Short Stories, Irish literature, Classics, Modern Fiction, Contemporary Literary Fiction, The Japanese Novel, Post Colonial Asian Fiction, The Legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and quality Historical Novels are Among my Interests








Thursday, August 10, 2023

War and Peace- A 1956 Film Directed by King Vidor, Produced by Dino de Laurentis - Starring Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Mel Ferrer



 This is epic movie making on a grand scale with a powerful producer and director with major stars based upon War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, published in 1869.

Tolstoy's novel is universally regarded as one of the greatest novels ever written.  (My in translation edition is 1459 pages,)  it begins just before Napoleon's invasion of Russia and proceeds through to his armies retreat from Moscow. (Jun 24, 1812 – Dec 14, 1812)

The lead characters all play rich pampered aristocrats,

The film tells the story of five aristocratic families in Russia during the Napoleonic Wars. The focus is on the relationships between Pierre Bezukhov (Fonda), a wealthy but searching young man; Natasha Rostova (Hepburn), a beautiful and vivacious young woman; and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (Ferrer), a proud and idealistic young man. The film follows the characters as they experience love, loss, war, and peace.




Hepburn's performance as Natasha was widely praised and she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama. The film was also nominated for Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, and Best Costume Design.


War and Peace (1956) is a sweeping and ambitious film that captures the epic scope of Tolstoy's novel. It is a visually stunning film with a strong cast of actors. While it may not be as faithful to the novel as some fans would like, it is still a compelling and enjoyable film.

Mel Ulm


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