Abel Gance, Albert Dieudonné, Antonin Artaud, Damia, Georges Lampin ...( see more  see more... ) , Philippe Hériat

Abel Gance’s monumental tribute to the steady rise to power of Napoleon Bonaparte is a genre-defining breakthrough in cinematic history and a landmark of technical and artistic invention. The story of...( read more  read more... ) Napoleon’s ascension from lowly Corsican outsider to emperor of most of Europe is fertile ground for Gance’s outrageously daring and audacious style. From a snowball fight at the young Napoleon’s boarding school to the siege of Toulon and the terror of the French Revolution, violent, beautiful, and unforeseen images are captured by Gance’s mostly handheld camera, interspersing Napoleon’s heroic posturing with dizzying verité depictions of breakneck action. Early uses of tints and color processes, unorthodox camerawork, and eye-popping superimposition and editing reveal Gance to be decades ahead of his time. In addition, a cast of thousands of incredibly real faces and characters is rounded out by forceful and inspirational performances by Vladimir Roudenko as the Young Napoleon, Albert Dieudonné as the mature Napoleon, and a handful of others (notably a cameo by Antonin Artaud as Marat). Originally intended to be screened as a triple projection, NAPOLEON relies upon the power of the image to forge enduring myth out of imagination and history.

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89% liked it

1,143 ratings

Unrated, 4 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Abel Gance

Release Date: February 7, 1929

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Flixster Reviews (89)


  • October 6, 2008
    yes, it's a four hour silent epic on the life of napoleon. i guess i don't need to say it's not for everyone :) however if u have the time and the inclination and can find it, it's an amazing achievement. thrilling action scenes, stunning camera work using techniques that woul...( read more)dn't be seen again for decades, and it helps if u enjoy history lol. i understand coppola is holding up the dvd release and that's a shame. this deserves a criterion!
  • January 22, 2010
    Pompous rubbish attempting to glorify a tyrant.
  • January 22, 2009
    sadly this film is not on dvd and unless you personally know francis ford coppola you can't ever see it
  • November 8, 2008
    As I watched the first half of this film, I was blown off my seat. It was the most exciting thing ever that I have seen. the scene in Corsica was badass for one. I mean, watching the scene in the bar where each Corsican declares his respective loyalties and Bonaparte comes in wit...( read more)h his allegiance to France. That was just sweet. The entire chase scene on the island was magnificent too. Really exciting considering its length. The dimensions of this film is fantastic too, extremely high quality and innovative techniques and it never feels too much but the epic of epics. Gance is a genius for sure.
  • March 21, 2008
    I did not really like this movie.
  • March 13, 2008
    een beetje geschiedenis
  • November 28, 2007
    Very good silent epic. The restored version is ace.
  • October 27, 2007
    Might get around to seeing this when I'm really old and crusty.

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Napoléon Trivia


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