Waterloo (1970)
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A massive co-production recreates the decisive Battle of Waterloo with the largest body of costumed extras in film history.
The story
In the aftermath of the 1814 campaign, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is forced to abdicate and is exiled to Elba. After ten months, he returns to France, rallying the people to his side as King Louis XVIII flees. European powers declare war, and the Duke of Wellington is warned of Napoleon's march into Belgium. Wellington decides to halt Napoleon at Waterloo. The film centers on the days leading to the campaign known as the Hundred Days, portraying the individual leaders and soldiers on both sides as they prepare for the decisive confrontation.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following his return from exile on Elba, Napoleon Bonaparte rallies French forces and marches toward Paris, prompting European powers to declare war. While King Louis XVIII flees, the Duke of Wellington prepares to intercept Napoleon in Belgium. At Quatre-Bras, Marshal Ney fights the British to a draw, while Napoleon defeats the Prussians at Ligny. Napoleon commands Grouchy to lead 30,000 men against the Prussians to prevent them from joining the British, while he leads his remaining troops against Wellington. On 18 June 1815, the Battle of Waterloo begins. Napoleon launches attacks against Wellington's flanks at Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte, but Wellington holds his main force. General Picton is killed while plugging a gap. Suffering from stomach pain, Napoleon leaves Ney in command, who incorrectly interprets an order to retire as a withdrawal and leads a repelled cavalry charge. Napoleon eventually sends the Imperial Guard for a decisive blow, but they are repulsed by a devastating volley from Maitland's 1st Foot Guards. Blücher arrives in the field, and the Imperial Guard breaks, leading to an Allied victory. That evening, Wellington observes the casualties while Napoleon is urged to flee by his marshals.
- First release year
- 1970
- Runtime (minutes)
- 128
- Production countries
- Italy; Soviet Union
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sergei Bondarchuk
- Writers
- H. A. L. Craig · screenplay; Sergei Bondarchuk · screenplay; Vittorio Bonicelli · screenplay; Mario Soldati · screenplay; H. A. L. Craig · story
- Cast and characters
- Rod Steiger · Napoleon Bonaparte; Christopher Plummer · Duke of Wellington; Orson Welles · Louis XVIII of France; Jack Hawkins · General Sir Thomas Picton; Virginia McKenna · Duchess of Richmond; Dan O'Herlihy · Marshal Ney
- Genres
- epic historical drama; war drama
- Themes
- Heroism; Warfare; Historical Accuracy
- Tone and mood
- Epic; Neutral; Lavish
- Premise and plot tags
- Historical Drama; War Epic; Biographical
- Source material / true-story basis
- The screenplay
- Reception
- The film received mixed critical reviews but was well received in Europe, especially England. It was noted for its lavish battle depiction and inspired Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 27% · review count: 10
- Awards and nominations
- BAFTA · Best Costume Design · Win; BAFTA · Best Art Direction · Win; BAFTA · Best Cinematography · Nomination
- Production trivia
- It featured the largest body of costumed extras in any film.; Sergei Bondarchuk was joked to be in command of the seventh-largest army in the world.; The film's failure to recoup its cost led to the cancellation of Stanley Kubrick's planned Napoleon biography.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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