Fun Fact: When Napoleon was exiled for the second time, Marshal Ney was arrested and put on trial for treason. In his trial, his lawyer said that he was now Prussian and could not be tried for treason because Ney's hometown Sarrelouis had been annexed by Prussia in the Treaty of Paris. Ney ruined his lawyer's effort by interrupting him and saying "I am French and I will remain French." He was executed by firing squad in Paris. But he refused to wear a blindfold and was allowed the right to give the order to fire, reportedly saying "Soldiers, when I give the command to fire, fire straight at my heart. Wait for the order. It will be my last to you. I protest against my condemnation. I have fought a hundred battles for France, and not one against her ... Soldiers, fire!" I can't imagine a more dignified death that that.
Imagine being a young Soviet consript in compulsory military service expecting two years of bullying and boredom and they order you to put on a historical uniform and and basicaly train for the biggest reenactment event ever.
A young Soviet conscript: :Expecting two years of service and bullying and boredom: Director of Waterloo: :Makes them train to fight with muskets and wear historical uniforms: Soviet conscript: *Confused confusing confusion*
Leif Leoden how is this propaganda? First of all the Soviets would have never shown the army of the tzar in a good light. They absolutely despised him and the monarchy. Second of all the Russians weren't even involved in the battle of Waterloo... it was the British and the Prussians.
@@ncrrangerrolandtembo4615 One of the most brilliant generals of all time, Tyrnacially deeds or not the BATTLES should be depicted CORRECTLY there is NO excuse and Im a DOP so I understand the Strorytellers perpective andthe Battles seems to get allot wrong like majorly wrong... Sun Tzu and Sun Bin would be facefalming this if ancient China was watching. And if I was French Id be kinda miffed to a degree... I think anyone as well known as Napoleon should not be portrayed loosly.
I mean the good thing about Ridley's movie is that now I'm a lot more interested in learning the real history of Napoleon, it kind of made me obsessed with the Napoleonic wars. When it comes to world history I only really pay attention to 20th century stuff, but the new Napoleon movie got me to appreciate the early modern era. I had also seen clips from Waterloo years beforehand but only am I now deciding to watch the full movie. I take it the "Oversimplified" two part series on the topic also doesn't give the full picture on Napoleon's story, but that was most of the context I had before going into the new movie. I was surprised by how many people saying the new movie was bad, since the only inaccuracy I could spot was the scene where Napoleon shot at the pyramids.
@@kelechi_77its oversimplified did you expect a super deep dive into anything he does? no he does a entertaining overview of the most important parts of the events he covers.
During Napoleons return to power in 1815, the paris newspaper often started out with headlines like "The Ogre had escaped Elba" and "The Beast Marches for Paris". As his return continued and more forces gathered to his banner, the headlines shifted from antagonistic to neutral, and eventually positive. By the time he reached Paris, the Headlines triumphantly declared "The Emperor has returned!"
For those wondering he died due to a blow to the head resulting from a fall according to wikipedia, he died peacefully with Taylor (his wife) at his side.
What I find fascinating is that this was made in the 70's at the height of the cold war and was a joint project between various nations on both sides of the iron curtain
The reason this is is that during the 70s there was a period of détente in the Cold War, so both the West and East got on quite well. It fell apart at in 79 though when the soviets invaded Afghanistan which is why some people call the period after that the second Cold War as there had been the section of peace and cooperation in the 70s
@@JaEDLanc There was a period, roughly between Cuba and Reagan, where the Cold War had a thaw in it, the Détente. Now, when I say that, you need to remember that that was relative. The conflict still continued in other proxy wars, and Vietnam was probably the hottest proxy war in the Cold War. Nevertheless, especially during the presidency of Nixon, Détente was a real thing, and it allowed for things like this to happen, and also resulted in things like the (still debated) SALT treaties. The Cold War was still on, believe me, but it was not freezing like during the missile crisis. (I might not have been alive at that time but I am currently following a University subject on the matter of Cold War relations of the USA and the Détente is unavoidable, regardless of angle of perspective)
@@JaEDLanc I'm from former Czechoslovakia and I can say you are wrong. West has completely forgot about eastern Europe at that point. When soviet union invaded us in 1968, we were completely abandoned and West did not even protest. There was an agreement during détente, Suez for 68. I'm not blaming you or anything, but your statement is not true. The west was pretty happy with trading spheres of influence with the East, no matter the ideology.
@@Tokerskyzabijak That must have been hard on the Czech people. Unfortunately the West was busy at the time criticising the US President for attacking the sphere of influence of the Soviet-Union in Vietnam. And also we were not willing to risk our luxurious and peaceful lives for the Czech Republic (or Hungary in 1956). I wonder if it was the right choice, but it ended up well in the long run. Still I'm sorry that your breakout for freedom was buried in blood without the West lifting his finger.
Notable misconception about the Russian campaign: Napoleon actually lost more men of the Grande Armee in the summer heat on his way into Russia then he did in the winter retreat.
Amazigh Blue Azul - Anti Mafia - Anti ANPD certainly played a major role. The supply trains collapsed literally because the heat and speed killed their horses too.
@Kurishev Tulipov that’s possible, however the chief reason for the sheer size of the Grande Armee was to deal with the enormous manpower Russia could bring to bear. As Borodino demonstrated if Napoleon had a smaller force he could have been overwhelmed. Though, perhaps half the force of the Grand Armee in the summer and additional reserves brought in spring 1813 might have been more effective strategically. He still needed at least 350,000 men just to account for attritional loses and major battles. However thee was nothing Napoleon could really do about Cossack raiding.
@Kurishev Tulipov The biggest problem Napoleon had was the Russian scorched earth strategy, they completely ruined countless villages and farms, Napoleon was going to bring Supply, but he had also planned to be able to live off of the land. His best bet would probably be to follow the Corps strategy he had used before instead of having three huge armies.
Thats like my grandparents, when I mention to them i wanted to go on a cruise ship, they warned me against it, because of what happened to the TITANIC!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!
All I see and hear is "France has fallen, so remember ME!" Personal glory seems to be his defining trait. Not what I look for in a leader, it always results in other people bleeding for their glory. Similarly I'm not a great fan of Patton or Montgomery either.
@@BumMcFluff remember the ACTUAL history of the napoleonic wars ....britain financed one war after the other, starting BEFORE anyone had ever heard of napoleon (war of the first coalition) in order to put the despised bourbons back on the throne and the nobles back on their estates ....the republic and then napoleon fought to keep the forces of reaction from running their nation ...first the republic failed and then napoleon failed .....but despite 3 reinstatements of bourbon kings the french people KEPT disposing them. napoleon may have been the greatest military adventurer in history but he DEFINITELY had a vision of france that was a vast improvement over what he replaced. talking about glory was how a leader usually inspired his troops what do you "look for in a leader"???
@@LtBrown1956 I should have included the word 'military'. My opinion is that personal glory is a bad trait in a military leader. Other people (their own men) die or are hideously maimed for their glory. If I had to choose, I prefer the Wellington approach of duty instead of glory. Ideally I would prefer we didn't need a military at all, but that's not the world we live in.
@@BumMcFluff actually, the isolation of glory from war would not be needed if war was made impossible ...unfortunately, nobody knows how to do that ...just like nobody knows how to isolate the pursuit of glory from war (it would make war so much less interesting for the youth who are called upon to fight wars) wellington's approach to careful, cautious advance and a tendency to look for a defensive battle (this was why he chose the battlefield) was a complete luxury that napoleon did NOT have and could NOT afford
Fun fact: Stanley Kubrick was working on a film about Napoleon of his own, but this movie’s commercial failure contributed it being scrapped. He later went on to make A Clockwork Orange instead
From what i heard the main reason was actually that he would need too many movies to actually tell the story (coupled with waterloo not making too much money)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAGAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAGGAGAGAGAHAGAHAHAHAGAHAGAGAGAGAHGAGAGAGHAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAGAGAGAHAGAGGAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA funny hitler joke
As I get older, I find myself becoming increasingly interested in historical events and this channel has been incredibly entertaining and informative. I appreciate all you do.
As much as I enjoy his videos, there are times when his bias about the films drenches the historical review. Kingdom of Heaven, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age, come to mind.
When a man go on his 30's, he become more and more interested in historical battle, uniforms, tactics, and without realising you're painting mini French Grenadier figs every evenings
@@ag39944 Ha! When I got on in my 30s I went a similar way only with 40k, but you'll be damned sure my Raven Guard chapter (4th company) are codex compliant in composition and wear the proper colors and markings!
Bit of a major error though - both sides did not lose 70,000 men - that would be insane, like 85% of each army. No no, the French lost 25,000 and the British 15,000.
That's kinda funny considering he's the only actor whose character is named in the credits haha but that's understandable if you had only watched it once a long time ago
It's almost like the hallmark of a good actor that you're not immediately going: "oh look! It's so and so" the moment they walk on screen. Movie stars and Actors are not necessarily the same thing.
Watching this video after going to see Ridley Scott's Napoleon, and the difference in quality is shocking. Amazing that with all of the money, CGI and modern expertise, Waterloo is still the best Napoleonic film out there.
I was actually surprised to find out that Soviet era Russia produced numerous fantastic historical films, especially from the Viking era. And some far out sci fi films. Fortunately we can see them now, as we were not privy to them during the cold war. The attention to detail is impressive.
There were a couple of co production movies with Finland if I remember right that Mystery Science Theater 3000 covered but I don't remember the names of movies.
I would say cause the Soviets had no dog in the fight. If anything it made Russia looked good cause it was his Russian invasion that ultimately doomed him
@@twagon8854 I really don't, it was quite a while ago that I came across them. Though dude might be on to something about it being co-produced by Finland. They were older films I think, maybe circa 1970's (probably later half), but it was a big production taking place in the time of the Kieven Ruse. Some famous invasion they fought off, though I don't think it was by Mongol Hordes. I think it was supposed to be much earlier as the fort was still largely a wooden construction. If I remember correctly, the period of the Grand Princes ruling as client rulers on behalf of the Mongolian Empire, it was much more developed already. So it was probably Finish or Swedish Viking tribes
and remember he did muster 200000 men against 500000 men from nothing even if that is less he won many a wars with even lesser he shuldve made sure blucher was crushed before taking on wellington but history is history i guess
@@Hashishin13 remember that while most people still believed in him some of them royalists gave him a trouble holding france around most of his old force were deployed to quell rebellion so he had to start from scratch no veterans included that is why it was hard for him to win granted he had a small number of old guard but he couldnt wait for the coalition to assemble like at austerlitz where luck was on his side if the coalition had not moved from the vantage point he wouldve lost yes as an emperor the newer generations did not really know of his conquests so it from nothing
After the coalition defeated him at Leipzig; he was first offered mild conditions by Metternich in the name of the congress Châtillon even though he had rejected even milder treaties earlier. Though the Russian Tsar rejected this treaty later on and wanted Napoleon to abdicate.
I was an extra on Ridley Scott's Napoleon. While we were filming for the Battle of Austerlitz, the military extras coordinator said he overheard a conversation between the historical advisor and Ridley Scott. I can't remember exactly what he said he heard but it was along the lines of... (advisor) "This isn't how the Battle of Austerlitz played out." (Ridley) "I don't care, I'm making a movie for entertainment, not historical accuracy".
Reminds me of the line from "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence": "... When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Which, I believe, is the basis of all myth-making.
@@harbl99 I had read that he said "see them off our land", referring to his army's possession of the battlefield. Don't know if he truly said that, but it seemed perfectly English thing to say at the time. Very Wellingtonian, I thought.
Honestly this whole battle was still affected by his loss in russia All his veteran light and heavy calvary was long gone So no scouting, no harrying, no ability to capitalize on a rout, no real application of his main tactics he'd always used Napoleon was fucked either way, it wasn't just the loss of most of his experienced men and manpower it was that his hands were tied Its like trying to fight in ww2 without air support, tanks or radio
When I was in 11th grade I took a class in European history. My teacher had us watch this movie. I loved it. I have always been interested in Napoleon because of this movie.
That aerial shot of the cavalry attack against the square formations is still one of the most impressive that I've ever seen. Such a wonderful film, agreed, the production is insane.
This is what the History Channel should be..... Instead, we have Pawn Stars. Edit: Never thought this comment would get 5k likes. Holy shit this is awesome.
robskalas Agreed. Most “reality” shows are neither educational or realistic. At least PS has some history thrown in amidst the silliness. It’s not saying much about a once proud network that PS is about the best they have now. But it’s slightly better than nothing. (Very slightly)
You said it buddy... It makes me sick what they done to the History channel . The A&E network was ruined all the channels like TLC , A&E , History and History 2 with that damn reality bullshit and a sjw channel. " If it ain't broke don't fix it " !!! I really wish someone would come up with a decent channel about history with accurate docs and movies. There is enough of us out there to support it's survival and there is plenty of content to support it. Another thing that really chaps my ass is not just having to watch these GD shows everyday but they play them back to back for entire days. WTf ??? Makes me think a bunch of hipster trash are running that GD network... But what can u do ? Watch ten episodes of Shelby the swamp moron today !!!
Excellent doc, Nick. 50 years ago I was a movie theatre usher and watched 'Waterloo' 50 times during its run. Like you I was blown away every time. 19 years ago I got to meet and hang out for a while with actor Rod Steiger (Napoleon). He was in a Vancouver TV studio being interviewed about, 'In The Heat of The Night' and 'On The Waterfront'. 'Waterloo' wasn't mentioned. After his segment I had a chance to introduce myself and mentioned that, as a fellow actor, I was very influenced by his performance as Napoleon. That lit a spark in him and he invited me to join him and we chatted away about the film, his service in WW II and his life in acting much to the dismay of his 'handlers'. I actually have a photo of Mr. Steiger and I taken by the TV station crew. Great memory for me and so was seeing the care you have for this flick. Cheers -- David
Waterloo deserved an edition in the Criterion Collection. Perhaps, with the artistic failure of Ridley Scott's Napoleon, moviegoers will rediscover this classic film.
NAPOLEON : "If you want to kill your emperor, here I am" A soldier aiming at Napoleon falls in the ground with Napoleon looking at him. That, it's what i call, HUGE BALLS ...
Fraser Bathgate there is a ancedote from an artillery officer at waterloo who could see napeolon and asked permission from Wellington to shoot round shot at Him. Wellington snarkily replied 'generals have better things to do with their time than shoot at each other with cannons, permssion denied.'
I can understand this movie not being a huge box office success. It's very historical, filmed in the Soviet Union and it's not as sexed up violence. But after watching it the other day I was surprised at how poorly critics scored it. This is a great war film. I hope in time as years go by it is acknowledged as the masterpiece in film making that it is
There should be re-review sites for movies because some grow in stature and importance over decades compared with the contemporary factors in the year of their release -- factors that are not important in terms of the historical context over many years.
Our history teacher took us to see this movie when it came to theaters. I was only 14 and it completely blew me away, my jaw hung open for most of this movie and it has remained one of my all time favorite movies. I couldn't stop talking about it at dinner that night of how the battle scenes were mind shattering.
Operative word being 'Attack'! When the Square Formations attempts to pursue the horses (which are somewhat faster) the effectiveness is greatly diminished! Sorry Crassus! Than you for playing!
@@TentaclePentacle No need to make one up. There are quite a few indications that General Claude-Étienne Michel was the actual commander who uttered the famous phrase - and he did die on the field that day.
@@cleothehermetichermeticist8391 I'd say it was the Russians and classic scorched Earth, the weather was more of a defense buff than a primary force that push France out, the Russians did burn Moscow after all.
The lack of Oscars is understandable considering that it is not an American film. It is also irrelevant. The fact that we still watch and review the film after 51 years shows what a classic it is. The greatest war movie ever made.
just shows you that if a dude knows his shit and puts in the effort, people will respond. Only a few days ago this guy was at 11,000 subscribers. Well done!
Ney's cavalry attack didn't happen like that. Battles are chaotic, fluid events. French eyewitnesses have testified to this. Confusion on the French side festered, and somehow a rush of activity resulted in numerous men lunging forward. More men saw this, and joined in. When Ney himself saw what was happening, he either welcomed it or felt that it was too late to stop it, and he tried to focus the attack as best as he was able. Years later, Napoleon blamed Ney for leading the unsupported attack. Since Napoleon himself did not understand how this episode unfolded, it follows that historians and the movie makers did not either.
I mean, tbh it’s reasonable to lay blame because it was such a disaster that it’s kinda demanded that someone needs to bare blame. Maybe not fair but usually it is the present commander that holds blame for battlefield mishaps.
Yes, Ney simply ordered a recon by the 5th Cavalry Division as I recall. Then the Guard light cav joined in as did the 14th heavies. It got out of control.
First question is, if neither Napoleon nor historians know what actually happened, how do you? The second is that if Ney did not mean the massed attack by the majority of the French cavalry, why did he personally lead *multiple* charges. Eyewitnesses described his behaviour as almost suicidal.
First question is, if neither Napoleon nor historians know what actually happened, how do you? The second is that if Ney did not mean the massed attack by the majority of the French cavalry, why did he personally lead *multiple* charges. Eyewitnesses described his behaviour as almost suicidal.
I love the enemy of humanity bit because of how it works on many levels. Napoleon is such a bad ass, the continent of Europe declared war on HIM. The nations of Europe, not wanting to make the war about France, cleverly pin in all on Napoleon; makes returning to whatever is NOT NAPOLEON an acceptable alternative to all out war. Also love how this is just casually handled: "continent of Europe has declared against me war on Me. Not against France, but against ME." *beat* "they dignify you, sire, by making you a nation."
@mateos vargas Hardly that he was brutal dictator. Well dictator yes, but hardly a brutal one, more like benevolent one. Even his enemies thought that he is "in a heart a good man" (words of Tsar Aleksandr himself)!
@mateos vargas Yeah I understand your point of view, but he was the general of an army behind ennemy lines, without water and not much food. And for him it wasn't 4500 prisonners but 4500 useless mouths. Morover there was no such things as the Geneva Convention back then. It wasn't that unheard of at the time to kill prisonners. For all that matters, the spanish campaign was a lot more unsettling and "monstruous" for the time.
@是邪恶的习近平 Napoleon was from minor Corsican nobility and Wellington was from minor Irish nobility. I think you'll find that England actually executed their king, Charles I, 150yrs previous to the French Revolution- which incidentally, murdered far more of the proletariat than the nobility. Then replaced an absolutist monarch with an absolutist emperor.
@是邪恶的习近平 Your comment, what else? You stated he was a man of no privilege, I stated that he was of minor Corsican nobility. When his family fled to France, as they were seen as traitors in Corsica, Napoleon was enlisted in France's top military academy- hardly peasant stock. I also stated that the French Revolution achieved next to nothing, the poor were still poor and there was still no democracy. The three estates may have given the proletariat little influence, but under Napoleon they had none. France reverted back to its monarchy for a short time and was later under his nephew's dictatorship, Napoleon III, as late as the 1870s. People tend to put too much emphasis on individuals changing history, but time and the masses are always the biggest factor.
Fun (but really disgusting) fact: In 2012 an individual grave of a soldier from Wellington's British army was discovered on the Waterloo battlefield. (I didn't say British soldier, he was in fact German, or Hanoverian if you want to get technical. This is known from his uniform's buttons which identified his regiment.) Because of faint initials found on a small box next to the skeleton, it is believed this soldiers name was Friedrich Brandt, of the King's German Legion. If you have ever visited a major American Civil War battlefield or some WW1 and WW2 battlefields, you might not think this is a big deal, because there are large cemeteries at many of these sites. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was read at the official dedication of that battlefield's cemetery. However, you won't find such a cemetery at Waterloo or; as far as I know, at any of the major battlefield sites of the Napoleonic Wars. There is a near by town to Waterloo where some three dozen officers of Wellington's army were laid to rest and there is a large conical mound at the battlefield which was built as a memorial after Napoleon was exiled. So this grave was dug by this man's fellow soldiers, and they probably didn't have a lot of time to do so. You might think there are probably many such graves at Waterloo or mass graves which the locals were forced to dig to deal with the tens of thousands of bodies from that battle. Again, you would be mistaken. This is the only complete skeleton found at the Waterloo battlefield site since the early 19th century. (Here comes the really disgusting part.) I don't know if in the 1820's Britain had an agricultural production problem or perhaps the price of fertilizer was prohibitively high. Whatever the case, someone thought of a way to get plentiful and cheaper fertilizer than was being produced at the time. They knew where there were large sources of fertilizer just sitting there for the taking. So companies were formed that sent teams of people to the Waterloo site, and other Napoleonic battlefields, and negotiated with locals to dig, drag or dredge up these battlefield sites. What did the locals care about the bodies of the foreign soldiers who died on their land? Not much as it turns out; and it makes sense because it's not like they died fighting for them. In 1822 a British newspaper reported that over one million bushels (1 bushel = 8 imperial gallons or 36.4 liters of dry goods) of human and non-human (probably mostly horse) bones were brought into Britain through the port of Hull. They were then ground up to make fertilizer. I read this practice continued through the early 1860's, though the Waterloo site being relatively close by, had probably been scoured long before then.
Where did you learn this? The Napoleonic Wars is my favourite part of history, and I'd like to read up on any and all literature about it. (Not counting war and peace)
"what's so disgusting about that?" Spoken like a true representitive of upper classes and probably a sitting member in the House of Lords. You probably also believe that "God was in his heaven and all was in its proper place in England when the hangman stood on the gallows, to let the rable know where their place was in the world, and what would happen to them should they get out of hand."
One little detail that you didn't pick up on, but was actually vital for Wellington's troops, was that Wellington, since the Peninsula campaign, had created the rolling volley, which meant that a soldier would only fire when his neighbour had already fired. This meant that you rarely hit the same target as your neighbour and thus increasing the effectiveness of volleys. It was this rolling volley that allowed the heavily depleted units to tear so viciously into the Old Guard, and it's why the Old Guard were surprised by it. Previously a few volleys from depleted units wouldn't have had such a devastating affect, yet at Waterloo it sent the Grand Armée into headlong retreat. As you so rightly state, this is THE greatest war film, but they did miss out that detail, which is a pity, but in no way dtracts from such a magnificent achievement.
Lol. Glad you brought this up. When watching these historical movies, I often thought the line was a waste because in a tight line of men, they would pick the same target to shoot. The thought came to me from playing rts where you focus fire to kill units quicker at the expense of wasting damage in overkill.
"This meant that you rarely hit the same target as your neighbour"- Were the muskets of the time accurate enough to choose a single enemy soldier as a target. Weren't they shooting at a whole formation?
@@maverick8697 Yes, but a man who had been hit would be falling or down by the time the next musket ball hit into the packed ranks, thus increasing the effectiveness. Think of the rolling volley as the difference between a machine gun and a very big shotgun.
The Russian director of Waterloo - 1970 Sergei Bondarchuk, is also the director and star of my favorite movie ever made, War And Peace - 1967, a stunning cinematic epic thats mysteriously ridiculously vastly underrated.
@@dastemplar9681 so glad you've seen it, spread the word and like just a couple of years ago the Russians remastered and re (i forget what its called) War And Peace - 1967! Really only Ran, Waterloo, Hero and Lawrence Of Arabia and a few others can cinematically compare.
I just realized this, Napoleon is the only person speaking English with an American Accent. That's a nice little history nudge considering Napoleon spoke French with a think Corsican Accent. And in this movie he is the only character who doesn't have an English accent among the French.
The fact that everyone is a foot taller than Napoleon is inaccurate. Napoleon wasn't short, he was average. The fact that he was short was British war propaganda.
I know this comment is like 9 months old now but i just thought i'd mention that the old guard the regiment he was mostly likely to be seen around had a minimum height requirement of 6 Ft which would give the impression that he was shorter.
Im not so sure it was 6 ft. If i remember correctly, for a grenadier u had to be the tallest, something like 5'10 and 5'8 was requirement for the chasseur ( i may have spelt that wrong)
Actually it was not the old guard that were sent forward but the imperial guard(composed of the old guard, middle guard and young guard) But the old guard itself was kept in reserve to protect Napoelon. As the disciple broke down they were the only one to execute an organised retreat.
Exactly. Also the only lancers shown engaged are Polish lancers of the guard. In fact it was line lancers and hussars who countercharged the allied 'Heavies'.
GRRM (the writer for the Game of Thrones books) creates very realistic medieval battles. Unfortunately the show does not pick up on this and settled only for spectacle, especially in the later seasons.
You are right, this remark of his was wrong in more than one regard. Not only are you correct in that it was not just a small force but he also did not crush it, he merely forced a retreat. His losses and the Prussian losses were almost equal (11k and 14k) and with him having a smaller Army, his losses weighed greater. The Prussian Army was even smart enough to retreat in the right direction to be close enough to aid in the Battle of Waterloo. His goals of the Battle were not reached at all so talking about "crushing" is wrong.
While Wellington was a brilliant commander, not enough can be said of the Prussian commander, von Blucher. Certainly one of the greatest Germanic generals of all time.
This is honestly the best channel on RUclips. You must put so much effort into this. I genuinely hope this gets picked up by a network. Hats off to you sir.
This movie literally had me bursting into tears. And those who made it cared. They truly cared historically and the longest battle I've ever watched on a movie.
@@kyleshiflet9952 great examples. Zulu is def my fav because a lot of the stuff in Waterloo prior to the battle is not always as entertaining. Mostly Wellington and the British chaps are pretty irritating to watch. Tora Tora Tora is really on point in showing the events, and I started watching Cross of Iron a while back. A film I highly suggest is Stalingrad 1993, German film in the same kind of calibre as Das Boot and really great at showing their side.
Ridley Scott's version brings us here today. We expected to never see a war movie made again with this type of accuracy and scope. It's not possibly to hire 16,000 extras today. I've been an extra on several Hollywood movies. There are hundreds of us maximum, and the rest is CGI. So Joaquin Phoenix makes a mess of Napoleon, Ridley Scott skewers the authenticity, and "Waterloo" still stands alone.
From what I understand, Wellington actually said that to Uxbridge in those exact words, and Uxbridge responded in those exact words. Another careful accuracy.
Extraordinary battle scenes with not a scrap of CGI in sight. And Rod Steiger is my favorite Napoleon, hands down. Looks nothing like the man but he's got the bombast, charisma, and theatrical presence that suits the part.
@@texan-american200 You couldn’t make a movie like this one now, even the movie Gettysburg in the 90s, could not be made today either, because the men and equipment are not available these days.
Wow, I knew Napoleans march back from Russia was bad....but I didn't realize it was THAT bad....holy crap. From 600,000 to 28,000 men......bloody hell......I think only stalingrad saw those kind of losses, yes? And that was over a century later when war was substantially more brutal/deadly----and even Staligrand was an outlier for WWII.
Stalingrad was not an outlier, Lenigrad, Stevestapol, Kursk, Berlin, fucking hell almost the entirety of the eastern front was a giant meatgrinder on a scale we have never seen or will never see again
Stalingrad was actually not even in the top 5 bloodiest battles if you count german and soviet military loses togeather (dead Civilian numbers are basically out of the roof) Especially during the last year, where the soviets reched the borders of greater germany and its allies (mostly hungary concerning battlefields) the war took on a new dimension of brutality. Just look up the siege of budapest or the battle of east prussia. the western front pales in comparison of dead soldiers. Stalingrad was a catastrophe for the germans in human loss, nut by far not the greatest or bloddiest of the war
@@robertjohannessen2796 considering the vast majority of the wars are declared on him, not the other way around, it would seem that the other country's wanted to fight.
@@robertjohannessen2796imagine being a such homicidal country, that you pay other countries to make war at your place, and only entered the conflict when you had three others armies at your side, and take the glory of defeating Napoléon, even if you've done nothing except waiting for Blucher..
@@rosswiseman5991 Right, I get what you’re saying and understand the context of this conflict but I don’t think you understood the meme/joke so I’m just gonna r/woosh you
@@fernandoestebanzunigaandra8088 Oh Yeah That's Right. Waterloo The Movie Is A Awesome Paramount Pictures And Colombia Pictures Epic War Historical Action Adventure Comedy Blockbuster Movie Of All Time In Motion Picture History. X
I've watched this movie so many times after watching this review. History has always facinated me so much, and I love it when movies like this take it's subject matter seriously rather than sensationalise everything. Thanks History Buffs, you keep making them I'll keep watching them.
Russians were supplying hemp to the British Navy. Without hemp the navy could not make new ropes, sails, etc. Napoleons was pissed enough to make the big mistake of invading.
This has been one of my favourite films since I was a kid. As an adult, I still love it. All the little details like Picton not wearing a uniform. This is actually true, as his baggage was lost when he shipped out from England so he had to fight in his civilian clothes. Something we don’t see in the film, but is an interesting fact nonetheless, is that Picton was seriously wounded a couple of days before at Quatre Bras and would have been in agonising pain throughout Waterloo. It is a great testament to this dogged old Welsh fighter that no one other than himself, his groom and presumably the surgeon who treated him, ever knew about this until years later. Considering that he had been reluctant to go on this campaign in the first place, there is evidence he was suffering from what we now recognise as PTSD, and was sure he would be killed, the fact that he did not use his injury to retire but instead died leading his me, is as fitting a tribute to the British soldier as I can think of.
You've probably done something right if your once-enemies in the future consider you a legendary figure. To this day he's considered a military genius in the UK.
12:50 "Crushed a small prussian force at 16/06" ??? Hell, the Battle of Ligny (16/06) had the Prussian army (3 of the 4 corps), Blucher and Gneisenau lead that battle for the Prussians, 84.000 Prussians vc 60.000 french! :( Napolean used the Guard to win that battle too.
I have just wasted my entire evening watching your reviews, my friend. I review historical wargames on my own channel. I WISH I could review wargames the way you review movies. Simply brilliant. I salute you! Thanks for this channel :)
"A film like this will never be made again" Every time I hear someone say that, I think: "you greatly underestimate the lengths bored hobbyists will go to" 😂😂😂
I watched this recently for the first time and that Birds Eye-view shot above the battle was awesome to see. Who knew a 50 year old film could surprise you. Movies today need to step up their game.
I guess that shot was used by Bondarchuk again after War and Peace, where you'd see some similar ones. Recommend that movies series, though it's long at 7 hours or so.
The film depicts Marshall Soult as being present when Napoleon abdicated. He was actually commanding the French army facing Wellington on the Spanish border. He commanded the southern army at the battle of Toulouse against Wellington, which actually occurred after the abdication because news of the peace had not yet reached the south.
I'd like to see a suitably talented RUclipsr do a video on those battles fought AFTER the War was over... fought in ignorance of the fact due to slow communications in those days... It would be a very interesting, and VERY sad collection...
A lovely accurate touch - most of the British infantry are wearing the later false fronted shako, I noticed one of the squares has the old "Peninsula" pattern. This is correct as at least one Regiment (28th?) had not been issued the new version.
The clip at 20:15 when they guy asks which direction, the way he replies cracked me up, not just the line, but the tone in which it was delivered. “Why straight ahead to be sure.” With the smile on his face and the tone of delivery made that line so epic n pretty funny too😂
So was Christopher Plummer as the Duke of Wellington. I love the scene where the two of them are talking to their respective staff on the eve of the battle, but the scene cuts make it look like they're talking to each other.
Two of the best performances ever were from Rod Steiger and Christopher Plummer. Both very closely resembled their historical counterparts, and they mimicked their mannerisms well. I also agree that Dan O'Herlihy was very memorable as Marshal Ney, in perhaps the most underrated performance of the film.
Really Accurate and Good: Waterloo Really Inaccurate but Good: 300 Really Inaccurate and Bad: 1492 Conquest of Paradise Really Accurate but Bad: Alexander the Great
@@thenotsookayguy hehe, yes... if Blücher had his say, he would take the head of Nappi in 1814. Unfortunatly, they did not let him. At this time napoleon was (rightfully) seen as the plain evil to human mankind. Think about the millions of soldiers he killed, most in his own armies. He was pure evil, even if Steiger plays him so great that myself is 100% on his side in this movie. But overall, the little corse was plain shit. Brutal, stealing everything from conquered nations, plunder and raping in the occupied states. He was a family monster, placing other (mostly incomponent) brothers onto thrones at europe. IN spain his forces commited tons of brutal massacres (we would say so today), in that time every spaniard who fought them the way they did got "what they deserved", even in the eyes of the british. It was a brutal war, full of atrocities. But in russia, the russians slaughtered with no mercy the invading forces. But to stay honest, the northern part did "nothing" - these were mostly prusssian forces that changed sides and the austrian part was even less "active". At Borodino Napoleon won. He was the most genius military commander of that time, basically till WW2. But he never got good enough marschalls, that could work on own initative.... he also had lost way to much good soldiers, esp. Poniatowsky, the guy who saved is butt many times.
Most of the small arms seen in the film were actually Mosin Nagant rifles decorated to look like muskets. At first, it did baffle me in one shot, where one French soldier repeatedly shot around 5 rounds out of his supposed 'musket' without having to reload...
I always hear that Napoleon was evil, but I have never heard much about what makes him evil. Was he actually evil or was it propaganda that presisted to today?
@@ericamborsky3230 He was good to the French People, and evil to those he conquered...pretty much the way anybody trying to expand an empire, by invasion/war would be looked at!!!
two war movies i would really love to see you tackle; The longest day (1962) and Das boot (1981). Both epic WWII stories in their own regards as well as my personal favorites. Thank you-
i love you ripping movies apart, you’ve got such a wonderful sense of humor about things that aggravate you. but my favorite videos are always the movies that are closest to your heart. this and dances with wolves are my favorite i’ve seen so far. i was a history major in school and it makes me cry when i hear another history buff being so genuinely excited and so full of joy. you’ve got a fan for life over here
Fun Fact: When Napoleon was exiled for the second time, Marshal Ney was arrested and put on trial for treason. In his trial, his lawyer said that he was now Prussian and could not be tried for treason because Ney's hometown Sarrelouis had been annexed by Prussia in the Treaty of Paris. Ney ruined his lawyer's effort by interrupting him and saying "I am French and I will remain French." He was executed by firing squad in Paris. But he refused to wear a blindfold and was allowed the right to give the order to fire, reportedly saying "Soldiers, when I give the command to fire, fire straight at my heart. Wait for the order. It will be my last to you. I protest against my condemnation. I have fought a hundred battles for France, and not one against her ... Soldiers, fire!"
I can't imagine a more dignified death that that.
Captain Jin 0 ney was an unfortunate sod. He deserved more
Captain Jin
Captain Jin Even if it was fake, that "fought 100 battle for her but not one against her" is deep.
Isengard as I said Ney deserved better.
HOWWYY E sure but Ney wouldnt have cut and run. He was a brave man and deserves his fate to be dying bravely for a France he loved.
Imagine being a young Soviet consript in compulsory military service expecting two years of bullying and boredom and they order you to put on a historical uniform and and basicaly train for the biggest reenactment event ever.
A young Soviet conscript: :Expecting two years of service and bullying and boredom:
Director of Waterloo: :Makes them train to fight with muskets and wear historical uniforms:
Soviet conscript: *Confused confusing confusion*
@@leifleoden5464 But by the gods, in my eyes it was worth every cent.
@@leifleoden5464 Check out every country that has hosted an Olympic Games.
Leif Leoden how is this propaganda? First of all the Soviets would have never shown the army of the tzar in a good light. They absolutely despised him and the monarchy. Second of all the Russians weren't even involved in the battle of Waterloo... it was the British and the Prussians.
@@meganoob12 true the soviets *HATE* the tzar
"If this were made today, it would all be CGI and look like crap." This aged like fine wine.
Was about to say how bad Ridley’s crap movie was😂
@@ncrrangerrolandtembo4615 One of the most brilliant generals of all time, Tyrnacially deeds or not the BATTLES should be depicted CORRECTLY there is NO excuse and Im a DOP so I understand the Strorytellers perpective andthe Battles seems to get allot wrong like majorly wrong... Sun Tzu and Sun Bin would be facefalming this if ancient China was watching. And if I was French Id be kinda miffed to a degree... I think anyone as well known as Napoleon should not be portrayed loosly.
I mean the good thing about Ridley's movie is that now I'm a lot more interested in learning the real history of Napoleon, it kind of made me obsessed with the Napoleonic wars. When it comes to world history I only really pay attention to 20th century stuff, but the new Napoleon movie got me to appreciate the early modern era. I had also seen clips from Waterloo years beforehand but only am I now deciding to watch the full movie. I take it the "Oversimplified" two part series on the topic also doesn't give the full picture on Napoleon's story, but that was most of the context I had before going into the new movie. I was surprised by how many people saying the new movie was bad, since the only inaccuracy I could spot was the scene where Napoleon shot at the pyramids.
@@kelechi_77its oversimplified did you expect a super deep dive into anything he does? no he does a entertaining overview of the most important parts of the events he covers.
It's so true
During Napoleons return to power in 1815, the paris newspaper often started out with headlines like "The Ogre had escaped Elba" and "The Beast Marches for Paris". As his return continued and more forces gathered to his banner, the headlines shifted from antagonistic to neutral, and eventually positive. By the time he reached Paris, the Headlines triumphantly declared "The Emperor has returned!"
Sounds pretty typical of journalists
How banal are those media people.
@@SkillyMaccabeeSure Jan
Don't ignore the fact that newspaper were under control of Louis XVIII... that why he was at first described as an ogre.
@@TOMCATnbr yeah... And now we have real indipendent newspapers.... Sure!
Christopher Plummer, the actor who played Duke of Wellington, has died today. May he rest in piece.
He portrayed me so well-
Rest in Peace.
a good personification of wellington
@@fabianustertius6460 Personification?! im offended
For those wondering he died due to a blow to the head resulting from a fall according to wikipedia, he died peacefully with Taylor (his wife) at his side.
What I find fascinating is that this was made in the 70's at the height of the cold war and was a joint project between various nations on both sides of the iron curtain
The reason this is is that during the 70s there was a period of détente in the Cold War, so both the West and East got on quite well. It fell apart at in 79 though when the soviets invaded Afghanistan which is why some people call the period after that the second Cold War as there had been the section of peace and cooperation in the 70s
@@JaEDLanc for someone who claims to have witnessed that period, you sure seem to be very dismissive of facts.
@@JaEDLanc There was a period, roughly between Cuba and Reagan, where the Cold War had a thaw in it, the Détente. Now, when I say that, you need to remember that that was relative. The conflict still continued in other proxy wars, and Vietnam was probably the hottest proxy war in the Cold War. Nevertheless, especially during the presidency of Nixon, Détente was a real thing, and it allowed for things like this to happen, and also resulted in things like the (still debated) SALT treaties. The Cold War was still on, believe me, but it was not freezing like during the missile crisis.
(I might not have been alive at that time but I am currently following a University subject on the matter of Cold War relations of the USA and the Détente is unavoidable, regardless of angle of perspective)
@@JaEDLanc I'm from former Czechoslovakia and I can say you are wrong. West has completely forgot about eastern Europe at that point. When soviet union invaded us in 1968, we were completely abandoned and West did not even protest. There was an agreement during détente, Suez for 68. I'm not blaming you or anything, but your statement is not true. The west was pretty happy with trading spheres of influence with the East, no matter the ideology.
@@Tokerskyzabijak That must have been hard on the Czech people. Unfortunately the West was busy at the time criticising the US President for attacking the sphere of influence of the Soviet-Union in Vietnam. And also we were not willing to risk our luxurious and peaceful lives for the Czech Republic (or Hungary in 1956). I wonder if it was the right choice, but it ended up well in the long run. Still I'm sorry that your breakout for freedom was buried in blood without the West lifting his finger.
Notable misconception about the Russian campaign: Napoleon actually lost more men of the Grande Armee in the summer heat on his way into Russia then he did in the winter retreat.
Yeah because of diseases.
Amazigh Blue Azul - Anti Mafia - Anti ANPD certainly played a major role. The supply trains collapsed literally because the heat and speed killed their horses too.
@Kurishev Tulipov that’s possible, however the chief reason for the sheer size of the Grande Armee was to deal with the enormous manpower Russia could bring to bear. As Borodino demonstrated if Napoleon had a smaller force he could have been overwhelmed. Though, perhaps half the force of the Grand Armee in the summer and additional reserves brought in spring 1813 might have been more effective strategically. He still needed at least 350,000 men just to account for attritional loses and major battles.
However thee was nothing Napoleon could really do about Cossack raiding.
Bars
@Kurishev Tulipov The biggest problem Napoleon had was the Russian scorched earth strategy, they completely ruined countless villages and farms, Napoleon was going to bring Supply, but he had also planned to be able to live off of the land. His best bet would probably be to follow the Corps strategy he had used before instead of having three huge armies.
"Sir, the new Napoleon movie sucked. What shall we do?"
"There's nothing we can do"
Except to watch two Bondarchuk's movies for about 9 hours of great content.
We can revive the Soviet union for free extras
Pappa! What did you do when you were in the Soviet Army?
Son. I fought in the battle of Waterloo.
.....I see.
Pappa forgot his meds again.
vinak ☝😂👍
I can actually see that happening 🤣
Thats like my grandparents, when I mention to them i wanted to go on a cruise ship, they warned me
against it, because of what happened to the TITANIC!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!
Damn papa, the propaganda still hasn't left you
vinak The best thing I’ve seen all day😂😂😂
Did you know that this movie is actually the record holder for the most actors used during filming!
I thought Gandhi held that title with 380,000 during the Salt March scene.
Its not, its Gandhi
Think it has the record for most animals to die during filming
Ce la vie!
@Napoleon Bonaparte Which is why you lost to the British, cause they were that bad? :P
Wife: You didn't cry at the end of "Titanic"? Have you no heart?
Me: *watching Napoleon's goodbye speech at **7:17*
All I see and hear is "France has fallen, so remember ME!" Personal glory seems to be his defining trait. Not what I look for in a leader, it always results in other people bleeding for their glory. Similarly I'm not a great fan of Patton or Montgomery either.
@@BumMcFluff You are so right.
@@BumMcFluff
remember the ACTUAL history of the napoleonic wars ....britain financed one war after the other, starting BEFORE anyone had ever heard of napoleon (war of the first coalition) in order to put the despised bourbons back on the throne and the nobles back on their estates ....the republic and then napoleon fought to keep the forces of reaction from running their nation ...first the republic failed and then napoleon failed .....but despite 3 reinstatements of bourbon kings the french people KEPT disposing them.
napoleon may have been the greatest military adventurer in history but he DEFINITELY had a vision of france that was a vast improvement over what he replaced. talking about glory was how a leader usually inspired his troops
what do you "look for in a leader"???
@@LtBrown1956 I should have included the word 'military'. My opinion is that personal glory is a bad trait in a military leader. Other people (their own men) die or are hideously maimed for their glory. If I had to choose, I prefer the Wellington approach of duty instead of glory. Ideally I would prefer we didn't need a military at all, but that's not the world we live in.
@@BumMcFluff
actually, the isolation of glory from war would not be needed if war was made impossible ...unfortunately, nobody knows how to do that ...just like nobody knows how to isolate the pursuit of glory from war (it would make war so much less interesting for the youth who are called upon to fight wars)
wellington's approach to careful, cautious advance and a tendency to look for a defensive battle (this was why he chose the battlefield) was a complete luxury that napoleon did NOT have and could NOT afford
Fun fact: Stanley Kubrick was working on a film about Napoleon of his own, but this movie’s commercial failure contributed it being scrapped. He later went on to make A Clockwork Orange instead
Truly a shame it was never made
And barry lyndon with a lot of the preproduction from this movie
Now, Ridley Scott is making a Napoleon biopic with Joaquin Phoenix.
@@thechefisacookin yes true, but prob for the best- we mayve missed out on clockwork orange.
From what i heard the main reason was actually that he would need too many movies to actually tell the story (coupled with waterloo not making too much money)
Napoleon:* gets exile*
France:* hates their new king*
Napoleon: *Okay, time for the remix*
lord Kal Napoleon: Yaaah, its rewind time... If I-
Wellington and Blücher: Ima stop you right there!
New king louis: *head cut off by gioullotine*
lord Kal Napolean did a boogaloo.
Yes
Rasputin Brown I believe that it was Louis 16 who lost his head.
"The Austrians are in Versailles", 100+ Years later another Austrian was to give Versaille a visitation.
Thilo Manten oh Stalin
what? He is talking about Hitler my dude
Daniel Calzada or he could be referring to the treaty of Versailles
Daniel Calzada he’s talking about the treaty of Versailles which was after ww1 Hitler was just a soldier
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAGAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAGGAGAGAGAHAGAHAHAHAGAHAGAGAGAGAHGAGAGAGHAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAGAGAGAHAGAGGAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA funny hitler joke
As I get older, I find myself becoming increasingly interested in historical events and this channel has been incredibly entertaining and informative. I appreciate all you do.
@Anal Farmer that's very true Anal Farmer
As much as I enjoy his videos, there are times when his bias about the films drenches the historical review. Kingdom of Heaven, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age, come to mind.
When a man go on his 30's, he become more and more interested in historical battle, uniforms, tactics, and without realising you're painting mini French Grenadier figs every evenings
@@ag39944 Ha! When I got on in my 30s I went a similar way only with 40k, but you'll be damned sure my Raven Guard chapter (4th company) are codex compliant in composition and wear the proper colors and markings!
Bit of a major error though - both sides did not lose 70,000 men - that would be insane, like 85% of each army. No no, the French lost 25,000 and the British 15,000.
Just walked out of Napoleon and needed to come here for some actual history.
Too right - needed to wash the bad taste from my mouth!
I did not walk out, but I did lose sleep being angry at it. Horrible "movie"
This movie gives Napoleon a British accent. Nothing could be less accurate. This movie sucks ass
Same bro it was horrendous
Jesus that film was shameful in both as a movie and historical accuracy
Such an underrated movie.
I agree!
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure never gets the recognition it deserves...
+☭People's Republic of Norway☭ One hell of a profile picture, torvarish.
It's not underrated. It's been given a lot of recognitions during its time. Rather, I would say it's a forgotten masterpiece.
I would love see a Making of video. If one was actually made. The sheer scale of this film is mind boggling. They captured it in masterful detail.
The assistant director is in charge of all background actors.....they must have had the best AD on the planet when they made Waterloo
Never knew, until I re-watched Waterloo recently, that was Orson Welles playing Louis XVIII.
That's kinda funny considering he's the only actor whose character is named in the credits haha but that's understandable if you had only watched it once a long time ago
It's almost like the hallmark of a good actor that you're not immediately going: "oh look! It's so and so" the moment they walk on screen. Movie stars and Actors are not necessarily the same thing.
He had the body for it
@@irishg357 hence the term "character actor"
Before leaving the palace he performed a magic trick which was to make the wine cellar disappear. "Ahhhhh, the French!"
Watching this video after going to see Ridley Scott's Napoleon, and the difference in quality is shocking. Amazing that with all of the money, CGI and modern expertise, Waterloo is still the best Napoleonic film out there.
War and Peace seems to be on par though.
I was actually surprised to find out that Soviet era Russia produced numerous fantastic historical films, especially from the Viking era. And some far out sci fi films. Fortunately we can see them now, as we were not privy to them during the cold war. The attention to detail is impressive.
Viking? Can you tell me their names pls
There were a couple of co production movies with Finland if I remember right that Mystery Science Theater 3000 covered but I don't remember the names of movies.
I would say cause the Soviets had no dog in the fight. If anything it made Russia looked good cause it was his Russian invasion that ultimately doomed him
I liked the Soviet version of The Jungle Book more than the Disney version
@@twagon8854 I really don't, it was quite a while ago that I came across them. Though dude might be on to something about it being co-produced by Finland.
They were older films I think, maybe circa 1970's (probably later half), but it was a big production taking place in the time of the Kieven Ruse. Some famous invasion they fought off, though I don't think it was by Mongol Hordes. I think it was supposed to be much earlier as the fort was still largely a wooden construction.
If I remember correctly, the period of the Grand Princes ruling as client rulers on behalf of the Mongolian Empire, it was much more developed already.
So it was probably Finish or Swedish Viking tribes
"If I ever saw 30,000 men run a race before."
I love that line. That had to have been a sweet moment for Wellington.
"In which direction your grace?"
"Why straight ahead to be sure".
+SJ NM nah just go west and let the French escape
And I love that inmediately after than line, a cannon ball rips the leg of the general next to Wesley
that was oxford, who did lost his leg in the battle but survived
"From Napoleon to Louis XVIII: my dear brother, it is not necessary to send me more troops, I already have enough of them!"
Parisine joke.
Napoleon: Wants peace
Europe: You're the enemy of humanity
Napoleon: *COWABUNGA IT IS*
and remember he did muster 200000 men against 500000 men from nothing even if that is less he won many a wars with even lesser he shuldve made sure blucher was crushed before taking on wellington but history is history i guess
@@syedferoz2188 He was Emperor of France, that kind of power described as "from nothing" is a little off.
@@Hashishin13 remember that while most people still believed in him some of them royalists gave him a trouble holding france around most of his old force were deployed to quell rebellion so he had to start from scratch no veterans included that is why it was hard for him to win granted he had a small number of old guard but he couldnt wait for the coalition to assemble like at austerlitz where luck was on his side if the coalition had not moved from the vantage point he wouldve lost yes as an emperor the newer generations did not really know of his conquests so it from nothing
Dude he said in the video that Napoleon ask for peace in order to buy time so he could rebuild his army
After the coalition defeated him at Leipzig; he was first offered mild conditions by Metternich in the name of the congress Châtillon even though he had rejected even milder treaties earlier. Though the Russian Tsar rejected this treaty later on and wanted Napoleon to abdicate.
I was an extra on Ridley Scott's Napoleon. While we were filming for the Battle of Austerlitz, the military extras coordinator said he overheard a conversation between the historical advisor and Ridley Scott. I can't remember exactly what he said he heard but it was along the lines of... (advisor) "This isn't how the Battle of Austerlitz played out." (Ridley) "I don't care, I'm making a movie for entertainment, not historical accuracy".
And he failed abysmally at both as it turned out
what a moron
Scott should be ashamed of himself.
Napoleon making love and talking about his wife for 1/2 part of the whole movie, very entertaining.
Typical of present day film making. How very sad.
Imagine if they just put “Merde“ on his statue lol
It needs changing. An honourable man strives for truth in death.
Reminds me of the line from "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence": "... When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Which, I believe, is the basis of all myth-making.
Lil Merde
@@YorkshirePirate The French basically memed him into stone.
What a shit comment.
“I’ve never seen 30,000 men run a race.” The disrespect XD
I always thought that he was referring to his own army's pursuit.
@@harbl99 I had read that he said "see them off our land", referring to his army's possession of the battlefield. Don't know if he truly said that, but it seemed perfectly English thing to say at the time. Very Wellingtonian, I thought.
@@michaelb3363 yeah with 100 000 prussians on his flank he could afford to !
Honestly this whole battle was still affected by his loss in russia
All his veteran light and heavy calvary was long gone
So no scouting, no harrying, no ability to capitalize on a rout, no real application of his main tactics he'd always used
Napoleon was fucked either way, it wasn't just the loss of most of his experienced men and manpower it was that his hands were tied
Its like trying to fight in ww2 without air support, tanks or radio
@@Yes_Fantasy_419 yeah I'm surprised they didn't throw guns in there also.
When I was in 11th grade I took a class in European history. My teacher had us watch this movie. I loved it. I have always been interested in Napoleon because of this movie.
That aerial shot of the cavalry attack against the square formations is still one of the most impressive that I've ever seen.
Such a wonderful film, agreed, the production is insane.
This is what the History Channel should be..... Instead, we have Pawn Stars.
Edit:
Never thought this comment would get 5k likes. Holy shit this is awesome.
ChefMatt--
Know what you mean. "Ancient Aliens" ?!? Are efing kidding me !? "Ghost Hunters" ??? It's confirmed the monkey's are running the networks.
And Ancient Aliens, bigfoots, extraterrestrials etc. etc. Actually it became more "Mystery" than "History" channel, if you understand me. 😁
I like pawn Stars... at least you do learn some history.
robskalas Agreed. Most “reality” shows are neither educational or realistic. At least PS has some history thrown in amidst the silliness. It’s not saying much about a once proud network that PS is about the best they have now. But it’s slightly better than nothing. (Very slightly)
You said it buddy... It makes me sick what they done to the History channel . The A&E network was ruined all the channels like TLC , A&E , History and History 2 with that damn reality bullshit and a sjw channel. " If it ain't broke don't fix it " !!! I really wish someone would come up with a decent channel about history with accurate docs and movies. There is enough of us out there to support it's survival and there is plenty of content to support it. Another thing that really chaps my ass is not just having to watch these GD shows everyday but they play them back to back for entire days. WTf ??? Makes me think a bunch of hipster trash are running that GD network... But what can u do ? Watch ten episodes of Shelby the swamp moron today !!!
Excellent doc, Nick. 50 years ago I was a movie theatre usher and watched 'Waterloo' 50 times during its run. Like you I was blown away every time. 19 years ago I got to meet and hang out for a while with actor Rod Steiger (Napoleon). He was in a Vancouver TV studio being interviewed about, 'In The Heat of The Night' and 'On The Waterfront'. 'Waterloo' wasn't mentioned. After his segment I had a chance to introduce myself and mentioned that, as a fellow actor, I was very influenced by his performance as Napoleon. That lit a spark in him and he invited me to join him and we chatted away about the film, his service in WW II and his life in acting much to the dismay of his 'handlers'. I actually have a photo of Mr. Steiger and I taken by the TV station crew. Great memory for me and so was seeing the care you have for this flick. Cheers -- David
Lucky fellow. I think the close studies of Mr Steiger/Napoleon with inner voice work well in this amazing work.
Steiger's performance was absolutely spectacular....the shots of him thinking...and his voice talking out his thoughts...WOW
Cherish the memory as long as you live. Especially now, when they failed to recreate the feeling in the recent movie.
Waterloo deserved an edition in the Criterion Collection. Perhaps, with the artistic failure of Ridley Scott's Napoleon, moviegoers will rediscover this classic film.
I know I have
will they appreciate the fact that Napoleon spoke perfect English?
@@viktorhauk cringe nitpick
NAPOLEON : "If you want to kill your emperor, here I am"
A soldier aiming at Napoleon falls in the ground with Napoleon looking at him.
That, it's what i call, HUGE BALLS ...
harbl99 no, napoleon is a superhero
Napoleon aka Testicleese (better than hercules)
What do you call a French general after being hit by a cannonball?
Napoleon Blown-aparte
*GASP* The coveted like!
What do you call a French general who devorces his wife?
Napoleon Bone-aparte
Fraser Bathgate there is a ancedote from an artillery officer at waterloo who could see napeolon and asked permission from Wellington to shoot round shot at Him. Wellington snarkily replied 'generals have better things to do with their time than shoot at each other with cannons, permssion denied.'
Alistair Shaw thats actually also in the film...
Merliginary havent watched fully, but not surprised it is pure Wellesley.
I can understand this movie not being a huge box office success. It's very historical, filmed in the Soviet Union and it's not as sexed up violence. But after watching it the other day I was surprised at how poorly critics scored it. This is a great war film. I hope in time as years go by it is acknowledged as the masterpiece in film making that it is
There should be re-review sites for movies because some grow in stature and importance over decades compared with the contemporary factors in the year of their release -- factors that are not important in terms of the historical context over many years.
Our history teacher took us to see this movie when it came to theaters. I was only 14 and it completely blew me away, my jaw hung open for most of this movie and it has remained one of my all time favorite movies. I couldn't stop talking about it at dinner that night of how the battle scenes were mind shattering.
"the squares were perfect against a cavalry attack"
Must be a sick irony to Crassus and his legions
If only the french had horse archers :P
Or Foy's rearguard after Salamanca
@@majorbowie776 Got to wonder if the French had dragoons.
Lmao
Operative word being 'Attack'! When the Square Formations attempts to pursue the horses (which are somewhat faster) the effectiveness is greatly diminished! Sorry Crassus! Than you for playing!
"The french ignored him and slapped it on anyway"
To be honest, thats a pretty French thing to do.
well they couldn't find a real life Frenchmen who didn't surrender so they had to make one up.
@@TentaclePentacle No need to make one up. There are quite a few indications that General Claude-Étienne Michel was the actual commander who uttered the famous phrase - and he did die on the field that day.
What are you talking about?
Nick's impersonation of a frenchman is gold too
@@lambert2332 what is the first comment about(
“It’s not Bill & Ted it’s of course the Prussians.”
*History Buffs*
Robert Bonneau I mean technically the weather beat Napoleon not really any of the major nations.
@@cleothehermetichermeticist8391 I'd say it was the Russians and classic scorched Earth, the weather was more of a defense buff than a primary force that push France out, the Russians did burn Moscow after all.
@@cleothehermetichermeticist8391 It was a contributing factor, no the sole one.
Be excellent dude!
No Uk no peninsula war and no forces wasted on the french coast the uk did a good chunk of the work
Watching this after seeing Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is a breath of fresh air. This is how you make an epic
17:00
If they didn't win an Oscar for the camera work in this scene alone then I don't want to live in this world anymore.
I DONT FIGHT ON MY ASS
Yes. Magnificent shot.
The lack of Oscars for this movie still haunts my dreams at night
Was there any Soviet production that ever won an Oscar?
The lack of Oscars is understandable considering that it is not an American film. It is also irrelevant. The fact that we still watch and review the film after 51 years shows what a classic it is. The greatest war movie ever made.
Napoleon: *gets exiled*
A few months later...
Napoleon: It's rewind time!
La Grande Armee 2: Electric Boogaloo!
@@agp11001 Underrated comment
The first 6 Coalition wars were so fun, how about a seventh?
just shows you that if a dude knows his shit and puts in the effort, people will respond. Only a few days ago this guy was at 11,000 subscribers. Well done!
Thanks mate! Everything is coming together all of a sudden lol
+History Buffs No problem. I have no doubt you'll keep up the good work
+History Buffs Review "Alamo" (20040
+History Buffs great reviews! I would like to make a request for "The Lost Battalion" (2001)
+History Buffs Two requests here! Beowulf & Grendel (the version with Gerard Butler) and Valhalla Rising! Keep it up with the videos!
Ney's cavalry attack didn't happen like that. Battles are chaotic, fluid events. French eyewitnesses have testified to this. Confusion on the French side festered, and somehow a rush of activity resulted in numerous men lunging forward. More men saw this, and joined in. When Ney himself saw what was happening, he either welcomed it or felt that it was too late to stop it, and he tried to focus the attack as best as he was able. Years later, Napoleon blamed Ney for leading the unsupported attack. Since Napoleon himself did not understand how this episode unfolded, it follows that historians and the movie makers did not either.
I mean, tbh it’s reasonable to lay blame because it was such a disaster that it’s kinda demanded that someone needs to bare blame. Maybe not fair but usually it is the present commander that holds blame for battlefield mishaps.
And yet you do. Isn't it weird how random assholes always know more than experts.
Yes, Ney simply ordered a recon by the 5th Cavalry Division as I recall. Then the Guard light cav joined in as did the 14th heavies. It got out of control.
First question is, if neither Napoleon nor historians know what actually happened, how do you?
The second is that if Ney did not mean the massed attack by the majority of the French cavalry, why did he personally lead *multiple* charges. Eyewitnesses described his behaviour as almost suicidal.
First question is, if neither Napoleon nor historians know what actually happened, how do you?
The second is that if Ney did not mean the massed attack by the majority of the French cavalry, why did he personally lead *multiple* charges. Eyewitnesses described his behaviour as almost suicidal.
I love the enemy of humanity bit because of how it works on many levels. Napoleon is such a bad ass, the continent of Europe declared war on HIM. The nations of Europe, not wanting to make the war about France, cleverly pin in all on Napoleon; makes returning to whatever is NOT NAPOLEON an acceptable alternative to all out war. Also love how this is just casually handled: "continent of Europe has declared against me war on Me. Not against France, but against ME." *beat* "they dignify you, sire, by making you a nation."
@Eugene Miyelis tell me how you fight like an ass and coward. Thats what i call smart
@mateos vargas Hardly that he was brutal dictator. Well dictator yes, but hardly a brutal one, more like benevolent one. Even his enemies thought that he is "in a heart a good man" (words of Tsar Aleksandr himself)!
@mateos vargas Yeah I understand your point of view, but he was the general of an army behind ennemy lines, without water and not much food. And for him it wasn't 4500 prisonners but 4500 useless mouths.
Morover there was no such things as the Geneva Convention back then. It wasn't that unheard of at the time to kill prisonners. For all that matters, the spanish campaign was a lot more unsettling and "monstruous" for the time.
@是邪恶的习近平 Napoleon was from minor Corsican nobility and Wellington was from minor Irish nobility.
I think you'll find that England actually executed their king, Charles I, 150yrs previous to the French Revolution- which incidentally, murdered far more of the proletariat than the nobility. Then replaced an absolutist monarch with an absolutist emperor.
@是邪恶的习近平 Your comment, what else? You stated he was a man of no privilege, I stated that he was of minor Corsican nobility. When his family fled to France, as they were seen as traitors in Corsica, Napoleon was enlisted in France's top military academy- hardly peasant stock.
I also stated that the French Revolution achieved next to nothing, the poor were still poor and there was still no democracy. The three estates may have given the proletariat little influence, but under Napoleon they had none. France reverted back to its monarchy for a short time and was later under his nephew's dictatorship, Napoleon III, as late as the 1870s.
People tend to put too much emphasis on individuals changing history, but time and the masses are always the biggest factor.
Fun (but really disgusting) fact: In 2012 an individual grave of a soldier from Wellington's British army was discovered on the Waterloo battlefield. (I didn't say British soldier, he was in fact German, or Hanoverian if you want to get technical. This is known from his uniform's buttons which identified his regiment.) Because of faint initials found on a small box next to the skeleton, it is believed this soldiers name was Friedrich Brandt, of the King's German Legion.
If you have ever visited a major American Civil War battlefield or some WW1 and WW2 battlefields, you might not think this is a big deal, because there are large cemeteries at many of these sites. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was read at the official dedication of that battlefield's cemetery. However, you won't find such a cemetery at Waterloo or; as far as I know, at any of the major battlefield sites of the Napoleonic Wars. There is a near by town to Waterloo where some three dozen officers of Wellington's army were laid to rest and there is a large conical mound at the battlefield which was built as a memorial after Napoleon was exiled. So this grave was dug by this man's fellow soldiers, and they probably didn't have a lot of time to do so. You might think there are probably many such graves at Waterloo or mass graves which the locals were forced to dig to deal with the tens of thousands of bodies from that battle. Again, you would be mistaken. This is the only complete skeleton found at the Waterloo battlefield site since the early 19th century. (Here comes the really disgusting part.)
I don't know if in the 1820's Britain had an agricultural production problem or perhaps the price of fertilizer was prohibitively high. Whatever the case, someone thought of a way to get plentiful and cheaper fertilizer than was being produced at the time. They knew where there were large sources of fertilizer just sitting there for the taking. So companies were formed that sent teams of people to the Waterloo site, and other Napoleonic battlefields, and negotiated with locals to dig, drag or dredge up these battlefield sites. What did the locals care about the bodies of the foreign soldiers who died on their land? Not much as it turns out; and it makes sense because it's not like they died fighting for them. In 1822 a British newspaper reported that over one million bushels (1 bushel = 8 imperial gallons or 36.4 liters of dry goods) of human and non-human (probably mostly horse) bones were brought into Britain through the port of Hull. They were then ground up to make fertilizer. I read this practice continued through the early 1860's, though the Waterloo site being relatively close by, had probably been scoured long before then.
Where did you learn this? The Napoleonic Wars is my favourite part of history, and I'd like to read up on any and all literature about it. (Not counting war and peace)
what's so disgusting about that? making good use of resources is an advantageous human trait
"what's so disgusting about that?" Spoken like a true representitive of upper classes and probably a sitting member in the House of Lords. You probably also believe that "God was in his heaven and all was in its proper place in England when the hangman stood on the gallows, to let the rable know where their place was in the world, and what would happen to them should they get out of hand."
Imagine we used this as a project in History Class
Hey there... yes you, peasant. You have misspelled Rabble. They really shouldn't let commoners comment on RUclips. Oh Marvelous! Tea is served!
Christopher Plummer as Wellington in this movie is my favorite acting performance of all time.
His portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the film murder by decree was also top noche
@@johnlewis9158 one of the best Holmes ever.
He caught me guardless. I freaking thought he was the real duke of wellington😂 they had same charisma!!!
NOW MAITLAND! NOW'S YOUR TIME!
To the fox.
This was a film that started reenactment groups, I was in a group called Sabre Society, we northern Englishmen played the French. Great days.
"My my, at Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender."
Well, he didn't actually surrender at Waterloo. ABBA lied to us...
Noooooooooooooo!
Cptn Hknx the battle did cause his surrender
the old guard died what is napoleon without the old guard
I hate it when Eurovision numbers aren't historically accurate.
At least the line "I was defeated, you won the war' was correct! :-)
One little detail that you didn't pick up on, but was actually vital for Wellington's troops, was that Wellington, since the Peninsula campaign, had created the rolling volley, which meant that a soldier would only fire when his neighbour had already fired. This meant that you rarely hit the same target as your neighbour and thus increasing the effectiveness of volleys. It was this rolling volley that allowed the heavily depleted units to tear so viciously into the Old Guard, and it's why the Old Guard were surprised by it. Previously a few volleys from depleted units wouldn't have had such a devastating affect, yet at Waterloo it sent the Grand Armée into headlong retreat.
As you so rightly state, this is THE greatest war film, but they did miss out that detail, which is a pity, but in no way dtracts from such a magnificent achievement.
excepted that they didnt shoot the old guard but the middle guard, the old guard was in reserve or fighting the prussians
Lol. Glad you brought this up. When watching these historical movies, I often thought the line was a waste because in a tight line of men, they would pick the same target to shoot. The thought came to me from playing rts where you focus fire to kill units quicker at the expense of wasting damage in overkill.
@@7macfly2 Yes, my mistake.
"This meant that you rarely hit the same target as your neighbour"- Were the muskets of the time accurate enough to choose a single enemy soldier as a target. Weren't they shooting at a whole formation?
@@maverick8697 Yes, but a man who had been hit would be falling or down by the time the next musket ball hit into the packed ranks, thus increasing the effectiveness. Think of the rolling volley as the difference between a machine gun and a very big shotgun.
The Russian director of Waterloo - 1970 Sergei Bondarchuk, is also the director and star of my favorite movie ever made, War And Peace - 1967, a stunning cinematic epic thats mysteriously ridiculously vastly underrated.
@@dastemplar9681 so glad you've seen it, spread the word and like just a couple of years ago the Russians remastered and re (i forget what its called) War And Peace - 1967! Really only Ran, Waterloo, Hero and Lawrence Of Arabia and a few others can cinematically compare.
That movies war and peace is a true masterpiece.
My brother in christ mention it's 8 hours next time I was not prepared for that revelation. Lol
@@thekotabear3262who would have thought War and Peace would be long?
@@thekotabear3262 Like a TV series.
I just realized this, Napoleon is the only person speaking English with an American Accent. That's a nice little history nudge considering Napoleon spoke French with a think Corsican Accent. And in this movie he is the only character who doesn't have an English accent among the French.
The fact that everyone is a foot taller than Napoleon is inaccurate. Napoleon wasn't short, he was average. The fact that he was short was British war propaganda.
Most people are aware of this. The "Napoleon was short" claim rarely goes unchallenged.
I know this comment is like 9 months old now but i just thought i'd mention that the old guard the regiment he was mostly likely to be seen around had a minimum height requirement of 6 Ft which would give the impression that he was shorter.
Brendan S The French foot measurement was less than the British measurement of one foot. Napoleon wasn't short.
NostalgiNorden All made up based on bad information. From what I've been able to find out he was actually over 5 feet 5 inches tall.
Im not so sure it was 6 ft. If i remember correctly, for a grenadier u had to be the tallest, something like 5'10 and 5'8 was requirement for the chasseur ( i may have spelt that wrong)
Rod Steiger was such a brilliant character actor. He never simply phoned in a performance.
I don't think any actor playing Napoleon in a film called Waterloo could hope to get away with phoning it in.
Fantastic actor.
This was his peak performance. Unmatched.
10:31 Did Napoleon just killed that man by looking at him?
Napoleon was known for his death ray vision. If you don't believe me, ask Trump at 22:55
Daniel Diaz w
Daniel Diaz his name was written in the death note
Heat stroke?
Napoleon Brandy
Actually it was not the old guard that were sent forward but the imperial guard(composed of the old guard, middle guard and young guard) But the old guard itself was kept in reserve to protect Napoelon. As the disciple broke down they were the only one to execute an organised retreat.
Exactly. Also the only lancers shown engaged are Polish lancers of the guard. In fact it was line lancers and hussars who countercharged the allied 'Heavies'.
Saw Waterloo 50 years ago this month. Thought it was the most stunning war movie I had ever seen. Still feel that way.
They put A LOT of effort into this movie and i cant believe they did it so HUGE congratulations to them
Waterloo makes Game of Thrones battle scenes look like student film making
And Still being Crushed by that another famous kid of Battle in helm's deep.
@@paulandreig.sahagun34 Helms Deep was awesome whn you can look over respawning pointy ears, plot armor and that stupid Legolas-Shield-Surfing stunt.
The battles on GOT started out really good with Blackwater and Castle Black but then they went more for spectacle with Bastards and Roseroad.
GRRM (the writer for the Game of Thrones books) creates very realistic medieval battles. Unfortunately the show does not pick up on this and settled only for spectacle, especially in the later seasons.
Oh yes.
Literally can't wait for History Buffs: Napoleon!
Same, it's gonna be terrible
12:50 - it was no "small Prussian force" but the entire Prussian army that Napoleon faced at the Battle of Ligny.
You are right, this remark of his was wrong in more than one regard. Not only are you correct in that it was not just a small force but he also did not crush it, he merely forced a retreat. His losses and the Prussian losses were almost equal (11k and 14k) and with him having a smaller Army, his losses weighed greater. The Prussian Army was even smart enough to retreat in the right direction to be close enough to aid in the Battle of Waterloo. His goals of the Battle were not reached at all so talking about "crushing" is wrong.
F.C. Laukhard yeah pruissan kind wanted no part of Napoleon alone he just wanted to retreat and face him with the greater coalition
While Wellington was a brilliant commander, not enough can be said of the Prussian commander, von Blucher. Certainly one of the greatest Germanic generals of all time.
60,800 French troops vs 82,700 Prussians and it was STILL a Pyrrhic victory.
Minor correction: he faced 3 out of 4 corps of the Prussian army. Still the bulk of the Prussian army in the theatre.
This is honestly the best channel on RUclips. You must put so much effort into this. I genuinely hope this gets picked up by a network. Hats off to you sir.
Thanks mate! Appreciate it :)
That ending ... awesome editing
Used to be his opening for the channel, but he changed it :(
Saxon Centurion .
Yeah,I love these history channels check out AlternateHistoryHub too
This movie literally had me bursting into tears. And those who made it cared. They truly cared historically and the longest battle I've ever watched on a movie.
That's why I love Waterloo,Tora Tora Tora,Zulu,and Cross of Iron you can tell the time and effort into those movies
@@kyleshiflet9952 great examples. Zulu is def my fav because a lot of the stuff in Waterloo prior to the battle is not always as entertaining. Mostly Wellington and the British chaps are pretty irritating to watch. Tora Tora Tora is really on point in showing the events, and I started watching Cross of Iron a while back. A film I highly suggest is Stalingrad 1993, German film in the same kind of calibre as Das Boot and really great at showing their side.
Ridley Scott's version brings us here today. We expected to never see a war movie made again with this type of accuracy and scope. It's not possibly to hire 16,000 extras today. I've been an extra on several Hollywood movies. There are hundreds of us maximum, and the rest is CGI. So Joaquin Phoenix makes a mess of Napoleon, Ridley Scott skewers the authenticity, and "Waterloo" still stands alone.
Don’t blame Joaquin, a good actor can only do so much with bad direction
But it's not CGI that ruined Ridley Scott's version, it's bad storytelling about some made-up version of Napoleon's sex life.
"by god, sir, i've lost my leg."
"by god, sir, so you have."
haha I get it
From what I understand, Wellington actually said that to Uxbridge in those exact words, and Uxbridge responded in those exact words. Another careful accuracy.
Extraordinary battle scenes with not a scrap of CGI in sight. And Rod Steiger is my favorite Napoleon, hands down. Looks nothing like the man but he's got the bombast, charisma, and theatrical presence that suits the part.
His King Arthur british accent really is what gives him the edge though amirite?
2 years later and the 2023 "Napoleon" might be heavy in CGI.
@@texan-american200Ridley Scott likes to keep it as old school as possible, I doubt he’ll overdo it (cgi)
@@texan-american200
You couldn’t make a movie like this one now, even the movie Gettysburg in the 90s, could not be made today either, because the men and equipment are not available these days.
"excuse my poor French" [30 seconds later] "the most insulting French accent ever"
What a chad
To be fair....it’s the most annoying and feminine sounding language in the world. Speaking it poorly is probably a good thing. 😄
“If this was made today it would all be CGI and look like crap”.
*Ridley Scott withdraws back into the shadows*
Wow, I knew Napoleans march back from Russia was bad....but I didn't realize it was THAT bad....holy crap. From 600,000 to 28,000 men......bloody hell......I think only stalingrad saw those kind of losses, yes? And that was over a century later when war was substantially more brutal/deadly----and even Staligrand was an outlier for WWII.
Stalingrad was not an outlier, Lenigrad, Stevestapol, Kursk, Berlin, fucking hell almost the entirety of the eastern front was a giant meatgrinder on a scale we have never seen or will never see again
It was more like 150.000 survivors, with around 80.000 deserters on top of that. Still atrocious losses though. At least 400.000 dead or wounded.
@@somerandomguyfromthebeyond1821 Don't forget Rzhev, which was actually called a meatgrinder
Stalingrad was actually not even in the top 5 bloodiest battles if you count german and soviet military loses togeather (dead Civilian numbers are basically out of the roof)
Especially during the last year, where the soviets reched the borders of greater germany and its allies (mostly hungary concerning battlefields) the war took on a new dimension of brutality. Just look up the siege of budapest or the battle of east prussia. the western front pales in comparison of dead soldiers.
Stalingrad was a catastrophe for the germans in human loss, nut by far not the greatest or bloddiest of the war
@Noobster I was speaking strictly of Military Casualties. Also...I am more than happy to look at your examples but please cite your sources. Thanks.
The allied coalition: “finally we're done with that Naopleon”
Napoleon: “DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK, I BEEN HERE FOR YEARS”
Hollywood: "We make the best movies with most epic fight scenes"
Red Army: "Hold my vodka!"
@@justinh2150 Which part of vodka isn't Russian? The fact that Russians consume the most vodka, or that vodka originated from Russia... and Poland?
zaho87 - exactly
Hold my vodka...LMFAO. BRILLIANT!
Imagine being such a badass, that an entire continent declares war specifically on you.
Imagine being such a homicidal tyrant that an entire continent declares war specifically on you
@@robertjohannessen2796 considering the vast majority of the wars are declared on him, not the other way around, it would seem that the other country's wanted to fight.
@@robertjohannessen2796British propaganda be like:
@@robertjohannessen2796imagine being a such homicidal country, that you pay other countries to make war at your place, and only entered the conflict when you had three others armies at your side, and take the glory of defeating Napoléon, even if you've done nothing except waiting for Blucher..
9:53 Napoleon pulls “kill me you gay” move
yes, one of the best memes I heard all day
the ; ..... you're gay
works everytime
@Johnson Jamse Coped comment
@@gutsjoestar7450 Nice Cat?
11:34 Napoleon be like:
A seven nation army wouldn’t hold me back!
He was literally defeated by six (Britain, Prussia, Netherlands, Nassau, Hanover, and Brunswick)
@@rosswiseman5991 But it wasn't 7
@@trololopez2437 No it was fewer. If even a seven-nation-army couldn't hold something back, something else being crushed by six is less than.
@@rosswiseman5991
Right, I get what you’re saying and understand the context of this conflict but I don’t think you understood the meme/joke so I’m just gonna r/woosh you
@@rosswiseman5991 Sweden, Spain and Denmark were also against him
Happy 50th Birthday Waterloo The Movie.
1970 - 2020. 50 Years. X
50 Years, and it is not yet overcome.....What a great movie. =)
@@fernandoestebanzunigaandra8088 Oh Yeah That's Right. Waterloo The Movie Is A Awesome Paramount Pictures And Colombia Pictures Epic War Historical Action Adventure Comedy Blockbuster Movie Of All Time In Motion Picture History. X
I've watched this movie so many times after watching this review. History has always facinated me so much, and I love it when movies like this take it's subject matter seriously rather than sensationalise everything. Thanks History Buffs, you keep making them I'll keep watching them.
Russians were supplying hemp to the British Navy. Without hemp the navy could not make new ropes, sails, etc. Napoleons was pissed enough to make the big mistake of invading.
Hemp is Best, for rope, food, concrete and many other
Napoleon was the world's first stoner.
@@fredricknoe3114 yeah man. When he was stoned he might of said "russia? Why not man."
Shhh… gimme the hemp. Oh shit, here comes the French army.
fun fact other varities of hemp get you high
This has been one of my favourite films since I was a kid. As an adult, I still love it. All the little details like Picton not wearing a uniform. This is actually true, as his baggage was lost when he shipped out from England so he had to fight in his civilian clothes. Something we don’t see in the film, but is an interesting fact nonetheless, is that Picton was seriously wounded a couple of days before at Quatre Bras and would have been in agonising pain throughout Waterloo. It is a great testament to this dogged old Welsh fighter that no one other than himself, his groom and presumably the surgeon who treated him, ever knew about this until years later. Considering that he had been reluctant to go on this campaign in the first place, there is evidence he was suffering from what we now recognise as PTSD, and was sure he would be killed, the fact that he did not use his injury to retire but instead died leading his me, is as fitting a tribute to the British soldier as I can think of.
You should do the historical accuracy of Bill and ted’s excellent adventure
EXCELLENT DUDE!
Now I'm just picturing Nick coming back to this movie in desperate need of comfort after watching Ridley Scott's _Napoleon_
Napoleon: is declared an enemy of humanity
Mao, Stalin, and Hitler: were about to end this man’s whole career.
Napoleon's more of a Chad than those fuckbois combined tho
@@Henry-nk9wx the Chad Napoleon vs. the Virgin Stalin
@ThatOneAsianBroChick Do you have any evidence to back up any of those claims? Or are you simply using those terms because "hurr durr white ppl"
Do you ever have anything to contribute, other than stupid stolen memes?
@@TheShatteredEmperorpiece Wow. How profound. Do have a single original thought, or is copycatting all you have to muster?
Someone should have told Napoleon that winter was coming.
Dick Sharpe?
Alistair Shaw I get it, I doubt many other people would though. ^_~
who? sanssa stark ?
what?
Sharp was busy elsewhere, I'm afraid.
When he's talking about the Scotts charge painting and seeing it really life, I understand shit like that.
It truley does come ALIVE doesn't it!
SCOTS not Scotts ffs!
@@marypetrie930 shut up haggis boy
You've probably done something right if your once-enemies in the future consider you a legendary figure. To this day he's considered a military genius in the UK.
12:50 "Crushed a small prussian force at 16/06" ???
Hell, the Battle of Ligny (16/06) had the Prussian army (3 of the 4 corps), Blucher and Gneisenau lead that battle for the Prussians, 84.000 Prussians vc 60.000 french! :( Napolean used the Guard to win that battle too.
He actually just forced a retreat and never defeated it in battle since the casualties were almost equal with 11k and 14k
@GoogleJanniesEatPoop defeat as in destroy, you can't call area denial a victory if you can't use it either
I have just wasted my entire evening watching your reviews, my friend.
I review historical wargames on my own channel. I WISH I could review wargames the way you review movies.
Simply brilliant. I salute you!
Thanks for this channel :)
Not wasted my friend
"spent" :))
Then how was your time "wasted"?
my thoughts exactly
I just spent the last three hours watching xD
"A film like this will never be made again"
Every time I hear someone say that, I think: "you greatly underestimate the lengths bored hobbyists will go to" 😂😂😂
@Ultimate Kaiser gang ? I'm not sure I understand
Lord of the rings
@@williamrowell4942 Hated It !!!
@@shindari you are forgetting the white van that drives past during the battle
@@shindari Ah, Gettysburg an otherwise decent movie brought down by atrocious facial hair. There are some horrible chin wigs in that movie. ;)
I watched this recently for the first time and that Birds Eye-view shot above the battle was awesome to see. Who knew a 50 year old film could surprise you. Movies today need to step up their game.
I guess that shot was used by Bondarchuk again after War and Peace, where you'd see some similar ones. Recommend that movies series, though it's long at 7 hours or so.
The film depicts Marshall Soult as being present when Napoleon abdicated. He was actually commanding the French army facing Wellington on the Spanish border. He commanded the southern army at the battle of Toulouse against Wellington, which actually occurred after the abdication because news of the peace had not yet reached the south.
Also weird how Ney and McDonald know that he will be exiled to Elba when that happens after confronting Napoleon and getting him to abdicate
I'd like to see a suitably talented RUclipsr do a video on those battles fought AFTER the War was over... fought in ignorance of the fact due to slow communications in those days... It would be a very interesting, and VERY sad collection...
Everybody knows Sharpe was the real hero of the Napoleonic war.
Harris? or umm Hagman?
Don't be so modest, Wellesley
And that bald toothless bloke. Who speaks with a German accent.
Frederick?
JONNOG88 Sweet William FTW!
A lovely accurate touch - most of the British infantry are wearing the later false fronted shako, I noticed one of the squares has the old "Peninsula" pattern. This is correct as at least one Regiment (28th?) had not been issued the new version.
The clip at 20:15 when they guy asks which direction, the way he replies cracked me up, not just the line, but the tone in which it was delivered. “Why straight ahead to be sure.” With the smile on his face and the tone of delivery made that line so epic n pretty funny too😂
Rod Steiger was brilliant as Napoleon.
So was Christopher Plummer as the Duke of Wellington. I love the scene where the two of them are talking to their respective staff on the eve of the battle, but the scene cuts make it look like they're talking to each other.
Agreed. A much underrated film with some great performances. In fact it was really well cast, especially with Dan O'Herlihy as Ney.
It's startling to see how closely Rod Steiger resembled the real Napoleon, based on the actual portraits of the time.
Imperator well Napoleon WAS known for a loud voice and mercurial temper, everything you see is according to the real history
Two of the best performances ever were from Rod Steiger and Christopher Plummer. Both very closely resembled their historical counterparts, and they mimicked their mannerisms well. I also agree that Dan O'Herlihy was very memorable as Marshal Ney, in perhaps the most underrated performance of the film.
Really Accurate and Good: Waterloo
Really Inaccurate but Good: 300
Really Inaccurate and Bad: 1492 Conquest of Paradise
Really Accurate but Bad: Alexander the Great
@@JonSmith-yq1dw no just no
@array s I mean they did use modern ships in the movie
"I should have burned Berlin"
Raise high the black flags children! No pity, no prisoners. I'll shoot any man I see with pity in him! FORWARD!
@@thenotsookayguy hehe, yes... if Blücher had his say, he would take the head of Nappi in 1814. Unfortunatly, they did not let him. At this time napoleon was (rightfully) seen as the plain evil to human mankind. Think about the millions of soldiers he killed, most in his own armies. He was pure evil, even if Steiger plays him so great that myself is 100% on his side in this movie. But overall, the little corse was plain shit. Brutal, stealing everything from conquered nations, plunder and raping in the occupied states. He was a family monster, placing other (mostly incomponent) brothers onto thrones at europe. IN spain his forces commited tons of brutal massacres (we would say so today), in that time every spaniard who fought them the way they did got "what they deserved", even in the eyes of the british. It was a brutal war, full of atrocities.
But in russia, the russians slaughtered with no mercy the invading forces. But to stay honest, the northern part did "nothing" - these were mostly prusssian forces that changed sides and the austrian part was even less "active". At Borodino Napoleon won. He was the most genius military commander of that time, basically till WW2. But he never got good enough marschalls, that could work on own initative.... he also had lost way to much good soldiers, esp. Poniatowsky, the guy who saved is butt many times.
@@steffenjonda8283 *Laughs in Helmut von Moltke the elder*
Duke of welingtooooon!
@Lightning Kaiser ?
Most of the small arms seen in the film were actually Mosin Nagant rifles decorated to look like muskets. At first, it did baffle me in one shot, where one French soldier repeatedly shot around 5 rounds out of his supposed 'musket' without having to reload...
Its not easy obtaining muskets so they used mosin nagants to replace muskets
When marching a lot of soldiers also swing their arms like soviets. Another detail where you can see, that all the extras where soviet soldiers
Because even early 20th Century military rifles looked like their 1800s counterparts
@@Voucher765mosin is late 19th century rifle
@@cpi3267 I know yes
“Napoleon is bad”
-brought to you by europe’s royalty
😅
Dink
Corsican man bad
@@Dan-zc7ut lol you stupid?
@@Dan-zc7ut wow! What a joke you are.
@@Dan-zc7ut "colonisation mostly is of faraway lands with little to no population" Sure, buddy.
Tbh I was cheering on Napoleon bro.
Even when I read about him in my history class 😔
Even though I'm not French, I'm still rooting for Napoleon.
I always hear that Napoleon was evil, but I have never heard much about what makes him evil. Was he actually evil or was it propaganda that presisted to today?
@@ericamborsky3230 yeah I definitely agree
@@ericamborsky3230 it's not black and white. He wasn't evil but he wasn't a good person either.
@@ericamborsky3230 He was good to the French People, and evil to those he conquered...pretty much the way anybody trying to expand an empire, by invasion/war would be looked at!!!
two war movies i would really love to see you tackle; The longest day (1962) and Das boot (1981). Both epic WWII stories in their own regards as well as my personal favorites. Thank you-
The Battle of Britain, plus a Bridge too far!
Das Boot!!
Der Untergang/Downfall as well
i love you ripping movies apart, you’ve got such a wonderful sense of humor about things that aggravate you. but my favorite videos are always the movies that are closest to your heart. this and dances with wolves are my favorite i’ve seen so far. i was a history major in school and it makes me cry when i hear another history buff being so genuinely excited and so full of joy. you’ve got a fan for life over here
"If it was made today, all would be made of CGI and look like shit"
Never before truer words were spoken