Waterloo (1971) with Rod Steiger

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Customer Reviews:

The Return of the Emperor [Posted on 2007-03-19]
Who better to portray Napolean Bonaparte than actor Rod Steiger. The start of the movie sets the precedence of the film. Other scenes could have just as well been used with cameras aimed at Napolean's hands crossed behind his back as he faces his former troops after fleeing from the island of Elba. This movie does not begin at the start of Napolean's life nor does it show his early rise to fame as an artillery officer. It doesn't show him taking the crown from the pope or declaring himself emperor. This movie begins at the end of Napolean's career. You couldn't have done it any other way.

The Last Hundred Days [Posted on 2007-04-15]
"Waterloo" is the lavish 1970 Italian-Russian dramatization of Napoleon's return from exile in 1815 and his subsequent campaign against an Allied military force in Belgium, culminating in his decisive defeat at Waterloo.

A brief prologue traces the circumstances of Napoleon's abdication from his throne as Emperor of the French in 1814 and his exile to the Island of Elba. The movie opens with Napoleon's daring return, as the sheer power of his personality cult enables him to face down the very forces sent to take him into custody. Napoleon's return to Paris prompts the Allied Coalition that forced his abdiction to reform and send British and Prussian armies into Belgium.

The movie features excellent period authenticity. Actors appear in the correct uniforms and equipment; the battle scenes feature large formations of infantry and cavalry moving over a battlefield that generally resembles the Mount St. Jean original in Belgium.

The movie is superbly cast. Rod Stieger is entirely credible as the aging but still fiercely ambitious and egotistical Napoleon. Christopher Plummer is pitch-perfect as the aristocratic Duke of Wellington, highly capable leader of a British-Dutch Army, acting in concert with a Prussian Army under General Blutcher. Orson Welles has a nice cameo as Louis XVIII. The supporting cast universally look their parts.

The Battle of Waterloo has been challenging for generations of historians to describe. Likewise, this movie dramatization can be very difficult to follow. The movie faithfully depicts various dramatic moments in the battle, although it seems to presume some prior knowledge on the part of the viewer as to the context of those moments. It repeatedly changes points of view, alternating for the most part between Napoleon and Wellington. There are several supporting vignettes involving Marshall Ney and others. The movie succeeds in building up enormous dramatic tension as the battle nears its climax, even if the viewer may not be entirely clear on what is happening and why.

This movie is highly recommended to fans of the Napoleonic era as perhaps the best-available dramatization of the Battle of Waterloo.

Rod Steiger's Best Works [Posted on 2007-12-18]
This is undoubtedly one of the must convincing movie of a historic event I've yet to see. Movies of this sort will never lose their value. I have the Chinese edition, which plays well, although the colors seem faded, but much of the scenery was shot in the rain. Latch on to a copy of this one if you collect quality movies.

End of an Empire..!! [Posted on 2008-05-29]
This Russian production starring Rod Steiger and directed by Sergei Bonderchuck is an outstanding movie and well worth purchasing even if you are not a "military type"....HOWEVER....the import version from China is NOT as crisp and clear as the one being produced by a Russian distributor...so if you can find the Russian release go for it...it has English language with Russian subtitles....I have both versions and the Russian one is better.

Great history, average acting, substandard DVD [Posted on 2008-09-14]
This DVD is a straight VHS transfer that has been made widewcreen by cutting off top and bottom sections of standard format. The quality is average and in opening sequences the audio is poor.

The acting is average and Steiger not entirely believeable as Boney.

While starting out somewhat slow, the movie itself is very thorough and historically accurate and probably the best there is at covering the history of 18 June 1815.

Military history fans will undoubtedly enjoy this film despite any shortcomings.

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