Abel Gance's Napoleon Presented by San Francisco Silent Film Festival

[Filmmaker391]

BLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU RAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!

[AndrewMann552]

It should be seen on the big screen, but no plans for a DVD or Blu-Ray? What's wrong with these people? This is important ART we're talking about here! It should be fully preserved!

[Filmmaker391]

AAAAAAAAAAAA m so excited

[Linda69P]

I hope the music is appropriate to the story and time period, not some of the horrid modern music that doesn't even follow the action, that's now often used at silent film performances. The score in 1983 was terrific! That screening usedgthe symphony and the theater organ.

The ads mention the 3-screen climax, but in 1983 there were several 3-screen sections. Have these been eliminated? Are we being cheated?

[wcoates89]

@Linda69P I wouldn't worry. Carl Davis is an excellent composer and has done silent movie scores before. While it is true that the 1983 screening had Carmine Coppola, Davis stands out in his own right. His scores are always phenomenal. If you want a sample, go look for the score he did for "The Big Parade," which you can probably find on youtube or google videos. I think it is good hands. Also I am pretty certain it will be the three screens. I am confident that you will not be cheated :)

[MrRemicas]

The Emperor protects !

errrrr, sorry wrong one ^^

Vive l'Empereur !

[SilentRobert3]

Rights aside, one overriding reason why Napoleon is so rarely performed is because doing so is immensely expensive. For Oakland they are constructing three custom cinema screens, shipping three synchronized three-blade projectors across the country, and constructing temporary soundproof projection booths. The 5 1/2 hour score is performed by a superb 47-piece orchestra conducted by none other than Carl Davis himself. Add staff, overtime, set-up, and days of rehearsal. Not a modest undertaking.

[jackal59]

Damn it, I simply cannot afford to travel to Oakland in the spring. Too bad Francis Ford Coppola has such a hard on for protecting his specious "rights" based on his father's crappy, repetitive score.

[Huddiethegreat]

Coppola should be locked up for crimes against humanity for preventing the full film from being seen. I am serious

[FilmFan232]

@Huddiethegreat , I don't know if he should be locked up for the charge you mentioned -- but I feel very close to what you feel. Coppola really should step back and allow Napoleon to be shown and appreciated -- and not just for this special event in California. I just don't see why he can't let go of his foolishness.

[AncientHistoryBuff]

Can somebody PLEASE upload the uncut version of this movie? why are there no plans for a DVD release of the film?

[FilmFan232]

@AncientHistoryBuff ...I think the only one in the world who has a print is Kevin Brownlow. To see the uncut version of the film, you need to travel to California. There are no DVD release plans because of Francis Ford Coppola and some legal wranglings over the version he owns. If you want to see this film, you need to go to California. It will probably not be shown again. No other screenings. No DVD. No Blu-ray.  Go. It is a once in a lifetime event.

[AncientHistoryBuff]

@FilmFan232, MERDE. thanks.

[NapoCinePedia]

Nice restauration, but this movie belongs to France people.

[Hollywood1914]

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! WHY THEY DON'T RELEASE IT ON DVD GOD DAMMIT? I WANNA WATCH THIS FILM!

[krisanton80]

@Hollywood1914 I've got a DVD of it from Australia (region 4) about 4 years ago. It's the 1983(?) Coppola version. It's around an hour shorter than the feature they're playing in SF, but it's still worth watching/buying and includes the tryptych scenes.

[SFSilentFilm]

When Kevin Brownlow announced the show in San Francisco he said there were no plans for a DVD release. ...and with no other showings planned anywhere, the Bay Area will be the only place to to see it.

[100dollarklaatubid]

@SFSilentFilm Oh that sucks. I am in Florida now and not sure if I can make it. I really need to find a similar organization down here like yours for silent film fans in Florida.

As for DVD/Blu ray non release, why does that not surprise me. Thanks for the info though (and I WILL try to get there).

[chrisman737]

@100dollarklaatubid , If you don't make this showing you may never have a chance to see it again -- not even on DVD or BluRay. If I were you, I would just go -- no matter what.

[100dollarklaatubid]

Will this EVER see the light of day on DVD/Blu-Ray? A nice box set of this (eventually) along with the four hour version would be great (with C. Copola's score) would be nice (the old VHS's are harder and harder to find and in good shape too).

[100dollarklaatubid]

HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD, I WANT TO BE THERE!

[Huddiethegreat]

Im traveling thousands of miles to see this