Napoleon vu par Abel Gance in Theatres and Coming to DVD

If you are a movie buff and your Facebook feed did not look like the above yesterday/last night, then you need new Facebook friends!  One of the most exciting announcements since Vivien Leigh was cast to play Scarlett O'Hara is the announcement that the BFI will release Kevin Brownlow's EPIC five and half restoration of Abel Gance's 1927 film Napoleon  in theatres in 2016 and on DVD. 

Abel Gance and Kevin Brownlow in Paris

I am envious for everyone who will get the chance to see the film as it was meant to be seen, "Live Cinema" complete with the tryptchs and the Carl Davis score.  I saw this film as it was meant to be in 2012 and count the screening at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, CA as the cinematic experience of my life.

Pamela Hutchinson of the terrific blog Silent London, fills in the gaps, do read it!

Valdimir Roudenko as the young Napoleon

The fact that the film will also be released on DVD means that (1) I will need to invest in a multi-region blu-ray player and (2) invest in a obscenely huge television to begin to do this justice in my home environment. 

 

Homemade program for Kevin's first home screening and first restoration

Now, in reality, nothing beats seeing this film on the big screen(s) with a rapt audience.  If you have the chance, do not miss seeing it that way, you will not regret it.


All congratulations to the BFI, Photoplay Productions, and last and, certainly not the least, Kevin Brownlow.  Brownlow's passion for the film since he was a young man of 15, his hard work piecing together the film from bits of film gathered from around the world, well we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.  Not that we do not owe Kevin for his excellent books and all the films he has worked hard to present as they should be seen, and all the fantastic documentaries.  We do! 


I could not be more thrilled by the announcement!  HOORAY!