MovieChat Forums > Napoléon vu par Abel Gance (1929) Discussion > Screening in San Francisco, March-April,...

Screening in San Francisco, March-April, 2012

posted 14 years ago by jknuttel-2
17 replies | jump to latest

From Leonard Maltin's web page:

There are silent films, there are epics, and then there is Napoleon. After thirty years, the unique French production is primed to make a comeback on this side of the Atlantic, in the longest version ever screened since its premiere at the Paris Opéra in 1927. The announcement was made on opening night of this weekend’s San Francisco Silent Film Festival.

The news: Kevin Brownlow will present his five-and-a-half hour restoration, produced with Patrick Stanbury, his partner in Photoplay Productions, and the British Film Institute (BFI), at the enormous Paramount Theatre in Oakland on March 24, 25, 31, and April 1 of next year. Carl Davis will conduct his original score with the Oakland East Bay Symphony. Tickets will go on sale on Monday at silentfilm.org, and you can watch a specially-prepared trailer here: http://vimeo.com/26322723.

[–] AntoNEO 14 years ago

My friends and I just got our tickets! I've never seen any version of the film, nor have I ever had the pleasure of attending a film event of this magnitude, so I'm incredibly excited!

"I grew up watching TV and I turned out TV." - Homer Simpson

[–] ffeff 14 years ago

Hi AntoNEO!

I think you will love it -- I saw a restored copy of it (as whole as could be had at the time) years ago at the beautiful historic (and very apt venue) Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, with live accompaniment. It was fantastic, and I have to agree with Leonard Maltin.

[–] AntoNEO 14 years ago

Hi ffeff!

Fancy running into you again! You've just made me even more excited. Now I just have to endure the long wait until March. Admittedly, $100 is more than I've ever spent on a ticket of this sort before, but then, I never get to go to the opera or anything like that, so if I'm going to splurge, it seems that a cinematic event of this magnitude is an appropriate way to do it - especially since it sounds like appearances of this film are rather rare. Here's to hoping that this restoration signals an upcoming DVD/Blu-ray release sometime next year (if all of the rights issues have gotten sorted out). Whatever the case may be, I look forward to my theater viewing!

P.S. Anticipating an appearance from combatreview in 5...4...3... :-)

"I grew up watching TV and I turned out TV." - Homer Simpson

[–] ffeff 14 years ago

P.S. Anticipating an appearance from combatreview in 5...4...3... :-)

Haha, probably not. I stalk him, he doesn't stalk me... oh! Unless you meant YOURself!

Did I tell you I finally got to see 'Let Me In'?!?

[–] Squirrel-5 14 years ago

I nearly went into shock when I heard about this. Hopefully there will be more screenings nationwide and a DVD/Blu ray release.

[–] msmith13-2 14 years ago

Well, Brownlow just said the other day that neither DVD/Blu-ray nor future live showing in the US are being planned.

[–] BishopII_not_a_droid 14 years ago

I got my tickets, I'm so stoked. The movie was amazing as a 4 hour version on laserdisc that I watched on my small TV. I can only wait until it's shown properly. Why can't March 2012 get here sooner?

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] BladeRunner391 13 years ago

Hopefully it will screen again, because I won't be able to make it:( Thankfully, I've found a 5 hour version on the web so I can just watch that instead, but I know it's meant to be viewed on he big screen.

[–] Euphrosyne 13 years ago

"... but I know it's meant to be viewed on the big screen."

Unfortunately, with so few big-screens left, I don't think most people really understand what this means.

Very sorry that you can't make it, as the Paramount is a gorgeous theatre. I'm going to see it today - I'll post a re-cap.

[–] Squirrel-5 13 years ago

I bought my tickets last summer and can't wait. Flying from the East coast to see this.

[–] Bry-2 13 years ago

We need a lengthy review/assessment of the San Francisco presentation ASAP.

--If they move, kill 'em!

[–] Euphrosyne 13 years ago

Just got back from the screening & I loved it. Though I won't be able to give you a lengthy review.

And may I just correct the header for this thread - the screenings are in Oakland, not San Francisco.

The film quality was excellent, Carl Davis and the orchestra where perfect (I can't believe they performed for 5.5 hours!). There were some great shots, I especially liked the quick-cuts & use of super-impositions. And the triptych at the end was really impressive.

Definitely an incredible movie experience.

[–] poojidung 13 years ago

Agreed! It was fantastic, and if you can make it this weekend, do so!

[–] Euphrosyne 13 years ago

It's a shame that the weather today (for the 2nd Saturday screening), is so bad. I hope that it doesn't effect the turn-out, as one of the great things about the movie for me, was seeing it on a really, big screen, with a great audience.

[–] pery-1 13 years ago

Wonderful! Very ahead of its time. Amazing filming and editing. I read Gance was a pacifist, and the war scenes are gritty. A lot of skin in the party scenes. Saw it April 1, 2012, and at the same theater 30 years ago. I remember the triple screen segments as distributed though the film, including one segment of the assembly, from a camera swinging back and forth over the crowd. What happened to them? The theater organ was used a lot along with symphony in the 1980s showing, but only a couple minutes this time, unfortunately. The Coppola score was great and so was the Davis one used in 2012. The newer version has much more color.
It's like watching a Wagner opera in terms of overall time, and some long, drawn out scenes. Some cutting would be helpful, but I understand showing it all to not miss any of what Gance produced.

[–] Euphrosyne 13 years ago

I wasn't fortunate enough to catch the 1980s showing, but was glad to catch this one.

I can only hope that they uncover more footage and continue to expand on Gance's original vision. This was a great movie!