War and Peace (1956)

Napoleon's tumultuous relations with Russia including his disastrous 1812 invasion serve as the backdrop for the tangled personal lives of two aristocratic families.

Director:

King Vidor

Writers:

Leo Tolstoy (novel), Bridget Boland (screenplay),

Stars:

Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Audrey Hepburn	...	Natasha Rostova
Henry Fonda	...	Pierre Bezukhov
Mel Ferrer	...	Prince Andrei Bolkonsky
Vittorio Gassman	...	Anatol Kuragin
Herbert Lom	...	Napoleon
Oskar Homolka	...	Field Marshal Kutuzov (as Oscar Homolka)
Anita Ekberg	...	Helene Kuragina
Helmut Dantine	...	Dolokhov
Tullio Carminati	...	Prince Vasili Kuragin
Barry Jones	...	Prince Mikhail Andreevich Rostov
Milly Vitale	...	Lisa Bolkonskaya
Lea Seidl	...	Countess Rostov
Anna Maria Ferrero	...	Maria Bolkonskaya
Wilfrid Lawson	...	Prince Bolkonsky (as Wilfred Lawson)
May Britt	...	Sonia Rostova

Storyline

By 1812, Napoleon's forces controlled much of Europe. Russia, one of the few countries still unconquered, prepares to face Napoleon's troops together with Austria. Among the Russian soldiers are Count Nicholas Rostov and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. Count Pierre Bezukhov, a friend of Andrei's and self-styled intellectual who is not interested in fighting. Pierre's life changes when his father dies, leaving him a vast inheritance. He is attracted to Natasha Rostov, Nicholas's sister, but she is too young, so he gives in to baser desires and marries the shallow, manipulative Princess Helene. The marriage ends when Pierre discovers his wife's true nature. Andrei is captured and later released by the French, and returns home only to watch his wife die in childbirth. Months later, Pierre and Andrei meet again. Andrei sees Natasha and falls in love, but his father will only permit the marriage if they postpone it for one year until Natasha turns 17. While Andrei is away on a military mission, ...

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Plot Keywords:

russia | battle | inheritance | russian soldier | duel | 

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Taglines:

"A TRULY GREAT PICTURE!"--Los Angeles Enquirer

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for violence

Details

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English Italian Russian

Release Date:

21 August 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Guerra e Paz

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Ponti-De Laurentiis Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

208 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording) Perspecta Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

May Britt and Anita Ekberg had their voices dubbed by others.

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Goofs

The marching band in the opening parade are all playing modern musical instruments.

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Quotes

Natasha Rostov: Did you notice he almost never smiles? While I was singing, I turned around suddenly and caught him looking at me and he was smiling then. And I felt - but it's almost impossible to describe - I felt as if someone had given me the most enormous, beautiful present.

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Connections

Referenced in The Donna Reed Show: Nothing Like a Good Book (1959)

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Soundtracks

"Die Rose von Nowgorod"
Music by Nino Rota
Lyrics by Wolfgang Schrauth and S.Krapp
Sung by Zarah Leander

User Reviews

Good, but still not the Russian version

I finally saw the complete movie on DVD (I had seen part of it once on cable some years ago). I will agree with and not expound further on many of the other comments already posted; the picture is good, the sound not so, and the acting mixed. I will, however, put in a plug for the truly great 1968 Russian version of the film. The sound is almost as bad as the Vidor film (USSR sound recording in 68 was not much better than Italy in 56)but visually there is no comparison. Bonderchuk had the full cooperation of the Soviet government, and most scenes were filmed in actual locations. The cast is unequaled in size (I forget how many 100,000 were used in the battle scenes). The acting (the original Russian, not the wooden English dubbed voices) is superior, and the casting is arguably more authentic. I will also indicate that the "standard" edited version (as offered on the Kultur label) is disappointing (not widescreen, and available only in an abridged, dubbed, version - although the sound may be slightly better). Try to find the "international" version which is uncut and offers over a dozen dubbing/subtitle options. It is a full 8 hours and ships on 5 DVDs. Although not currently available, there was a miniseries made (I believe by BBC) that featured Anthony Hopkins as Pierre. What it lacks in scope it definitely makes up for in acting and thoroughness of treatment. I am anxiously awaiting it's DVD release...