"Waterloo" Topic

So how many of you have seen the movie Waterloo?

It's one of my favorite films of the Napoleonic Wars along with the Russian version of War and Peace.

For me Rod Steiger as Napoleon does a great job IMHO while Christopher Plummer does a good Wellington.

It has some very good Battle Scenes but it would be nice to have seen the ENTIRE version of the film.

When the film opened i believe it was 4 1/2 to 5 hours long but what we have now is a film that's around 2 1/2 hours.

Now i know the history is less than it should be but for me it's a good ride,so what do you think.

Captain Gideon

Oh yes, some memorable lines from "Waterloo" that I "burned" into my memmory when I was young:

"They shall chain me to a rock like Prometheus, where the memory of my greatness shall gnaw at me."

"They are the finest cavalry in Europe." "That may be, that may be, but we'll match them with our lancers!"

"Good beans Wellington!" "If there's anything in this world about which I know absolutelyt nothing, it's agriculture."

"Nothing quite so disturbing as being next to a friend of the almighty at a time like this."

"I've been in this situation before at the battle of Marengo. I lost the battle at five o'clock and won it back again at seven!"

OK, back to work.

Something like: "Is this all Wellington has for me, these women?"

Yeah, that was another good line. So many from that movie that for some reason I recall.

"Has Wellington nothing to offer me but these Amazons?"

The old guard have broken!

Uxbridge to Wellington: "In case you should die Sir, and as I am second in command, what are your plans?" "To beat the French."

Got my copy on DVD.

I saw this in the theater when it was first released, Steiger IS Napoleon.

I agree, I LOVE this movie! And I managed to get the wife to watch and she enjoyed it as well. Thanks to this film, I have an enduring love of military marches.

As for quotes: "I don't know what they'll do to the French, but by God they frighten me!"

Another Uxbridge/Wellington exchange: "My God, Sir! I've lost my leg!" "My God, Sir! So you have!"

Been a long time since I have seen it – think I'll go hunting for it…

Yeah…I prefer to see the characters speaking in their native tongue….not some idiot actor trying to use any old accent as a poor sugstitute! Subtitles are just fine….I still love Tora, Tora, Tora for that! What a great film….a lot of effort to achieve historical accuracy and still a damn good yarn.

I like the scene where Wellington has caught the ranker red-handed in the stealing of a chicken and he says something like: " I like a man who can defend a hopeless position. Make him a corporal!"

Boney was a Warrior
Boney was a warrior
Away, a-yah!
A warrior and a terrier
Jean Francois!

Boney fought the Russians
Away, a-yah!
The Russians and the Prussians.
Jean Francois!

Moscow was a-blazing
Away, a-yah!
And Boney was a-raging.
Jean Francois!

Boney went to Elba
Away, a-yah!
Boney he came back again.
Jean Francois!

Boney went to Waterloo
Away, a-yah!
There he got his overthrow.
Jean Francois!

Then they took him off again
Away, a-yah!
Aboard the Billy Ruffian.
Jean Francois!

He went to Saint Helena,
Away, a-yah!
There he was a prisoner,
Jean Francois!

Boney broke his heart and died
Away, a-yah!
Away in Saint Helena
Jean Francois!

It is a great movie, one of the very first I purchased. Think maybe its time to get the DVD, the video is getting a little worn out

Just added it to my Netflix que. I am informed there is a long line for the film. See the power of TMP!

I remember seeing this film on Christmas day, probably about 25- 30 years ago. It was the big Christmas movie,on around 3pm in the afternoon. Just the job after presnet opening and a big lunch.

It was a great way to get into history, I am sure it inspired me to buy those airfix plastic figures and the La Haye Sainte farmhouse.

Strangely not one in my DVD collection, but now you have aroused interest in it, I may well have to go shopping.

Ps I have never seen anyone else do a better job of Napoleon than Rod Steiger.

I first saw this one on tv- it was featured as an ABC Friday night movie.

"On the battlefield, his hat is worth 30,000 men."

My God, that man does war honor!"

"The whole line will advance." "In which direction your grace?" "Why, straight ahead to be sure."

"Next to a battle lost, the saddest thing is a battle won."

"Don't interrupt your enemy while he's making a mistake. It's poor manners."

Sorry. Couldn't help myself. I have it on VHS. May be time to spring for a DVD.

I remamber the film being shown at Christmas as well – later to be recreated using the airfix playset I was lucky enough to get for Christmas

Every time I see the film, I think that "this time the Old Guard will carry the ridge."

The sound track is available on CD too.

As I get older, the one that pops in my mind most often is, "But at Marengo I was young…"

"Stop that useless noise! —you'll hurt yourself."

I agree that Steiger did a great job as Napoleon, even though I've heard many opinions to the opposite. Even if Steiger looks stockier than Boney did, his mannerisms and expression seen exactly in tune with what I have read of Napoleon's private life.

I have heard many rumors all my life that it was a much longer film. However, I don't think all that extra footage—if there ever was such—made it into any theatrical release. The movie isn't out on DVD here in the US, but it is in Britain. The length of that release is the same as the US release on VHS.

That's all. I'm off to work, and if the occasion arises, to extend the limits of glory.

Ps I have never seen anyone else do a better job of Napoleon than Rod Steiger.

Oh yeah? How about Ian Holm?

That movie was terribly inaccurate. He only used 20,000 extras. :)

Gideon: "It's one of my favorite films of the Napoleonic Wars along with the Russian version of War and Peace."

You might be less subtle, and point out to everyone here that these are both the same director, and filmed within a couple years of each other. If you like one, you'll probably like the other.

Good point about Ian Holm, he does an excellent aging Napoleon in "The Emperor's New Clothes", a sadly overlooked film that anyone here on TMP would enjoy.

The UK DVD is maybe five or ten minutes longer than the US VHS cut or anything I've ever seen broadcast on US TV. Watch it and you'll see a lot of new little snippets of scenes scattered through the film.

Yes, "The Emperor's New Clothes" is a wonderful film. Ian Holm is excellent! And the story is so charming!

I sure wish I could get Waterloo on DVD here in the states. It is one of my favorite war flicks! In fact, that movie totally hooked me on military history (but to be honest, at age 8 I found a book in the school library on the marines at Belleau Wood in WWI…that got me started and the Trevor Dupuy WWII history books in the same library opened the doors…or should I say flood gates…even wider)and had a lot to do with me choosing history as a major in college. My Western Civilization teacher in high school showed it to our 10th grade class and I was in awe. Up to that point, Napoleon was just a small portion of the text books….but now I could see the scale of the battles and realize just how significant such events were! I can still remember walking home in the rain that day and imagining what it was like for the poor infantrymen that night before the big battle….suffering from dysentery and the like….and doing battle with the cold, mud and rain…

The battle scenes in the Russian version of War and Peace are great as well, but the movie is very long….I once had that nine hour epic on VHS. I don't know whether or not I would have the patience to sort through it again….but with a DVD version, things would be better!! I could skip to the scenes I wanted to watch faster and more efficiently!

What are the lyrics to the "Boney fought the Russians" song?
Is it on the Soundtrack?

are there extras on the DVD?

I've often heard the story of the '5-hour Waterloo', but I'm sure it's a myth. Has anyone here actually seen evidence for the 'long version'?

I just bought a DVD version out of Hong Kong here in the states. I didn't see it all but the first part looks the same as the TV version I taped years ago. Ther was one part that looked new. When the ADC appears in 1814 to inform Napoleon of Marmont's defection (whispers in Napoleon's ear), the characte that plays LaBedoyrie(sp) announces to Ney and Soult that Marmont had marched his Corps to the allies. Don't remember this from the earlier versions on VHS.

When I was at his house in the 1990s, I watched Scott Bowden's copy of Waterloo that he purchased from Paramount in London in the early 1980s. It contained many scenes I have never seen in any other version, including Napoleon leading forward the last attack while the bands are playing the Victory is Ours, and the Emperor being begged to the rear by his aides and other generals. For me, that was a really GREAT scene that for some reason was,like so many others in the longer version I saw, edited out of the USA release.

AG

The song is called Boney was a Warrior (beliee or not, it was in our school music books in the eighties, bet that's gone now).

I thought you meant Ian Holm in Time Bandits. I'm pretty sure that was Ian Holm. "Leetle people, hitting each zother".

Yeah, it's OK.
But it's time for a modern version using CGI to make something that really looks like a battle between 150,000 men.
A Hollywood version (stop screaming, you Brits!) that uses all their skill at spectaculars, well-researched with modern theory (Wellington & decieving the Prussians, the Guard in column, the D-Bs actually fighting well etc).
But who to star?
Not Danny De Vito as Napoleon or John Malkovich as The Duke. Who are your choices????

Awesome film in my opinion, picked it up for just £4.99 GBP last year and its worth every penny. I agree that a re-make would be a great idea, CGI with the whole 150,000 odd troops would be great. But how about a film of Ligny or Quatre Bras? dunno if I ever seen a film about either of these battles. Alot action at both of those battles, but maybe the "PC" Brigade is on full alert. (you know that we can not say anything about the French without a hissy fit :D

Regards

Ps, The full length film has been around and I once seen it for sale on a site for well over £1,500.00 GBP

Tom Cruise, of course ;)

The best combination is British acting and American special effects and stunts (and budget).

NO…don't let Hollyweird remake this classic. I can see it now….veiled comparisons of Bush to Napoleon…bad Scottish and Irish accents for the Prussians and even the French….sex scenes between anyone and anything other than a man and a woman….hints that Napoleon wasn't heterosexual….a juvenile script that features none of the language of the era….Wellington portrayed as a hip rebellious type that somehow had war thrust upon him…yuck.

" Make it a goat next time Sonny, and you'll be a SGT"

I scored a DVD off ebay not 2 weeks ago from a seller in Canada.Has more scenes than my old worn out VHS. Set me back an entire $15.00 USD shipping included to Oregon.Buy it now price was $10.00!!!Works for me! Hunt them down on Ebay!
RAGNAR

"That man will spoil the dancing"

"I am France and France is me!"

Makes the census a lot easier to carry out, I guess.

"Boney Was A Warrior" is on one of the 97th String Band albums.

OK, I'm gonna catch a lot of flack for this one, but I think that Russell Crowe is one of the few actors who has enough screen presence to carry off an impression of Napoleon in his older age, in much the same manner as Rod Steiger did. Crowe could also drop his accent for the part.

There have been a number of good films coming out of France in recent years. That indicates that there are some talented directors and screen writers in France, so why don't the French do a new Napoleon film, as only they can. Subtitles wouldn't bother me one bit.

We used to sing 'Boney was a Warrior' in primary school in asingalong radio show broadcast during lesson time some 40 years ago. :(
But great film. Can never find it in my local video stores.

'Steiger IS Napoleon.'

Too emotional.

"It contained many scenes I have never seen in any other version, including Napoleon leading forward the last attack while the bands are playing the Victory is Ours, and the Emperor being begged to the rear by his aides and other generals."

I have definitely seen that scene. Can't remember whether it was on my old VHS or the DVD, but it's there somewhere.

Fritz,
I like your idea of Crowe. The man can act (well-trained: NIDA) & has the beginnings of the slightly petulant, baby-face of Napoleon. He has a dangerous feel to him (ask any New York desk clerk). He can do accents, too.
We'd need someone with a supercilious upper-crust accent & a nose for Arfur. I'd go out on a limb & say Robert Carlisle (who can also do the accent thing).
Blucher's not so critical. Hide the face behind pipe & moustache & have him half-tanked in every scene: pretty well anyone could do it.

I must get this fillum! Thanks for all the heads ups guys!

Has anyone worked out what the soldiers are shouting in response to the calls of: 'Who's the man to leather the French?'; 'Who's the man to smack Boney's ****?' etc? It eludes me every time I watch the film.