4 Hour Version
A 2 hour Russian film? In the 60s? Give me a break, where's the original uncut version?
It's not a lie if you believe it.
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MovieChat Forums > Waterloo (1970) Discussion > 4 Hour Version
The four hour version is a myth. If you read H.A.L. Craig's script or the novelisation (also by him) you'll see there is really nothing of substance missing in the final film version.
shareI agree with Magnusmagic.
The Battle of Ligny was completely cut out, unfortunately this deletion means that we don't get to see why Blucher is bandaged up and rubbing medicine on his ribs.
The meeting of Wellington and Blucher at the end of the battle was also deleted - but scenes of this this exist in the films UK publicity brochure.
The character of Maria was also deleted. She was a cantiniere of the Old Gaurd whose lover was played by Andrea Checci, (the character of Sauret in the film). I have a picture of her from the film where she is looking over the battlefield for the body of Sauret accompanied by a French drummer boy.
A lot of the scenes from Napoleon's return to Paris and the re-establishing of his government also went.
There are also scenes from the battlefield, before and after the battle, where scenes are shortened. Scenes during the battle have been shortened such as Napoleon raising a toast to Ney at the start of the attack on Picton's division and Napoleon's comment on seeing the Gordon Highlander's advance that he sees himself as Ceaser and can imagine himself in the wilds of Germany in barbarian times.
I think that the scenes with Wellington are more or less intact, Napoleon's have suffered most from editing but the Prussian scenes are very heavily cut indeed.
That's very interesting information kearnshaw. Was all that in the novelisation? I'll have to try and track down a copy.
I've always had the suspicion that this film was originally longer. One thing that struck me was the very short amount of time Orson Welles has on screen. I couldn't help but feel that his part (especially for such a legend) could have and may have been longer.
I also get the feeling that the two Old Guard members (the two men who have moustaches and are always seen together) were part of a deleted plot part as well.
My name is Nathan.
The novelization I have is by the guy who wrote 633 Squadron (Frederick E.Smith).
Yeah there was a lot that didn't make it in. The piggy soldier actually goes foraging the night before Waterloo and runs into the Old Guard grenadier (Sauret) who's also foraging. The lengthened story followed these characters as well so you still see their names in the cast but have no idea who they are!
Cheers,
Tom516
"It is not enough to like a film. You must like it for the right reasons."
- Pierre Rissient
I was thinking that the current version of 'Waterloo' could not be expanded into a longer version because of the way it has been edited. Some of the deleted scenes have been used in the film, such as Blucher leading the charge of the Prussian cavalry onto the battlefield 'On, On, my children'. This has been lifted directly from the Ligny battle.
If Ligny was to be reinstated then these scenes would have to go for obvious reasons - which makes me think what was the original intention for the arrival of the Prussians? I'll have to re read Frederick E Smiths novelization!
Where Napoleon's voice over says 'Wellington is beaten, now move the Old Gaurd forward and on to Brussels', the close up we get of Rod Steiger comes from a scene where he is actually standing over a body of dying French general who's last words are 'Vive L'Empereur' This scene is on some lobby cards. So again this scene could not be reinstated as the film now stands.
I am sure there are other examples.
Anyway the film is being shown on Monday on British tv in a 1:85 transfer - better that nothing but still misses out a load of info.
I found the picture of the deleted scene you're referring to, the one of Napoleon over the dead body:
http://hem.bredband.net/magnificat/steiger2.jpg
Once Upon a Time in the West...there was a man called Sergio Leone
That's a terrific find Peacemaker. I don't know whether or not to believe the rumours of a four hour version (how I would love it if it was true, but I highly doubt it) but I've long since wondered if there were any deleted scenes left on the cutting room floor. The picture of Napoleon with the dying soldier certainly does not look like a publicity shot. Where did you find it?
My name is Nathan.
Ooh, is that a Gendarme d'Elite there in the background? :-)
Great find there!
Tom516
"It is not enough to like a film. You must like it for the right reasons."
- Pierre Rissient
I think it's yet another reason the non-British Napoleonic fellows are sore at the Brits. The movie gives the impression that the Dutch-Belgians were utter craven cowards (the Bylandt's brigade has broke) and that the Prussians came in late and were just there for the mop up and pursuit (totally ignoring the double-delaying action at Wavre and the bloody fight for Plancenoit). Even the Anglo-Prussian handshake (Quelle Affaire) at the end was cut out (I've seen the publicity still as well) and more's the pity too.
Tom516
"It is not enough to like a film. You must like it for the right reasons."
- Pierre Rissient
A friend of mine saw this when it first premiered in the US. He told me it was 4 hours long. It was pulled and cut down so that theater owners could get more showings in a day to maximize profit. The owner of Belle & Blade has been searching for the lost footage for years. I'm sure it's in some Russian vault somewhere.
shareIs the novelisation by Frederick E Smith worth it? its still availible on amazon.
shareYes, I would say that it is.
You won't find many dialogue scenes from the film as I think that Frederick E Smith was working from the original script.
But it is a fascinating read as most of the missing scenes are in the book so you can piece together the original intention for the film.
I read in a Starburst inteview with Dan O'Herlihy that he was extremely frustrated with the way Rod Steiger would ad lib on set and at one point even refused to speak any dialogue that Steiger had written!
Bondarchuk also said that directing Steiger was like 'directing an explosion', I think meaning that Steiger improvised a lot and Bondarchuk adjusted accordingly.
From H A L Craig's original script to the finished film there are added two 'collaborators' - Bondarchuk and Vittorio Bonicelli. I don't know what they would have contributed.
But a lot of discussion on this board is about a 4 hour version. I know from a cast member that they shot enough for a 17 hour film. My best guess is that the original running time was probably about 15 minutes longer. This is based on publicity material and from 'Screen Stories' magazine feature on the film.'Cromwell' had some interesting scenes cut by Columbia Picture just prior to the premiere and Columbia also released 'Waterloo' in Europe. Paramount Pictures USA release was I believe even shorter. Roadshow screenings were unfortunately going out of fashion.
So after all that I would say - yes get the novelization!