2016 Blog
Abel Gance 1927 Masterpiece "Napoléon" Bespoke Slipcase
Napoléon is a 1927 silent French epic film written, produced, and directed by Abel Gance.
The movie narrates the story of Napoleon's early years and it is recognised for its ground breaking cinematic techniques, including fast cutting, extensive close-ups, a wide variety of hand-held camera shots, location shooting, point of view shots, multiple-camera setups, multiple exposure, superimposition, underwater camera, kaleidoscopic images, film tinting, split screen and mosaic shots, multi-screen projection, and other visual effects even anticipated Cinerama and the immersive experience of 3D and virtual reality with an extension of the screen at the sides into a triptych.
The screening of the digitally restored film accompanied by the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Carl Davis, was named the cinematic event of the year, if not the century by BBC 4.
On 13 November 2016, Napolėon was the subject of the Film Programme on BBC Radio 4. The BBC website announced: Historian Kevin Brownlow tells Francine Stock about his 50 years quest to restore Abel Gance's silent masterpiece Napoleon to its five and half hour glory, and why the search for missing scenes still continues even though the film has now been released on DVD for the very first time.
The film is not as known as it should be because is was all but lost: its length and the variety within made it difficult to categorise; shorter versions were cut but they were confusing, the triptych was hard to exhibit so cinemas were reluctant to screen it , so for many years was presumed lost.
What we can see now is the result of a six decades quest to find missing segments and reconstruct the narrative. The new score is by Carl Davis, the music was built on the work of composers of the 1800 and 1900 adapted to fit the film and it is the longest score ever composed for a silent film.
Heather Stewart, Creative Director, BFI said:
“Several generations of staff at the BFI have worked on this project. Napoléon is a landmark in the history of cinema and we are grateful to all of the great talents who have helped us along the way but especially, of course, Kevin Brownlow for his indefatigable championing of the film and Carl Davis for his amazing score.”
Key Production is proud to have organised the manufacturing of the release of this masterpiece, now packed in a bespoke slipcase packaging which includes:
- New 2K restoration
- 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
- Illustrated booklet with writing by Paul Cuff, Kevin Brownlow and Herve Dumont; an interview with Carl Davis; and full film, music and restoration credits
Available to buy on the BFI website.