battle scenes are not CG so its for real, lets not be to judgemental about this. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Mr. D. J. Hackett
Wrong information
Warning! Although this DVD is described as having subtitles, it DOES NOT HAVE ANY! Very disappointing as otherwise it is an excellent film
Published 4 months ago by Lorna Buck
Quelle affaire!
A simply amazing spectacle of thousands of uniformed troops engaged in one of history's major battles. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Junius
Sunday 18 June 1815 is re-created in spectacular fashion
In "Waterloo", the 1970 film directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, I thought Rod Steiger would not do as Napoleon while Christopher Plummer as Wellington would be ideal. Read more
Published 5 months ago by RR Waller
Impressive recreation of the battle of Waterloo
After being banished to Elba, Napoleon Bonaparte (Rod Steiger) returns in triumph to Paris to reclaim his Emperor's throne while King Louis XVIII (a mountainous Orson Welles) flees... Read more
Published 6 months ago by The CinemaScope Cat
wonderful waterloo
What a great film, as always at a great price from Amazon. The info was very detailed therefore it was easy to make a decision to buy.
Published 7 months ago by devarro
Impressive
Massive battle scenes and a superb cast. The script often sounds a bit strangled as it leans heavily on attributed quotes. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Shrewlord
Epic Historical Dramatisation
This is an older film but of a quality rerely seen in modern films .
the costumes and acting are first class all historicaly accurate and impeccable . Read more
the costumes and acting are first class all historicaly accurate and impeccable . Read more
Published 9 months ago by Big Dave
Great film deserves blue-ray.
This is one of the great films of an historic, important battle.
The Battle of Waterloo was one of the most important in European history and needs no 'sexing up' or the... Read more
The Battle of Waterloo was one of the most important in European history and needs no 'sexing up' or the... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Ken8
Julian
In excellent condition and received a good delivery turn around from seller.
Will defiantly look for this seller in the future. Read more
Will defiantly look for this seller in the future. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Julian
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