I would have to disagree about Bondarchuk. Old Sergei was granted facilities any director would dream of and produced some truly…..well disappointing…not awful results.
Quiet Flows the Don was not his fault. The story does drag anyway in Sholokov's book. It is mind numbing and Sergei's filming was not that bad.
In W and P he really showed his tendency to self indulgence with cloud scenes…boy do you get cloud scenes…He tried an impressionist style with cavalry charging frantically in every direction, but with no explanation whatsoever.
He carried this over to some insane scenes in Waterloo. that RHA gunner collapses across his gun three times in a repeated sequence.
From the slow motion of the Scots Greys, who seem to achieve nothing, to the grossly speeded up charges by French and Prussian cavalry, both through a dustbowl.
Waterloo was saved by the restraining influences of the Italian input, but is still a parody of what it could have been.
I will concede the French cavalry charge as a masterpiece, until the helicopter sequence (straight from W and P). The opening attack down the hill towards Hougoumont. The exit of Louis XVIII from the Tuilleries (actually Princess Padme's palace on Naboo, also). Incredible research went into that sequence.
Bondarchuk had incredible resources. I personally think he failed badly.
I simply love Waterloo 1970, esp now I have an HD version, but have to think what might have been
takes a look at flexible roads made from long-lasting flexible resin.
