Austerlitz (1960)
Directed by Abel Gance

Drama / History / War
aka: The Battle of Austerlitz

Film Review

Abstract picture representing Austerlitz (1960)
Thirty-four years after he made his landmark Napoléon (1927), director Abel Gance returns to the life of France's most famous general in this lavish production which focuses on one comparatively short but decisive point in his life - his most famous military victory, the battle of Austerlitz in 1805. It was the last but one dramatic film that Gance made for the cinema. After Cyrano et d'Artagnan (1964) he would close his cinema career with another film about his favourite military hero, Bonaparte et la révolution (1972), a documentary with footage taken from his 1927 silent masterpiece.

Whilst Austerlitz is visually impressive and historically accurate, showing Gance's customary close attention to period detail, it has none of the bravado and jaw-dropping spectacle of the director's previous historical epic. The stylistic flourishes that made Napoléon such a legendary piece of cinema would have been incongruous in a sound film of the late 1950s, but even so there is a distinct lack of inspiration both in the writing and the mise-en-scène. Too wordy by half, the film drags and only really comes to life when the famous battle gets underway - here Gance is in his element and starts delivering the goods.

Pierre Mondy is an interesting choice for the role of Bonaparte. He doesn't have the overwhelming charisma and iconic stature that Albert Dieudonné had in spades in Napoléon but he is a far more accomplished actor and his complex portrayal is the film's main redeeming feature. His mercurial Napoleon is far removed from Diedonné's steely determined champion of the Revolution. He is a great intellect prone to bursts of childish petulance, a great strategist whose cunning is matched only by his vanity.

Austerlitz is by no means one of Abel Gance's great achievements but its meticulous attention to detail gives it great educational value. The distinguished cast includes such popular stars of the day as Martine Carol, Jean Marais and Claudia Cardinale, as well two of the greatest cineastes of the 20th century. Orson Welles and Vittorio De Sica. The film's attractive cast ensured it would be a box office hit but even Gance must have been surprised by the audience it drew - around three and half million spectators in France. It was one of the director's biggest commercial successes and came just as his earlier work was gaining a long overdue reappraisal.
© James Travers 2000
The above content is owned by frenchfilms.org and must not be copied.
Next Abel Gance film:
Cyrano et d'Artagnan (1964)

Film Synopsis

In 1804, Napoléon Bonaparte is proclaimed Emperor of France.  After the English breach a peace treaty with France, it is inevitable that the two countries will be at war.  At Trafalgar in 1805, France suffers a military defeat, but in October of the same year, Napoléon triumphs over Austria at the Battle of Ulm.  To secure his future as Emperor, Bonaparte needs one more great military victory - this will earn him the prestige that will allow him to achieve his ambitions for France.  On 2nd December 1805, Napoléon will have this victory - at the Battle of Austerlitz, the crowing glory of his career...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by frenchfilms.org and must not be copied.


Film Credits

  • Director: Abel Gance
  • Script: Abel Gance, Nelly Kaplan, Roger Richebé
  • Cinematographer: Henri Alekan, Robert Juillard
  • Music: Jean Ledrut
  • Cast: Pierre Mondy (Napoléon Bonaparte), Martine Carol (Joséphine de Beauharnais), Claudia Cardinale (Pauline Bonaparte), Leslie Caron (Mlle de Vaudey), Vittorio De Sica (Pope Pius VII), Elvire Popesco (Laetitia Bonaparte), Jean Marais (Carnot), Michel Simon (Alboise), Orson Welles (Robert Fulton), Georges Marchal (Le maréchal Jean Lannes), Jack Palance (General Weirother), Jean-Louis Trintignant (Ségur fils), Rossano Brazzi (Lucien Bonaparte), Jean Mercure (Talleyrand), Anna Maria Ferrero (Elisa Bonaparte), Ettore Manni (Lucien Bonaparte), Anna Moffo (La Grassini), Daniela Rocca (Caroline Bonaparte), Janez Vrhovec (François II d'Autriche), Roland Bartrop (Nelson)
  • Country: France / Italy / Yugoslavia / Liechtenstein
  • Language: French
  • Support: Color
  • Runtime: 166 min
  • Aka: The Battle of Austerlitz

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