War and Peace

Great watch for a Sunday afternoon. Some Russian and French history, but mostly for entertainment

One of my mom’s favorite movies. She purchased without me knowing. I feel like I’m the parent and she’s the teenager. Oh well. It’s a movie everyone should watch in their lifetime.

For no other reason than Audrey Hepburn oh yeah Henry Fonda and Mel Ferrer two pretty good actors (tongue in cheek) I obviously am not able to make meaningful comparisons to the great book. because I did not read it, I will catch up some afternoon when I get a few minutes. (oh yeah) the movie was long as was the book, Because of the excellent acting I liked the unfolding of the story (story within a story) I love period stories that take one to another time in history it was all of that. I will not speak about the lives that unfolded,The war scenes toward the end were well done and pretty accurate from a novices point of view it is well known that Hitler got a very large dose of the same mud, snow ice, extreme freezing, unprepared. It was not noted that Napoleon had two choices of retreat from Russia he picked the worst one. (Yeah I did read a little history somewhere.) It is recorded that out of over 200,000 man army little more or less than 30,000 got back alive. The fighting and retreat was was a big splash toward the end of an interesting story. I liked it a whole lot for my reasons.

It's odd that this movie runs three hours and twenty eight minutes and it's considered the short, condensed version of Tolstoy's literary masterpiece. The novel is actually much better known and deserves to be. As much I acknowledge King Vidor as the one of the pioneer directors and a maverick who went his own way throughout his career, this movie is a bit of a disappointment. After all, this is the same director who directed "The Big Parade", the anti war movie that launched MGM. King Vidor was not your typical Texan. Movies he made just before this was "Duel in the Sun" for Selznick and "The Fountainhead" written by Ann Rand. This "War and Peace" was made in Italy and was produced by Dino deLaurentis. Vidor and six other writers had the tast of condensing Tolstoy's classic, eliminating major subplots and streamling the storylines of the three protangonists. The main protangonist in the book is Pierre Bezahov, here played by Henry Fonda. In 1968, Sergie Bondachuk played Pierre and wrote and directed a nine hour and much better movie than this one. Sergie even looked more like the book Pierre. Fonda could have played him more accurately, after all, he made "The Wrong Man" around the time and he was no longer a spring chicken. But here, he's dashing even when he wins a duel literally by accident. However, he does his best work when forced to walk as a prisoner to the French. He shows dignity in such adject conditions. Audrey Hepburn should have been perfect as Natasha and at times, is. However, it's not very convincing that she's just a naive little girl in the beginning and a woman who's been though a lot at the end. Not that's not her fault. Vidor with makeup artists, etc. should have created that illusion. In fact, the story is supposed to take seven years and this movie doesn't convince us of that at all. Mel Ferrer was Audrey's leading man offscream but he's missing the meloncholy about Andrei is supposed to project. He does have passible good looks and be standoffish but not really much else. However, he and Andrey do look well together and she also has excellent rapport with Fonda. Herbet Lom plays an interesting Napolean. Anita Ekberg looks beautiful and is not asked to do much else. The battle scenes are very well done and there is good levity when Fonda appears as a spectator. Ferrer's death scene is way too long and a bit unforgivable as some interesting bits of Tolstoy could have gone in. Tolstoy's musing about life are basically unfilmable but something could have gone in. Instead, the movie ends with Henry and Natasha reunited. However, the main parts of the basic story were covered. I just wish it had more the transcendance that the ending of "The Crowd" did. For that, I guess read the book.

I got this because last time I saw it I was very young and not really interested in history. I read the book and wanted to see the movie because my favorite actress, Audrey Hepburn, starred in it. This time I wanted to see it from the viewpoint of an adult who is intensely interested in history, and still thinks Audrey Hepburn was the best actress ever. Lots of Hepburn in this film, and lots of romantic interest along with the war action. During the battle scene, which was almost dreamlike in a way with Henry Fonda walking through it as a non-soldier, to see what war was really all about, I felt as if I were there. As old as the technology was, that battle scene seemed real to me. I felt the fear of seeing all of the troops assembling for battle. That was well done. Toward the end of the movie, the scenes of the battles were amazing! I've never seen anything like it. Yes, some of the acting is typical for the time in which the movie was made but, if you think about it, the real events would have seemed 'dated' if we were able to view them as they happened. The clothes and settings were magnificent. It was a pleasure watching these top-of-the-line actors portraying the characters in this classic novel. It was well worth viewing again. I recommend it.

True to historical facts. The acting was marvelous. Good to see Ferrer and Hepburn together.

Love this movie

This film does have some good points. Audrey Hepburn is always worth watching. The Napoleonic era costumes are gorgeous and the splendors of the Romanov court are a fine spectacle. These points do not make up for the lack of interest, however. The plot plods along and there is very little excitement or drama. The story takes place in Russia. Napoleon is defeating everyone who stands against him. Some, including some in Russia, see him as the wave of things to come. He is an enlightened ruler and the truth, that he is concerned with little other than his own power, is slow to sink in. Pierre, a Russian noble played by Henry Fonda, begins as one of Napoleon's fans. He is not caught up in the militarism of the court but is interested in great affairs. Natasha, played by Hepburn, is a long time friend of his. She is a bright and cheerful young lady, taken in with the exploits of the men around here. She falls for another Russian noble but his family is not eager for the match. They agree to delay things for a while. Things get more complicated when Bonaparte invades Russia. Natasha's beaux heads to war. In the meantime a womanizer back home manages to capture the naïve Natasha's affections. She thinks he loves her but he is only interested into getting into her bloomers. Pierre warns him off and saves her virtue but her fiancé finds out about it and they become estranged...until he is wounded at Borodino. By this time, though, the French Army is on its way to Moscow and the place has to be evacuated. Pierre is captured there and learns what Bonaparte is really like. In the end, lots of people die, hearts get broken and the Russian winter does what the Russian army cannot. Everyone ends up dead or with the spouse they should have had to begin with. The plot is much more complex than outlined here but the movie cannot do it justice. Still, Audrey kept my attention and the costumes were nice also.

Good movie.

Es un excelente producto, contiene: 1 disco Blu Ray Audio original en ingles Doblaje al español Subtitulos en español Widescreen es muy recomendable para la colección, la entrega como siempre excelente, gracias

Before purchasing I had read a previous review that made a negative comment about the vista screen quality - this was absolute rubbish! I watched the film as soon as I recieved it, the package was beautifully presented with a lovely post card included, the viewing quality was wonderful, in-keeping with the time it was filmed bringing a wonderful vintage feel as you would expect from any 'classic' original film. I certainly wouldn't expect or want for that matter, a HD experience from such a great classic story and film. I loved it, it was moving, historically accurate and atmospheric. I would strongly recommend this film and supplier to anyone intetested in this story and historical event.

I had the russian and this version on dvd, I enjoy both. The american I find stands up well alongside the much more expensive russian version, and the retreat from Moscow I found better. Both leading ladies are so good and even look alike. But what I think you want to know is if it is worth updating to blu ray? If like me you enjoy the american version, then YES. There are the colours of the uniforms, those beautifull houses, so much better.

Como lo comento, este clásico de la literatura Universal llevado a la pantalla por dos monstruos de la actuación, Henry Fonda y Audrey Hepburn, además del elenco que acompaña esta soberbia epopeya que está llevada al cine con grandiosidad. Altamente recomendable para los cinéfilos de corazón y por supuesto a las nuevas generaciones para que conozcan a los actores clásicos que forjaron Hollywood.