‘War And Peace' Film Acclaimed
(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, July 22. The Soviet Union’s as yet uncompleted version of Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” which shared the Grand Prix at the fourth Moscow Film Festival this week has been treated to “rave” reviews by correspondents attending the Festival. “The Times” says only the first two of the four parts are completed—lBos and Natasha —but they reveal a mastery of the wide screen that is astonishing. “Until now no director has done, more than grope towards its possibilities: Mr Bondarchuk, with splendid and majestic confidence, has seized them.” The correspondent says Bondarchuk and his director of photography, Petritsky, have evolved revolutionary techniques which keep the camera continually on the move, and do not hesitate to
superimpose one image on another or juxtapose two scenes on the screen. “The battles are breathtaking. 1 cannot recall ever seeing so many thousands of men deployed over so much terrain in so complicated a pattern. “Natasha’s first ball, with great, swooping crane shots, is a dream of romance.” The “Financial Times” special correspondent says Bondarchuk has really settled for illustrations to the Tolstoy text rather than the sort of narrative simplification of the Hollywood version of some years ago—“and the illustrations are magnificent in the extreme.” “Austerlitz is a miracle. The armies stretch as far as RAWHITI LADlES’.—Stroke A Grade: Mrs R. Hooker, 97, 21—76; Mrs L. Beswick, 88. 10— 78; Mrs R. Knight, 101, 22—79; Mrs N. AlcCann, 103, 24—79. B Grade: Mrs 0. Hattersley, 101, 27—74; Mrs I Dobson, 104, 25 79; Miss A. Ramsay, 107, 28—79; Airs P. Cotton, 108 , 29—79; Mrs E. North, 116. 35—81: Mrs J. Walsh, 117, 36—81.
the eye can see and the panoramic screen can show.” The correspondent notes that the performances are, without exception, in the
highest tradition of Russian acting. The complete “War and Peace” will eventually be a four-part, eight-hour picture.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30811, 24 July 1965, Page 18
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316‘War And Peace' Film Acclaimed Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30811, 24 July 1965, Page 18
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