Performance of Abel Gance’s Napoléon

The movie dates from 1927. The original version was almost nine and a half hours. Much footage has gone missing, so the present restored version takes about five and a half hours. The plan was to make six movies, documenting the life of Napoleon, but Abel Gance spent all the money on the first movie. The movie ends with a scene in Polyvision, where three projectors produce a wide-screen image. The movie uses colour too, as much of the footage is toned. The movie is silent, but the orchestra provided life accompaniment. The music score is by Carl Davis, the restoration is by Kevin Brownlow. In the middle you can see Abel Gance himself, as Saint-Just. To the left is Gina Manès who played Joséphine and to the right is Albert Dieudonné who played Napoleon.

See Wikipedia for more info.

And some Youtube films to get an idea of the movie:

Short review of the movie

Trailer of the 2012 performance

Interview with Kevin Brownlow in 2012

Kevin Brownlow talking in 1980