First Look at New Restoration of Abel Gance's Napoleon
Posted July 28, 2016 04:31 PM by Webmaster
The British Film Institute has confirmed the release date for the upcoing Blu-ray release of Abel Gance's epic silent film Napoléon (1927), newly digitally restored by Photoplay Productions and the BFI National Archive, as November 21.
The film will have its premiere screening, with a live performance by the Philharmonia Orchestra of Carl Davis' score (the longest ever composed for a silent film), on 6 November at the Royal Festival Hall. It will be released in cinemas by the BFI from November 11.
Abel Gance's heroic depiction of the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte has long been hailed as a landmark in cinema history. Reconstructed after decades of painstaking work by film historian Kevin Brownlow, the film has developed a legendary status. Featuring ground-breaking technical innovations – including its famous triptych finale – and an epic running time of 5 ½ hours, the film's exclusive availability on 35mm has limited it to a rare number of (highly popular) screenings.
This definitive restoration (with music recorded in 7.1) presents Gance's masterpiece in all its glory and is a must-see on either the big screen or small screen this autumn.