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ITV Play of the Week

War and Peace

  • Episode aired Mar 26, 1963
  • 2h 45m
YOUR RATING
S8.E29
  • S8
  • E29
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  • Comedy
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Napoleon's tumultuous relations with Russia including his disastrous 1812 invasion serve as the backdrop for the tangled personal lives of five aristocratic Russian families.Napoleon's tumultuous relations with Russia including his disastrous 1812 invasion serve as the backdrop for the tangled personal lives of five aristocratic Russian families.Napoleon's tumultuous relations with Russia including his disastrous 1812 invasion serve as the backdrop for the tangled personal lives of five aristocratic Russian families.
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Silvio Narizzano
  • Writers
    • Robert David MacDonald(english adaptation)
    • Alfred Neumann(adaptation)
    • Erwin Piscator(adaption)
  • Stars
    • Tom Adams
    • Tony Beckley
    • Ann Bell
Top credits
  • Director
    • Silvio Narizzano
  • Writers
    • Robert David MacDonald(english adaptation)
    • Alfred Neumann(adaptation)
    • Erwin Piscator(adaption)
  • Stars
    • Tom Adams
    • Tony Beckley
    • Ann Bell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

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    Tom Adams
    Tom Adams
    • Anatol Kuraginas Anatol Kuragin
    Tony Beckley
    Tony Beckley
    • Dolokhovas Dolokhov
    Ann Bell
    Ann Bell
    • Princess Lisaas Princess Lisa
    Derek Benfield
    Derek Benfield
    • Dr - Kusmichas Dr - Kusmich
    Gary Bond
    Gary Bond
    • Nicolai Rostrovaas Nicolai Rostrova
    Freda Dowie
    Freda Dowie
    • Princess Marieas Princess Marie
    Clifford Evans
    Clifford Evans
    • Prince Bolkonskias Prince Bolkonski
    John Franklyn-Robbins
    John Franklyn-Robbins
    • Narratoras Narrator
    Kenneth Griffith
    Kenneth Griffith
    • Napoleonas Napoleon
    Mary Hinton
    Mary Hinton
    • Countess Rostovaas Countess Rostova
    Barry Linehan
    Barry Linehan
    • Alpatichas Alpatich
    Daniel Massey
    Daniel Massey
    • Prince Andreias Prince Andrei
    Tim Pearce
    • Tzar Alexander 1stas Tzar Alexander 1st
    Morris Perry
    Morris Perry
    • Karateyevas Karateyev
    Steve Plytas
    • General Kutosovas General Kutosov
    Valerie Sarruf
    • Natasha Rostrovaas Natasha Rostrova
    Nicol Williamson
    Nicol Williamson
    • Count Pierre Besukhovas Count Pierre Besukhov
    • Director
      • Silvio Narizzano
    • Writers
      • Robert David MacDonald(english adaptation)
      • Alfred Neumann(adaptation)
      • Erwin Piscator(adaption)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    Storyline

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    Napoleon's tumultuous relations with Russia including his disastrous 1812 invasion serve as the backdrop for the tangled personal lives of five aristocratic Russian families.
    • Plot summary
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    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Version of Natasha Rostova (1915)

    User reviews1

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    An Example of 1960s Experimental Theatre
    I remember watching this in 1963. I was about 12 years old, and it was broadcasted on ITV on a Tuesday night at about 8:30. For a 12-year-old, it was a very perplexing programme. I think I only kept watching it, order to stay up late that night. Plus, there was nothing particularly interesting on the other side (BBC) at the same time.

    The play seemed to be produced on a circular stage, in the same way that I would imagine early television plays would have been broadcasted, similar to the way some Shakespearian plays have recently been staged. There were lots of actors in period dress, the background was completely dark, and there was no scenery nor props, apart from a raised platform for the characters to sit or stand on.

    The other perplexing part of the programme was that the narrator actually appeared on the stage, telling the story as it unfolded. The strange thing was that he was dressed in a modern-day suit, looking rather out of place in a period drama.

    This story telling technique of the narrator performing dually as one of the cast and talking to the audience as the story unfolds, with other members of the cast being totally oblivious to him speaking, harks back to the type of plays that were put on by the Ancient Greeks. The narrator also seemed to be acting as a spectator and walked anachronistically amongst the other members of the cast. He also, spookily, seemed to act as a confidante to some of the plays characters, during their period of deep introspection and dark reflection.

    I think in the Greek plays, he would have been known as Chorus. Other examples of this are Richard III in Shakespeare's play of the same name; the character of Pseudolus in "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum"; and, more famously, Tevye the Milkman in "Fiddler On The Roof".

    I will give the play 8 out of 10 for effort and for reviving an old traditional method of producing a play, at the same time, trying to reinvent the old style of putting on theatrical performances.
    helpful•0
    0
    • andyrobert
    • Nov 29, 2021

    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 26, 1963 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Production company
      • Granada Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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