War and Peace

WAR AND PEACE is a novel to which I was devoted when I was young--unabridged, by the way; I doubt there was an abridgement when I was young. I read it over and over again, and something of Natasha, Sonya, and Marya went into the make-up of who I became. This movie with Audrey Hepburn, May Britt, Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer, and Jeremy Brett, despite certain deviations from the narrative and necessary abridgement of characters and events, is excellent. Heartfelt thanks to the seller for rushing the DVD to me. Carefully packaged, it arrived in perfect condition.

It's odd that this movie runs three hours and twenty eight minutes and it's considered the short, condensed version of Tolstoy's literary masterpiece. The novel is actually much better known and deserves to be. As much I acknowledge King Vidor as the one of the pioneer directors and a maverick who went his own way throughout his career, this movie is a bit of a disappointment. After all, this is the same director who directed "The Big Parade", the anti war movie that launched MGM.King Vidor was not your typical Texan. Movies he made just before this was "Duel in the Sun" for Selznick and "The Fountainhead" written by Ann Rand. This "War and Peace" was made in Italy and was produced by Dino deLaurentis. Vidor and six other writers had the tast of condensing Tolstoy's classic, eliminating major subplots and streamling the storylines of the three protangonists.The main protangonist in the book is Pierre Bezahov, here played by Henry Fonda. In 1968, Sergie Bondachuk played Pierre and wrote and directed a nine hour and much better movie than this one. Sergie even looked more like the book Pierre. Fonda could have played him more accurately, after all, he made "The Wrong Man" around the time and he was no longer a spring chicken. But here, he's dashing even when he wins a duel literally by accident. However, he does his best work when forced to walk as a prisoner to the French. He shows dignity in such adject conditions.Audrey Hepburn should have been perfect as Natasha and at times, is. However, it's not very convincing that she's just a naive little girl in the beginning and a woman who's been though a lot at the end. Not that's not her fault. Vidor with makeup artists, etc. should have created that illusion. In fact, the story is supposed to take seven years and this movie doesn't convince us of that at all.Mel Ferrer was Audrey's leading man offscream but he's missing the meloncholy about Andrei is supposed to project. He does have passible good looks and be standoffish but not really much else.However, he and Andrey do look well together and she also has excellent rapport with Fonda. Herbet Lom plays an interesting Napolean. Anita Ekberg looks beautiful and is not asked to do much else.The battle scenes are very well done and there is good levity when Fonda appears as a spectator. Ferrer's death scene is way too long and a bit unforgivable as some interesting bits of Tolstoy could have gone in.Tolstoy's musing about life are basically unfilmable but something could have gone in. Instead, the movie ends with Henry and Natasha reunited. However, the main parts of the basic story were covered.I just wish it had more the transcendance that the ending of "The Crowd" did. For that, I guess read the book.

5 Stars for Audrey Hepburn’s *enchanting and radiant* portrayal as Countess Natasha Rostova. Audrey Hepburn was *elegance and grace* embodied. She was incomparable..5 stars for the primary characters' lavish costumes, the amazing production sets, and the thousands of detailed military uniforms..5 stars for the impressive battle scenes and the scenes of the disastrous retreat from Russia by Napoleon’s French army..1956 movie War & Peace was *nominated* for Best Color Cinematography and Best Color Costume Design. 1956 Epic movies included War & Peace, King & I, Ten Commandments, Around The World In 80 Days..3 stars for Mel Ferrer portrayal as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, Herbert Lom portrayal as Napoleon, Anita Ekberg portrayal as the manipulative and shallow Helene Kuragina, and May Britt portrayal as Sonia Rostova..2 stars for the Sound, which was Not recorded on set during filming. Muffled Sound was reportedly *dubbed over the movie* in the studio. Movie deserved superior sound to match the amazing VistaVision and Technicolor..War & Peace was reportedly filmed on location in Turin and Rome, Italy. Movie reportedly utilized the Ponti-De Laurentiis Studios and Cinecittà Studios in Rome..2 stars for Henry Fonda disinterested portrayal of Pierre Bezukhov. Improperly cast. No attempt at a Russian or European accent..4 Stars overall for the 1956 movie War & Peace. Leo Tolstoy’s 1,225 page novel is *impossible to condense* into a 3.5 hour movie..1956 movie War & Peace is primarily focused on the very young Natasha - and her complex relationships with much older Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky, and manipulative liar Anatol Kuragin - during the Historical events of the Napoleonic Invasion of Russia..

トルストイの長編小説を映画化した1956年の作品。ワイド画面で、3時間を超える大作。オードリー・ヘプバーン、ヘンリー・フォンダ、メル・ファーラーなどの名優が登場。ヒロイン・ナターシャ（オードリー・ヘプバーン）の清楚な美貌に心を奪われる。「戦争と平和」と言えば、ソ連制作の大作もある。この映画のヒロイン（ナターシャ）はリュドミラ・サベリーエワが好演している。サベリーエワも清純派美人だと思う。

Prompt delivery, excellent packing, exceptional quality (of used DVD): outstanding service, in short, and highly recommended.

Although far better than previous DVD releases of Vidor's moderately celebrated version of Tolstoy's masterpiece, this transfer from an unrestored and somewhat damaged VistaVision source is far from perfect. The colour is often rather muddy, the definition occasionally blurry and fine detail almost non existent. Add to this an audio track that was never very good in the first instance, and always sounded unnatural and post recorded, and you will gather that you are not in for a stunning audio or visual experience if you purchase this disc. That said, at almost three and a half hours the film does not outstay its welcome and is charming and quite engaging and quite moving in equal measures with a host of memorable performances from some excellent character actors. As this is probably the best version that will be available, until the unlikely event the studios undertake a full renovation, I certainly recommend its purchase for those who fear the epic duration of its far superior Russian produced counterpart.

I loved this movie when it first came out. But time has not been kind to it. To begin with, even at the time of its first release there was too much peace and too little war. Now, the miscastings are too obvious and get in the way. Poor Audrey did develop into a fine actress, but she is in way over her head as Natasha and though she brightens the screen, she simply stops the action dead in its tracks - I'm using cliches since the movie is full of them. Henry Fonda is a different kettle of fish - too American to even catch a bit of the nature of Pierre. So there goes that half of the novel. John Mills and Herbert Lom are excellent. Mel Ferrer comes off best of the leads. But casting Anita Ekberg and Vittorio Gassman! Bad moves. She can't act her way out of a torn paper bag, and he plays such a one-dimensional character as to make his scenes with Hepburn almost comical. Sumptuous sets, wrong-headed costumes - this is Moscow not St. Petersburgh - and a print that cannot be adjusted and spills over the sides of whatever size screen you are watching it on, all count against this version. Paramount, you fooled us then, but not now, and especially not since the Russian version of this film became easily accessible. Give this one a pass, unless you absolutely adore Hepburn no matter how badly cast she is. Her only worse film is "Paris When It Sizzles", which is enough to make your eyeballs crawl inside your head to hide.

Before purchasing I had read a previous review that made a negative comment about the vista screen quality - this was absolute rubbish! I watched the film as soon as I recieved it, the package was beautifully presented with a lovely post card included, the viewing quality was wonderful, in-keeping with the time it was filmed bringing a wonderful vintage feel as you would expect from any 'classic' original film. I certainly wouldn't expect or want for that matter, a HD experience from such a great classic story and film. I loved it, it was moving, historically accurate and atmospheric. I would strongly recommend this film and supplier to anyone intetested in this story and historical event.