The Insane Production Behind Waterloo
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
- Waterloo (1970) is one of the greatest epics of all times, its sheer scale is impressive and astounding. This video goes behind the scenes and explores the crazy production behind the film.
Chapters-
0:00 Introduction
0:53 Dino De Laurentiis and Waterloo
2:54 The beginning of filming in Italy
4:41 Filming in the Soviet Union
6:22 20000 Red Army extras
9:58 Explosives and special effects
10:24 Co-operation of Mosfilm and the Soviet Government
10:51 Waterloo box office bomb
11:11 Why Waterloo had to be done for real
11:56 Conclusion
Footage used from:
Waterloo (1970)
War and Peace (1965)
War and Peace (1956)
The Making of Waterloo (2021)
Additional Information used from:
Audio Commentary by Simon Lewis and Robert Pocock
Sheldon Hall on Waterloo
1970 Waterloo Souvenir Brochure
The Making of Waterloo - Фільми й анімація
if only Ridley Scott had studied this film
Yes. Did you know he was approached by several historians and experts on Napoleonic military history and the arrogant idiot dismissed them?
remind me how much did he WASTED for his political fapping material...
He was exploring character, not exact history.
@@adriannespring8598why does his Napoleon have so little then?
@@adriannespring8598 Ridely Scott is a lousy explorer.
Waterloo is a staggering achievement and hugely underrated film. Sadly, it's poor box office figures resulted in the cancellation of Stanley Kubrick's Napoleon project (which was in pre-production at the time).
Kubrick took the production assets he had gathered for his planned Napoleon film and used them in Barry Lyndon.
Around 350 views? And a girl shaking her head for 16 seconds has over 60 million views? The world is so insane
Such is UA-cam unfortunately but it did sit at 90 views for 3 months after I posted it. It has only recently taken off in views.
@@VoidVolken You can thank Ridley Scott for that. The disasterous flop of "Napoleon" has everybody searching for "Waterloo" and anything Napoleonic in nature.
Sad but True! 😒😒😒😒
Remember the measure of quality is not determined by views, but by the blood, sweat and detail of the creator. In those areas VoidVolken, you excel and should continue to do so. Liu Bang started with a mere twenty followers as a fugitive and eventually founded the Han Dynasty. Do not be discouraged, but press on all the more fiercely! History and knowledge must be shared lest it be forgotten.
Also, amazing and hilarious
Steiger was a fantastic actor. He captured the personality of Napoleon perfectly.
Absolutely. He did a great older Napoleon.
With "The Pawnbroker" I think this film provides his greatest role and performance.
He's still the best, however the performance of Christian Jean-Marie Clavier in the BBC mini series was pretty impressive.
Waterloo is one of those few films that deserves to be an all time classic that's remembered like Gone with the Wind. It's such a great film. Also, while the ballroom scene is inaccurate, it's really hard not to love the set design. So despite it's inaccuracy, it's one most people can live with since it's compensated for.
We have to look at it this way, the venue for the Duchess of Richmond's ball may have been incorrect but it's what the viewing audience would have expected to see.
Could you please explain why it is inaccurate? I'd assume it has to do with the actual historical events on this ball?
Plummer and Steiger as Wellington and Napolean - absolutey inspired .
Plummer especially: he's absolutely the sardonic Wellington to a tee.
@@flankspeed Interesting. I like Chris Plummer's Wellington and David Troughton's Wellington from the "Sharpe" series. Which one is more accurate? I have no idea. Both are excellent portrayals in their own right.
Couldn't be made today unless Idris Elba played Napoleon and Will smith played Wellington.
With a subplot about a transsexual soldier seeking endorsement from homophobes in the establishment.
I saw it on release with a friend. When the charge of the Royal North British Dragoons (Scots Greys) went to slow motion, some of the audience started to boo because they thought the film was broken, no one had ever seen this effect before. Regards Lexi
Saw this movie on its release when I was 10 years old on a huge screen - I think my jaw probably hung on the floor for the entirety of the battle scene. The real magic of movies.
Same here
Yo! Same here. Unlike us this film never grows old.
Same here.. went with my Dad as a ten year old..a great memory. When I got home my Napoleonic Airfix soldiers and La Haye Sainte Farmhouse were all set out!
@@martynhulland6252 Same here, I played out the battle for days with my model soldiers, Managed to get all the family to see the movie, my dad said he felt sorry Napoleon had lost the battle, made my day, Steiger`s Emperor became an instant hero. As you say Great Memories!
Oh yeah!@@martynhulland6252
I watched this movie as a boy but it wasn't until i watched it as an adult that i could fully appreciate it. Steiger and Plummer give amazing performances and the movie generally follows the course of the battle. In addition the manpower, weaponry, pyrotechnics, uniforms, logistics, etc, that were necessary to film the battle scenes is simply put - mind boggling.
I remember my uncle raving about this movie nearly 30 years ago. Nice memories. Thanks for the video.
A masterpiece. I have studied the Napoleonic Wars for decades and this film captures the essence of that period. I was fortunate to find a copy of Ugo Pericoli’s book on the creation of the costumes, with all his sketches for them, the attention to detail is outstanding.
I had no idea there was a book on the uniforms, shame it is long out of print.
Waterloo has been my favourite film ever since I saw the whole movie, the portrayal and accuracy to the historical events makes it hard to dislike. I have to be honest, I have seen that movie a dozen times and still find every moment of it entertaining.
The entire battle was used without CGI. Thousands of men in a field dressed as soldiers. Remarkable.
I was 8 when this film came out and I saw it at the pictures with my mum. I loved it completely in my naive childish way. These days, I lord it for being the classic epic it always has been. The uniforms and live battle scenes are second to none in any era. The subject matter is similarly gargantuan, with the battle on a knife edge come tea time. The only time in history I can say I was glad to see the arrival of the Prussians on the horizon! Plummer & Steiger offer Oscar nomination performances for me - and that is accompanied by a superb ensemble cast including the Russian army lads, whom without the film would have been impossible. A total winner in my book - bravo for making this video to highlight it!
My favorite film. No CGI. I learned a few new things here. Well done.
Well here we are boys.
Each of us are the last of a dying breed. The ones that still care about art in movies and not just aesthetic shots in each scene with empty dialogues that involves "trending" actors and actresses
What a good observation you have made! I do not know your age but I am 65 and I grew up watching all those brilliant epics from the 1960s and 1970s. It was also the era of the beautiful, great cinemas with huge screens. Now, I am aware that I belong to the last generation who was able to enjoy film-making at its finest. Most films nowadays are not only technically poor but they also are filled with disgusting "politically correct" propaganda. Regards.
"Waterloo's" a movie that was certainly made for mature men like us. Nowadays movies seem to be made for people with short attention spans by people with short attention spans, discounting the occaional "Oscar Weeper" which I wouldn't bother with anyway.
I watched this movie at least 25 times. No war movie can compare the massive scale like Waterloo. Then again I was born in the 60’s.
I loved everything about Waterloo, its real and almost every shot is a picture that can be framed.
Thank you so much for the review. I first saw this in 1970, 54 years later it is still my favourite film. So rewarding to see the respect it has garnered over the years. As you comment it is a masterpiece of film making, a breath taking spectacle, with standout portrayals by Steiger and Plummer. Bondarchuk`s War and Peace is also an amazing production.
I saw Waterloo in the theater when I was in college when it was first released. I loved it. It stimulated my interest in the Napoleonic period which I still have today.
The use of "dummy" soldiers was used in the early 60's in the film Zulu- the first appearance of the impi at Rorke's Drift being the actual scene. Thanks for posting this. Sadly you are right about the demise of the epic genre. There is sometimes a brief appearance of films that are almost of epic status- Saving Private Ryan, Kingdom of Heaven and Gladiator being examples.
They also used a dummy in Saving Private Ryan when the airbornes are on top of the Tiger tank and are about to throw a grenade inside the turret.
The Germans somehow sneak up with an Anti Air 20mm cannon and start blasting the airbornes into itty bitty bits.
Once seen, never forgotten. The battle sequences are breathtaking, and the slow-motion calvary charge was cinematic poetry. Perfect casting and performances, including Orson Welles' King Louis
this is my first time I watch a video talk about waterloo, and I am happy that it was you .
Greetings from Egypt.
If you want to see more, I know another video titled; History Buffs: Waterloo
thanks man I will watch it@@chuntimso
This movie helped me understand the battle really well! A Masterpiece!
They just don't make movies like this anymore. This film was and remains a true Masterpiece on par with Tora Tora Tora and Gettysburg.
Boring take, just like people who say good music is no longer made. There is plenty of good art out there if you look, humans don't just stop producing good work from one generation to another.
@@Gecko.... well they clearly do lol, any form of entertainment about the napoleonic era nowadays are awful and full of inaccuracies
Christopher Plummer was born to play Wellington
As an American, I just want to say bravo to all of those involved in making this extraordinary film. I've watched the whole thing and it is fantastic. I hope more people will give it a chance especially since you can watch it for free right here on YT.
Great video always loved Waterloo and war and peace but Waterloo always held a higher standard of accuracy
I had friends in Moscow who lived across the road from the Red Army Cavalry school, which was created for War and Peace to re-learn Napoleonic cavalry formations and tactics, which had died out after the 19th century.
Saw this movie in 1970 when I was a 4th year medical student from Ohio doing an elective semester in London. Both were wonderful experiences. I finally, several years later, able to get a DVD copy for my theater room.
I cant believe we used to have historical films where the most inaccurate things in the movie are "well it took place in a different building". Now it seems nothing can be accurate these days. Thank you for covering what went into thise masterpiece of film.
One ot the greatest films made. I lost count onhow many times I have watched it, Every scene is epic.
The arrival of Blucher's message at the ball is authentic.
I used to watch this as a kid in the late 80's and loved it. Now I watch this as an adult, and love it more. After you video, I can now appreciate it like never before. Well done, thanks for the documentary!
One of the best films around. Especially after the latest "Napoleon" movie. Thanks for all this background informations! 🙏
This is an absorbing, mostly accurate account of the infamous battle. Some superb cinematography, in addition to a solid music score by Nino Rota [Bondarchuk lobbied for Vycheslav Ovchinnikov, the Soviet composer whose music for "War and Peace" is quite notable, but was overruled by the Producers].
One thing I learned from reading Christopher Plummer's biography was that the descendant of Arthur Wellesly was acting as a military advisor for the British Army scenes and when he wanted the scene when Wellington's army withdrawn into square formations to feint the French to attack, Bondarchuk refused to film it because he didn't believe it didn't occurr in real life (sources said he was just extremely tired at this point and mainly didn't want to film it out of the amount of time and logistics to operate the scene since they were over production). After much arguing, Wellington's great descendant finally gave up but didn't react poorly and instead simply stated "If you do not wish to accurately portray this scene, then there is nothing else for me to do here." and turned away to walk off the set. At first Bondarchuk didn't care for the loss of an important figure, but then three out of four of the Soviet Generals there to help coordinate the extras playing as the soldiers all turned around and walked with Wellington's descendant as they too agreed with his sentiment of remaining true to historical events. Risking a mutiny in production now, Bondarchuk gaved into his demands and filmed the famous square scene.
I am Canadian and saw this in 1970 in the old vaudeville theatre there when I was 16 . It appeared to me to be very well attended. Was it poorly attended in North America or just the US. I loved it and have loved it every time I have seen it since. If only there had been an I-Max version.
It was poorly attended here in the US as there wasn't much distribution, for whatever reasons. Showings tended to be limited to big city theaters or art house theaters, it never got the mass distribution most epic fims got. Why is anyone's guess. I didn't see it until a local TV channel showed it as an afternoon film sometime in the early 1980s.
By the way, I really enjoyed it!
Great video. Thank you. The history of making this film is so interesting. I am ready to watch it…again.
I would love to see a film like this based on The Battle of Leipzig
I heard a story of a Russian's grandson asked, "what did you do in the army?" which he answered, "I fought at Waterloo."
Reminded me of those pranksters raiding Normandy in the 21st century.
It is an absolutely jaw-dropping film. I don't think there is any movie that comes close to depicting a battle like this.
Some of the acting is a bit cringe.
However, Rod Steiger as Napoleon is phenomenal. He's just in a different league, and it almost creates a kind of strange dissonance.
Would't want anyone else in that role.
Steiger was such a great actor, unfortunately he suffered from bipolar disorder, and for long stretches of time, he couldn't work at all, so his career never reached the height he deserved. He could have been as big as Marlon Brando, if he had access to the effective treatment we have today.
I agree about Steiger being brilliant as Napoleon, in fairness to the other actors, especially those playing the British roles, the sense of English reserve, and aristocratic aloofness, can make them seem cliched and stiff from the neck up. Napoleon is such a dynamic and commanding figure, and Steiger was perfectly cast in the role having all the personal attributes needed for the part.
It was just about this time that Steiger turned down the role of Patton, which of course went to George C. Scott. Steiger said it was the worst mistake he ever made. BUT his Napoleon is incredible!
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 I think "Waterloo" has aged better than "Patton" outstanding film that it is.
@@PeterSmith-go9ef Oh, I don't know. Every time I'm channel surfing and run across "Patton" I tell myself I'll only watch for a few minutes, then the next thing you know he's walking off under the windmills with Willie!
Pulls me right in like it's done since 1970!
But if you think "Waterloo's" age better I won't argue the point.
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 I feel ambiguous about Patton as a film in that is is part derivative anti war polemic , and in equal part a hagiography. George C Scott was the first choice for "In The Heat Of The Night" for which Steiger won his only Oscar. It is ironic he won his only Oscar for a part Steiger turned down. Any objections aside I love George C Scott in the role, and admire even more Jerry Goldsmith`s soundtrack, which Elmer Bernstein once credited as the best soundtrack written for a movie.
Such a decisive battle in history needs a great movie and that’s what Waterloo’s 1970 version is all about.
What we wanted from the new Napoleon movie was something that could portray Napoleons rise from this ambitious and confident young man, forging his legend in his legendary campaigns in Italy, with his inspirational leadership aura gathering the unwavering loyalty of his men. A man that picked a broken France up from the depths of ruin to the heights of glory. A peasant to an emperor of the people. A genius defying all odds and smashing opponent after opponent in the legendary battles of Austerlitz, Jena and many more. Forging an empire so dominant and so formidable none could have predicted the dire outcome. To a man that ultimately turned a stubborn and broken tyrant. Someone who did not know to limit his ambitions for power and control nor admit defeat when it was inevitable. Ultimately succumbing to his own legend in a depressing death on St Helena.
I been watching this film off and on for the last 50 odd years and its keep my intrest all that time, sure you could nitpick one or two things but overall the quality is stunning even gettysburg did not shine like this movie does, it is and will always remain epic unlike another movie about the life of napoleon which no one will remember after 2025. love to all waterloo fans and thank you void for posting.
Thank you - so real when I first saw it, I stood and shouted Basta-ds when Ponsonby got caught by the Lancers.
This from a quiet Englishman
Love your comment!
To add a bit more drama: It was a Chevauxleger Lancer Sargeant that despatched Ponsonby's trooper, unhorsed Ponsonby, and captured him. Three Scots Grays came charging in to save him; the Sgt. first lanced Ponsonby killing him, then finished the three troopers that had come to save him! Sadly, killing Ponsonby needlessly.
You KNOW it's a great film when it pulls you in like that!
Thank you Dino! RIP.
I have been a passionate student and collector of Waterloo and all things Napoleonic for over 50 years, and since I saw this incredible film as a 10 year old. It is astounding just how accurate it is, especially when compared to other so-called epics like the truly awful recent 'Napoleon'...quality always stands the test of time. Very highly recommended!
GREAT movie
The version released in the Soviet Union is reputed to be around 4 hours, as opposed to the 2 hour 15 minute version released in the west.
I have heard this claim many times but I have seen no evidence for it. There may of been 4 hours worth of footage shot and complied into a first rough cut, giving more screen time to characters and just adding in more scenes but for one reason or another those scenes were never incorporated into the final cut which remains the only official cut of the film apart from the UK cut which removes horse falls.
@@VoidVolkenI remember seeing a much longer version in the theater. I remember many scenes from that showing that no longer exist in the current version.
Must have watched this movie a dozen times. 50 years old and still knocks spots off that recent travesty.
Thank you for this interesting presentation about the backstory of one of the great films of cinema history
Brilliant Video
I will say that while the shots in this film are insane and well framed, the camera movement is pretty wobbly and a bit rough at times. Obviously the steadicam didn't exist yet in 1970 but I feel the film could have benefited from one.
It's funny though because every shot in War and Peace is immaculately filmed and the camera feels better locked down in that movie. I guess there's not nearly as many cavalry charges the camera crew had to keep up with, who knows.
The shaking makes it feel more real.
This film was like a military operation, 15000 Red Army soldiers were used in this movie.
So good with no CGI, all human...😄
The best shot where you can see an extra using a musket ks when the soldiers join Napoleon, one of the soldiers on the right very clearly is using a moison nagant
Moisin-Nagants used a socket bayonet just like early 19th Century muskets did so they're a good stand-in for a musket, provided the camera doesn't get too close.
Fantastic thanks for sharing with us 👍 I'm off to watch it now... cheers
Great video! Thanks!
I remember reading an article comprised of interviews from the team behind this film a few years ago and the amount of horse deaths they mentioned were staggering. Apparently horses were just being killed off every day they were being used due to the intensity of some of the cavalry scenes. One story I recall particularly was when the horses run into that sharp cliff and begin falling down it, apparently one of them broke their neck in a hideous fashion and the soldier in charge of the poor thing had to put it out in front of the entire camera crew...
Here before this videos inevitably blows up
Imagine being able to watch an IMAX version.
Fantastic video mate
The scene when napoleon commits the guard! OMG! Goosebumps every single time!!
Fabulous film, I've watched it many times, sadly I have not yet seen this on the big screen, my local cinema often shows classic films so I live in hope they will show it and I'll get to see it in all it's glory. Even though I am reasonably well versed in the history of the great Napoleonic battles, even now I still feel tense and fear that the battle might be lost if Blucher doesn't make it in time.
Dude.... you are right on the money about this film
Amazing!
one positive about the Ridley Scott film is that it got me to watch this movie.
Got it on Blue-Ray Disk. Looks fantastic on my 135 inch Projection screen.
I really appreciate "Gettysburg" too: and that probably only got made thanks to already existing Civil War re-enactors who had already been 'playing their roles' for years!
Great video
Great video!
I see the potential, you totally DESERVE more subs
I really love historical movies with mass extras but now editing is always used
The Simon Lewis book on the making of the film suggests a stuntman may have been killed
It's a wonder to me how this video has such little views
Nice video 👍
Compare this to the version of Waterloo shown in Sharpe that featured only 5 extras and 2 horses
Wow, interesting - one of my favorite films! I wish Scott had seen this documentation bevor he made his film!
Great film...our Atty!
I honestly thought this was a film analyst channel with thousands of subscribers. Great video!
For all the effort that went into this, the weakness is the dialogue, of course, just as the script lets down most of today's productions. There are marked occasions when even Steiger and Plummer can make nothing of the banality they are required to utter. You have to wonder how subtle the English of the director was, which may have been the reason. Great film overall, all the same!
For those interested in a similar movie, try "War and Peace" - same director, 7 or so hours in about 6 parts, all on UA-cam with subtitles. It's a fictional story of several characters in the historical context of 1812.
Amazing movie. It’s factually accurate too. You can tell from is production values.
Brilliant film .
Final march of the Old Guard into battle was the best scene, then: Sire! Blucher is in the woods!
One of the great pleasures of watching older movies is knowing everything you see is "real" - it wasn't done with a computer, when you see thousands of people marching or cheering, you know thousands were there. When you see someone do a spectacular stunt, you know they actually did it.
We've lost that with the stifling presence of CGI: which is used even when things *could* be done with practical effects.
Amazing documentary of an amazing film. The Russians really go all out when they make a film. I know it only received lukewarm reviews when it came out but perhaps it may be rediscovered. If you get a chance check out The Cranes Are Flying. Another Russian film about war. A much lower budget but visually very striking.
Thanks, the Russians really do go all out when it comes to Soviet era war films. The 1966 version of War and Peace is even grander than Waterloo and I hope to cover that films insane production at a later date. Thank you for the recommendation with The Cranes Are Flying, while I hadn't heard of it until now it does looks like a film I would be interested in.
There is a Mosfilm channel on You Tube and it does contain amongst other items the complete War and Peace film. Also has a film "The Fortress" about the Soviet defence of the Brest fortress. Has some vivid action sequences and whilst it does overplay the - Russians all good, Germans all monsters angle it is still worth a look.
Interesting comment about the scale of the battlefield being reducing by 1/3rd to two miles. By comparison the great cavalry charge led by Ney historically had a 500 yard frontage of nearly 10,000 men!
I knew a few facts you mentioned…but…my sincere thanks…informing me much, much more 😊 I subbed of course 😉👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏I love this legendary film….especially the cast and the epic directing too 😊😊
Best movie ever made
When you watch this film you realise how absolutely awful CGI really is. The charge of the Royal Scots Greys has to be one of the all time unequaled scenes from any war film ever made
Video is good, topic good, editing good, and only 140 subs? The 6k viewers need to subscribe to you.
My favourite Napoleonic Wars movie of all time
A Great MOVIE EPIC.... I was 13 yr boy and loved it !!! war n peace borudino battle another great one.. Led me to spend 1000s hours playing war game battles...chess is nothing ....
Just found out about your channel. Instant sub! I don't think about the Roman Empire everyday but I think about the Ney's massive cavalry charge once a month.
Amazing movie , I’ve watched it so many times . It’s only downfall I can see is the nearly comedic “horseback “ shots of main characters,they look like they’re on a fairground ride.
Excellent video, love seeing the behind scenes. Do you have anymore ? Or where I can find. Thanks
Thanks, I don't quite understand what you mean by "Do you have anymore ? Or where I can find."
@@VoidVolken
Do you have any more behind the scene video of them making of the film. Or where I can see more of it.
@@oldmoviesinbwwithsubtitles3501 The behind the scenes footage was taken from a 2021 documentary called 'The Making of Waterloo' It was a special feature made specifically for the 2021 Mediumrare Entertainment Waterloo UK Blu Ray. If you want to watch it I recommend buying that.
@@VoidVolken
Thanks much
I totally spoiled a family lunch engagement when I was a child. I court the end of this film once in the 1970s. The next time I saw it advertised was when my family when due to go to lunch with an X motor racing Marshall and his recently married German 😢wife ( quite a pleasant individual I thought in regards to my child hood knowledge [ ww2 films///propaganda] of Germans and being a boy totally interested in war army's I E soilders lad stuff .. Basically I cried to see it that much that the hosts had to have the Battle of Waterloo playing on a TV in the dinningroom whist (they) were eating lunch. WELL, I couldn't take all my sentences off the fight ! WOW WHAT A MASSIVE MOVIE ❤❤❤😮😮😮😅😅😅😅😅
Where can I watch "The Making of Waterloo (2021)"?
It was an extra made for the 2021 UK Blu Ray of Waterloo, to my knowledge its the only place you can watch it.
@@VoidVolken Ah, alright, tysm!