• Abel Gance’s Napoleon Returns

    Cinephiles, man your battle stations: Abel Gance’s legendary silent behemoth Napoleon, which hasn’t been shown theatrically in the U.S. with live accompaniment for nearly thirty years, will be presented by the 2012 San Francisco Silent Film Festival in four special performances at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. This is a major event, as not only has Napoleon been so long unseen, but this will be the American premiere of Academy Award–winning film historian Kevin Brownlow and BFI’s complete restoration—and with more than thirty minutes of additional footage discovered since Brownlow’s original 1979 reconstruction, this is the longest version of Gance’s film shown since its 1927 premiere at the Paris Opéra. Screenings of Napoleon will take place March 24, 25, 31, and April 1 next year. Watch the new trailer below heralding this exciting news:

    News

10 comments

  • By Brian
    July 16, 2011
    03:22 AM

    I understand that, because of the extremely complicated logistics involved, there is little to no chance that the screenings will be repeated elsewhere any time soon. Or maybe ever.
    Reply

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  • By Keith
    July 17, 2011
    11:57 PM

    I saw this at the Orpheum Theatre in Mpls last time it "toured" - I believe it was 1992? '93? It was incredible!! Is there ANY chance of it ever being released on DVD?
    Reply

  • By Patrick
    July 18, 2011
    08:25 AM

    And so begins the Criterion release speculation :)
    Reply

  • By Rob B.
    July 18, 2011
    10:08 PM

    Yesterday morning at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Kevin Brownlow presented the full story of his Napoleon restoration. During his remarks he stated that there are no plans for a DVD release or for any presentation other than the four performances scheduled for Oakland next March.
    Reply

  • By J.J.
    July 22, 2011
    02:24 AM

    No DVD release - what the heck are the rights tie-up now? I remember there was a big release on VHS about the time Keith mentioned, 1992 or 93, doing the best they could giving the format. It was nicely letterboxed, etc. Sure, doesn't compare to theatrical projection but even with only a good video projector in a small classroom it was majestic.
    Reply

  • By Steve-O
    July 25, 2011
    01:26 PM

    That's odd that Brownlow would say there are no plans. I read online some many moths ago that Robert Harris "hinted" at a future release, possibly on Blu-Ray.. I think his response was to a question about the film being on disc and he commented that "something was in the work" or "stay tuned." Perhaps he was hinting at this showing. Regardless, I've only seen the Coppola-approved version with an orchestra so this is going to be a great event!
    Reply

  • By JAKE
    August 16, 2011
    06:36 PM

    JJ - My understanding on the rights is that the previous restoration was tied into the Coppola orchestral score, or something of that nature. The "even more" additional footage and seperate Brownlow/BFI restoration may have nixed that rights issue completely (though Zoetrope is still in the credits). Regardless, this is amazing news. Making it to this screening will become a priority - although I'll still keep the laserdisc handy.
    Reply

  • By John C
    September 11, 2011
    04:44 PM

    I was fortunate to see this film on January 24, 1981 at NYC's Radio City Music Hall where it played for three nights. We had dead center front row seats in the first mezzanine, the best seats in the house as far as I'm concerned. Coppola introduced the film while his father conducted his own score. You've never heard an audience go wild as when the full frame screen opened wide for the long-awaited tryptich conclusion. Watching a horse ride across the screen's three panels in perfect synchronization knocked everyone out of their seats, figuratively & literally. When 'Napoleon' was over, the audience applauded for twenty minutes while a telephone was set on stage so Abel Gance who was too ill to leave France to attend could hear it. This night was probably the greatest night ever spent in a movie theater. Do not miss this film if it comes near you. We came from Connecticut and stayed overnight to see it. The train & film tickets and hotel stay were worth every penny. A DVD, as good as it might be, will never do justice to seeing this film on the big screen with a live orchestra. Trust me...
    Reply

  • By Henry Smith
    February 20, 2012
    09:46 PM

    Saw it in 1982 in Seattle with the Coppola score. #1 on my all-time favorite film list.
    Reply

  • By JP Falcon
    February 23, 2012
    05:48 PM

    I had Napoleon on BETA many many years ago and it is too bad that I did not retain it so I could have transfered it to DVD, as I never would have thought that such a masterpiece would languish in non-dvd hell for so long....Oh well, I waited patiently for Fritz Lang's NIBELUNGEN to come to DVD, which thankfully it has, so I can only hope this one turns up some day soon....
    Reply

  • By J. Leighton
    February 25, 2012
    08:48 PM

    I saw the very first scraps that Brownlow put together in the late 70's when I was in college and the score was a pastiche of period classical music. That was the trip when he made contact with the various Coppolas and raised the funding to finish the project. I saw the live orchestra version twice (and the tickets were not cheap!). I have tickets for the new perfomances here is Oakland, CA. When I got the "official" news from the Silent FIlm Festival people that there was to be no DVD of this final version with the new score (never liked the Coppola one), I was crushed to say the least. Much as I respect Mr. Brownlow and his work, this decision is a betrayal of all the fans who love this movie. We need to let him and his backers know that we think a decent print can be made available despite the shortcomings of DVD format. And that we will buy it.
    Reply

  • By Dennis James
    March 14, 2012
    06:21 PM

    You all do know NAPOLEON isn't the only orchestra plus organ with silent film show in upcoming weeks. For instance, I'm performing at the organ together with with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra for the 1920 Douglas Fairbanks silent film adventure THE MARK OF ZORRO on April 19 & 20 in Indianapolis at the local art museum, and then over to the grand Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ in Buffalo for accompanying Lon Chaney in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA playing the 1925 original score by G. Hinrichs and M. Winkler at Shea's Buffalo movie palace together with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on Sunday, April 22. The grand movie palace experience with silent films and live music is back . . . thank you, THE ARTIST, for winning the Oscar and reviving our specialist interest for the general public! Dennis James, SILENT FILM CONCERTS
    Reply

  • By Christopher Thomason
    May 11, 2012
    02:35 PM

    Hope there will be a special DVD (even Blu_ray) release from Criterion soon, but heard it'll never be because it's very expenisive long film and they have rights for the Carl Davis score not being releasing as said by SFSFF. But will BFI (or Kino) ever release this version soon if not Criterion? I'm really looking forward to watching it. :)
    Reply

  • By Asa-Nisi-Masa
    May 26, 2012
    10:49 AM

    When will it be Criterion? I can't wait to see it but don't know how unless you guys release it
    Reply

  • By David
    May 28, 2012
    11:42 PM

    The Coppola version is being released on DVD in Germany. I suspect it's PAL/Region 2, and it appears that the subtitles are in German only. http://www.arthaus.de/napoleon-arthaus_premium
    Reply

  • By Elgatonyc
    July 02, 2012
    12:43 AM

    Well, here it is a year later and no word if/when the DVD of this is coming out. It annoys me that something like "Ted" will be on disc by Christmas and have 75,000 printings yet cinephiles have to beg for a masterpiece like this to be released. Btw, Napoleon made Cahiers du Cinema's Best 100 Films of All Time list...except hardly anybody has seen it. I hope Criterion can fix that.
    Reply

  • By Matthew Ekstrom
    September 22, 2012
    04:57 PM

    I'm not sure if this will ever get a DVD release. It would be nice to see both the Brownlow and Coppola versions in a box set, as a sort of compromise.
    Reply

  • By Rezag Levan
    October 30, 2012
    07:01 PM

    Is there anyone we can lobby about this? Or get a straight answer? I first saw this on UK TV in the early 1980s and even recorded it on VHS. You can imagine how gutted I am that the videos went walk about some years ago.
    Reply

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    • By Matthew Ekstrom
      November 02, 2012
      02:59 PM

      We could start a petition of some sort. My fear is that this will turn out like the Star Wars Special Editions. I hope both editions will be available whenever this gets a DVD.

  • By Robert J Alexander
    November 10, 2012
    09:45 AM

    I saw the movie Napoleon in Boston around 1981 with a live orchestra conducted by Carmine Coppola and at that time I was thrilled with Abel Gance's film technique that included multiple screens. It is my favorite movie of all times. I have it on both VHS and I have a copy of it on DVD which I received from overseas. I am hoping both versions would be released on DVD because I feel that it is significant film that should be shared and appreciated by Silent Film Fans.
    Reply

  • By Pete Mantle
    December 10, 2012
    07:00 PM

    I too saw it on UK tv - I think it was split into two parts. Looked brilliant on a 14" screen I imagine on a cinema screen it would be awsome.There seems to be no shortage of people who want to see it again. Lets start a campaign
    Reply

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