Austerlitz (1960)
Directed by Abel Gance

Film Review

Thirty-four years after he made his landmark Napoléon (1927), considered by many to be the greatest film ever made, the legendary French 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), an epic documentary with footage taken from his 1927 silent masterpiece.

Whilst Austerlitz is certainly visually impressive and remarkable in its historical accuracy, showing Gance's customary meticulous attention to period detail, it has none of the astonishing bravado and jaw-dropping spectacle of the director's previous historical epic. The highly innovative visual flourishes that made Napoléon such a legendary piece of cinema at the peak of the silent era would have been entirely 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 for the greater part of its run time 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 startling charisma and iconic stature that Albert Dieudonné had in spades in Napoléon but he is a far more accomplished actor and his complex, nuanced 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 manic bursts of childish petulance, a great strategist whose cunning is matched only by his monumental vanity.  Mondy does much to humanise one of the most enigmatic icons of French history, in what must surely rate as the best performance of his long and distinguished career.

Austerlitz is by no means one of Abel Gance's great achievements but its factual authenticity gives it great depth and educational value. The distinguished cast includes such popular stars of the day as Martine Carol, Jean Marais and Claudia Cardinale, as well as two of the greatest cineastes of the 20th century. Orson Welles and Vittorio De Sica. The film's highly 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.

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...