War and Peace (1956)

40% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(7,427 ratings)

War and Peace is a commendable attempt to boil down Tolstoy's long, difficult novel into 208 minutes' screen time. In recreating the the social and personal upheavals attending Napoleon's 1812 invasion of Russia, $6 million was shelled out by coproducers Carlo Ponti, Dino de Laurentiis and Paramount… More War and Peace is a commendable attempt to boil down Tolstoy's long, difficult novel into 208 minutes' screen time. In recreating the the social and personal upheavals attending Napoleon's 1812 invasion of Russia, $6 million was shelled out by coproducers Carlo Ponti, Dino de Laurentiis and Paramount Pictures. Some of the panoramic battle sequences are so expertly handled by second-unit director Mario Soldati that they appear to be Technicolor-and-Vistavision newsreel footage of the actual events. Still, the film falters dramatically, principally because of a lumpy script and King Vidor's surprisingly lustreless direction. In addition, the casting is wildly consistent: for example, while Audrey Hepburn is flawless as Natasha, Henry Fonda is far too "Yankeefied" as the introspective Pierre. Proving too long and unwieldy for most audiences, War and Peace died at the box office; far more successful was the epic, scrupulously faithful 1968 version, filmed in the Soviet Union. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 3 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: King Vidor
Written By: Bridget Boland, Robert Westerby, King Vidor, Mario Camerini, Ennio De Concini
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Classics

In Theaters: Aug 21, 1956 Wide
On DVD: Dec 3, 2002

Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Alas, the human stories that Tolstoy told so significantly in the book are sketchy and inconsequential, despite the time devoted to them.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Spectacle galore starring Hepburn and Fonda.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jennifer D

Henry Fonda and Audrey Hepburn are a reason to watch, even if it is CRAZY long and boring for long stints.
jay n

Lumbering, stagnant version of an epic novel that could not possibly be covered in 3 1/2 hours. Miscasting is another major downfall of this production, Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda were great stars and very fine actors but they were the wrong ones for this film. Fine production… More
Lumbering, stagnant version of an epic novel that could not possibly be covered in 3 1/2 hours. Miscasting is another major downfall of this production, Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda were great stars and very fine actors but they were the wrong ones for this film. Fine production design and beautiful photography do not an entertaining film make. A trial to sit through.
Dean M

What a very long epic film classic. Really interested drama story of international conflict, spectacular adventure, gripping intrigue and tragic romance set against the sweeping backdrop of Napoleon's invasion of Russia. It's also a bit familiar to 1939's <i>Gone… More
What a very long epic film classic. Really interested drama story of international conflict, spectacular adventure, gripping intrigue and tragic romance set against the sweeping backdrop of Napoleon's invasion of Russia. It's also a bit familiar to 1939's <i>Gone with the Wind</i>. I found out this took five years to make at enormous cost; it is a cinematic treasure.

Cast

            Audrey Hepburn as Natasha

            Henry Fonda as Pierre

            Mel Ferrer as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky

            Vittorio Gassman as Anatole

            Anita Ekberg as Helene

            Oscar Homolka as Gen. Mikhail Kutuzov

            Herbert Lom as Napoleon

            John Mills as Platon

            Helmut Dantine as Dolokhov

            Milly Vitale as Lise

            Barry Jones as Count Ilya Rostov

            Wilfred Lawson as Prince Nicholas Bolkonsky

            Jeremy Brett as Nicholas Rostov

            Sean Barrett as Petya Rostov

            Anna Maria Ferrero as Mary Bolkonskv

            Tullio Carminatti as Kuragin

            Patrick Crean as Denisov

            Gertrude Flynn as Peronskaya

            Marisa Allasio as Matriosa

            Vincent Barbi as Balaga

            Georges Brehat as French Officer at Execution

            Guido Celano as Napoleon's Officer

            David Crowley
            
            Bob Cunningham as Pierre's Second at Duel

            Carlo Dale
            
            Mino Doro as Russian General

            Andre Eszterhazy as Dolokhov's Second

            Andrea Fantasia as Constand

            Charles Fawcett as Russian Artillery Captain

            John Horne as Old Gentleman Dancing with Natasha

            Clelia Matania as Mlle. Georges

            Enrico Olivieri as French Drummer

            Mimmo Palmara
            
            Alfredo Rizzo as Soldiers During the Rostovs' Exile

            Giacomo Rossi-Stuart as Young Cossack

            Lea Seidl as Countess Rostov

            Robert Stephens as Officers Talking with Natasha During Exile

            Gualtiero Tumiati as Pierre's Father

            Joop van Hulzen as Russian Officer

            Michael Billingsley as Russian Soldier

            Gilberto Tofano as Young Dying Soldier

            Teresa Pellati as Masa

            Cesare Barbetti as Young Boy

            John Douglas
            
            Jerry Riggio
            
            Mai Britt
            
            Geoffrey Copleston
            
            Angelo Galassi
            
            Marianna Leibl as Servant at Bolkonsky's

            Alberto Carlo Lolli as Rostov's Major-Domo

            Piero Palermini as Russian Artillery Lieutenant

            Umberto Sacripante as Old Man

            John Stacey
            
            Michael Tor as Pope

            Maria Zanoli as Mayra

            Stephen Lang as Tichon

            Richard Macnamara as De Beausset

            Paul Davis as Young French Officer
See full cast