Abel Gance's 'Bonaparte et la Révolution' (Released)

The goal of this project is to preserve Abel Gance’s reconstruction of Napoleon. This version has not been restored or released on home video.

The film is a VHS capture from a TV airing that is cropped and in rough shape. Most scenes can be replaced but some will have to be enlarged.

Here’s an example:
http://i.imgur.com/yJ73dS0.png?1
http://i.imgur.com/EAbWdQ9.png?1

In the film there is a short colorized scene. I colorized the same scene from Napoleon Bonaparte (1935).
Original (Zoomed in): http://i.imgur.com/DoVrwwx.png
Restored (full frame): http://i.imgur.com/4JafTdp.png

Here’s a preview:
Original: http://we.tl/tlnqHHWVrB
Restored (work in progress): http://we.tl/9jcnpJFSvc

Sources I will be using:
Napoleon - Coppola Laserdisc
Napoleon - Brownlow VHS capture
Napoleon Bonaparte (1935 Sound Re-edit) - Restored by the Cinémathèque Française
Bonaparte et la Révolution- VHS capture

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=18369

Avatar_Emil_Borg said:

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=18369

The Coppola and Brownlow versions of Napoleon are being restored for blu ray. This version only exists as a low quality vhs capture and I think it should be preserved.

A little update…
After digging around a bit, I was able to find Bambi Ballard’s 1991 cut of Napoleon. It’s essentially a higher quality Brownlow version with the original French intertitles and a bit more footage.

Never heard of the restoration. I know, though, that BFI is releasing the Brownlow restoration on BD this fall. Might be of some use to you.

What’s the point of preserving this one? It’s Ed Wood level filmmaking. The TV airings are good enough for archival purposes. It’s not a version one would review again and again.

Richard Stamper said:

What’s the point of preserving this one? It’s Ed Wood level filmmaking. The TV airings are good enough for archival purposes. It’s not a version one would review again and again.

Well the same can be said for the Star Wars Holiday Special.

If you know of a higher quality capture from one of those airings let me know.

I’m totally confused by the new board layout, can’t find my PM. But PM me I might be able to point you to a TV recording of this one. (the lelouch produced travesty)

Richard Stamper said:

I’m totally confused by the new board layout, can’t find my PM. But PM me I might be able to point you to a TV recording of this one. (the lelouch produced travesty)

I’ve sent you a PM.

Using After Effects, I took the single screen footage from Napoleon Bonaparte (1935) and recreated the triptych in HD. There’s no triptych in Bonaparte et la Revolution, I just tried this as an experiment and I’m pretty pleased with the results. If anyone would like to check it out here’s the link: https://we.tl/NP8545zO5P

Edit: Here’s the same clip but with an excerpt from the Carl Davis soundtrack. (It may be a bit too loud)
https://we.tl/OT7P7geEqL

Hello
I’m very interested in Abel Gance’s Bonaparte et la Revolution. ¿Would it be possible for you to send me a copy of?
I’ve got the Brownlow version with the music of Carl Davis and the Coppola edition, but for me (I write from Spain) is not possible to get a copy of the restoration made by Abel Gance.

Apparently a higher quality copy has been uploaded to a blog. It’s 3.96gb and can only be downloaded with a premium account but at least a better version is out there.

Do you still have this, am extremely interested in the restored version?