Its torture. Pure torture. It could be the greatest thing ever, but just sitting in one place for 4, 5 or even 6 hours watching a silent film cannot be a great experience. If/when I do see it, I'll have to spread it out over two sittings.
shareI'm sure that watching it on a big screen has got to make a difference. Its a great film in itself but on a big screen it is spectacular. I haven't seen it on a television screen so I don't know if it would be tiresome but I sat through the whole four hours the one time I saw it and never got bored. There was an intermission, though. I believe it was fifteen minutes. It was shown in an art gallery. I intend to get this on dvd eventually. It is probably my favorite film.
shareI just finished watching the 'Coppola' version just now. I watched it at about an hour at a time. I think I could have watched it all at once but other people in my house would have been annoyed so...I didn't! :P
If I'd seen it in the cinema I think I would have been able to completely fall into it and let the time slip by a bit (something you can't really do to the same degree with home viewing).
I would really like to see the full length version though and in decent quality (the version I got was good but not quite as good as I would like, but that's public domain downloads for you).
Great piece of cinema though! :D
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=35080015
Napoleon is probably a million times better than any movie made within the last 20 years.
"A voice from behind me reminds me. Spread out your wings you are an angel."
Napoleon is all most all ways shown with an intermission.
shareWhen I've seen it live, three intermissions, including a two-hour dinner interval between parts 2 and 3.
shareWhen I've seen it live, three intermissions, including a two-hour dinner interval between parts 2 and 3.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5i1cJIwE7M
If you're really into a film, the running time shouldn't matter. I watched NAPOLEON last night from beginning to end in one sitting. I only got up during the intermission to get a snack and use the restroom before sitting right back down and watching the second half. I never wanted it to end. I thought it was the most breathtaking film experience of my life. I'm anxious to watch it again.
"Film is an art at its highest level." Paul Joyce, REMEMBERING STANLEY KUBRICK
When a film is as brillant, visually intoxicating, boldly ambitious, immensely daring and indescribably (especially to your ignorance) innovative as Abel Gance's Napoléon (1927), it doesn't matter how long it is ... you'll sit through it in one sitting and enjoy every minute of it; wishing it never came to a climax! Abel Gance possessed a remarkable way of connecting his audience with the characters portrayed in his films, and therefore, the experience becomes all the more powerful and rewarding.
"I hope I never get so old I get religious." Ingmar Bergman
It was 5 hours long as I remember when I saw it in the cinema. One of the greatest experiences of my life!
shareIs it available on DVD yet? IMDb doesn't seem to think so. I want the longest possible version, with all the music that's ever been composed for it (including the Carmine Coppola score, which is frequently derided these days).
I saw it "live" in Los Angeles back in '81 or '82, with a full orchestra and one (maybe two) intermissions. It was simply INCREDIBLE. I don't know how the "PolyVision" will work on DVD (it wasn't very spectacular on VHS), but it's well worth seeing!
--Jack, you have debauched my sloth!
Yes, it is available on DVD. At least here in Brazil, but unfortunately it's not the complete cut.
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Mulholland CineLog: http://mulhollandcinelog.wordpress.com/
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Remember, they're not silent, they're only voiceless! I feel the sound is as important as the film. A good silent film, with proper accompanyment, is a great musical experience. If can make or break it. I hate some modern accompanyment with bizarre modern music, especially when it doesn't follow the action in the film.
If you like organ music, you'll like any silent film with organ accompanyment. If you love Wagner operas, you'll love silent films. Composer Davis mentioned how silent film was greatly influenced by opera and ballet.
If you love film, you can.
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