General Data:
F 1927
Direction: Abel Gance
Duration: ca. 330 min
New musical arrangement for cinema organ, simultaneous piano, and playback by Wilfried Kaets.
Short and Sweet:
The monumental, over 5-hour long, French historical film depicts the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte from his training at the cadet school (where he reveals his early leadership qualities during a snowball fight) through the turmoil of the French Revolution to the Italian campaign, where he successfully implements his strategy of attack despite being outnumbered, against the resistance of the generals.
About:
The silent film was ahead of its time in terms of editing and the use of handheld cameras; the last reel was even shot in “Polyvision” as a triptych. For example, cameras with wind-up motors were developed, which were thrown through the air to film the action “from the perspective of a flying snowball”; or cameras were mounted on horse saddles. Abel Gance’s plan to follow this first part with five more could not be realized due to financial difficulties.
Musical Score:
Neue Musikfassung für Kinoorgel, simultanes Klavier und Zuspielungen von Wilfried Kaets.
Die Musik changiert zwischen cinehistorischen und zeitgenössischen bis experimentellen Klängen und wird so einerseits nah am opulenten Film den Bildern „emotionales Leben einhauchen“ und gibt andererseits den teils avantgardischen Ideen des Regisseurs musikalisch Raum.