Napoleon Bonaparte has been depicted in over 700 films and 350 television shows, reflecting his lasting impact on cinema. Over 80,000 literary works explore his life, leading to varied portrayals by filmmakers like Ridley Scott and Abel Gance, the latter creating a landmark film in the 1920s. Gance’s ambitious project faced financial challenges, leading to multiple restorations, with ongoing efforts to preserve his cinematic vision, ensuring Napoleon’s legacy continues for future audiences.
Napoleon on Screen: A Historical Phenomenon
With over 700 cinematic portrayals and approximately 350 appearances on television, Napoleon remains one of the most depicted historical figures in the world of film and television. Historian and film critic Antoine de Baecque highlights this fascination, underscoring the Emperor’s enduring presence on screens.
The Literary Legacy of Napoleon
In the realm of literature, the intrigue surrounding Napoleon is even more pronounced. Renowned historian Jean Tulard posited in 2014 that an astounding 80,000 works have been published regarding Napoleon, equating to more than one new title every day since his birth in Ajaccio in 1769. Ridley Scott may face criticism for his portrayal of the Emperor, but his vision is distinctly his own artistic expression.
Creating a comprehensive work about Napoleon is no easy task. Stanley Kubrick famously labored for years on a project about the Emperor before abandoning it when MGM pulled out due to the poor box office performance of “Waterloo.” This decision was considered quite unfair given the film’s merit.
Long before, filmmaker Abel Gance embarked on a monumental project, aiming to create an extensive cinematic fresco of Napoleon’s life. The film featured Albert Dieudonné in the titular role, a performance that not only garnered him fame but also led him to dedicate much of his life to Napoleon, even opting to be buried in a replica of the Emperor’s costume.
Abel Gance’s Epic Vision
In the early 1920s, Gance envisioned a grand series of six to eight films that would chronicle Napoleon Bonaparte’s journey from his youth to his exile on Saint Helena. The first episode began filming in 1925 and spans an impressive seven hours, concluding with the Emperor’s presence in Montenotte in 1796. Unfortunately, Gance could never complete his ambitious project due to financial constraints.
The initial film cost 17 million francs, significantly more than the initial budget of 20 million. The editing process was extensive, resulting in variations ranging from four to nine kilometers of film, with a complete version reaching thirteen kilometers, far exceeding the producers’ expectations.
The first part of Gance’s work was released in two formats: a shorter version for the general audience titled ‘Opera’ and a longer version for press and distributors called ‘Apollo.’ Both versions achieved remarkable success, showcasing groundbreaking technical innovations.
Features such as split screens, rapid montages, and the use of three cameras for a climactic 20-minute battle sequence elevated the film’s epic quality. Gance’s innovative technique, known as polyvision, allowed viewers to experience a panoramic view by dividing the screen into three distinct images, creating a stunning visual effect.
Throughout his life, Abel Gance continued to edit and re-edit his film, producing various versions, including the sound edition in 1935 and the 1971 release titled “Napoleon and the Revolution.” However, with the loss of the original negative, determining the film’s true original form has become a complex challenge.
A Quest for Restoration
The journey to restore Gance’s film mirrors the captivating saga of Napoleon himself. Film historian Kevin Brownlow, a leading expert on Gance, dedicated decades to locating the most complete version of the film. He began his quest at the tender age of eight, after discovering a 9.5 mm copy in his school library in 1954.
Brownlow’s passion for the film led him to reach out to Gance himself, resulting in a memorable meeting at the British Film Institute. Years of diligent effort allowed him to piece together a five-hour version, which premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square in 1968 and later at the Telluride Film Festival in 1979.
Gance, nearing 90 at the time, was initially bewildered by the screening, mistaking it for a documentary about its restoration. His astonishment and appreciation for Brownlow’s dedication were evident, despite the language barrier.
Subsequent screenings, including a notable event organized by Francis Ford Coppola in New York’s iconic Radio City Hall, further solidified the film’s legacy and success.
Modern Restorations and Future Endeavors
Since its initial release in 1927, Gance’s “Napoleon” has undergone five significant restorations, with three conducted by the Cinémathèque française. Kevin Brownlow’s third restoration, released by the BFI on Blu-ray in 2016, was another milestone in the film’s storied history. However, the journey to restore this cinematic masterpiece continues.
Director and researcher Georges Mourier has undertaken a new restoration project under the auspices of the Cinémathèque française since 2007, initially tasked with inventorying the numerous reels of film comprising over 600,000 images. After two years of meticulous work, it became clear that previous restorations had inadvertently mixed two original negatives: the shorter ‘Opera’ version and the longer ‘Apollo’ version.
This monumental preparatory work is just the beginning of what promises to be an ongoing journey to preserve the legacy of Abel Gance’s extraordinary vision of Napoleon Bonaparte for future generations.