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In the eyes of Abel Gance, NAPOLÉON (F 1927) is a first
superhero, a superman. In regard to the picture language, the film is
avant-garde, in regard to its content, however, it is nationalistic,
reactionary and glorifies war. Yet here we see someone obsessed with
cinema. The multiple exposures, the colors, the montage, the 3D effects,
the triple screen, the unleashed subjective camera—all contribute to
the revolution and evolution of the language of cinema. "Please, do me
the favor and realize that your eyes have not yet been sufficiently
visually trained", Gance writes to his audience in a megalomaniac way.
The four-hour film is but the first of a total of five films planned on
the life of Napoleon. It deals with his youth up to the start of the
Italian campaign. (Michael Busch) (June 15)
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