The Insane Production Behind War and Peace

Sergei Bondarchuks version of War and Peace is a film like no other, made at the height of the Soviet film industry with the full backing of the USSR. This Goliath of a film was made to show the world that the Soviets could make a film on par, if not better than anything the west could hope to produce.
Chapters-
0:00 Introduction
1:17 Stalin and the death of Soviet cinema
2:22 Khrushchev and the revival of Soviet cinema
3:16 1956 War and Peace
4:42 Origins of the production
5:57 How Sergei Bondarchuk came to direct War and Peace
8:06 Writing the script
10:56 Props
13:17 Costumes
15:31 Casting
18:05 Extras
19:00 Makeup
19:31 Locations
23:59 Battle of Borodino and other battle sequences
27:38 Soviet Red Army Extras
30:35 Budget
31:23 Complications when filming
34:28 Conclusion
Footage used from:
War and Peace (1966)
• Joseph Stalin (Documen...
• Stalin in colour, footage
The Fall of Berlin (1950)
• Khrushchev's U.N. Outb...
• Kruschev at the United...
Les Sovietiques (18th November, 1968)
• Khrushchev Does Americ...
• Video
War and Peace (1956)
• Soviet Congress Critic...
Woina I Mir (1966)
Making War and Peace (1969)
Fate of a Man (1959)
• "War and Peace" Wins F...
Additional information used from:
Woina I Mir (1966)
Making War and Peace (1969)
Les Sovietiques (1968)
Interview with Anatoliy Petritsky (2019)
Interview with Fedor Bondarchuk (2019)
Cold War Classic (2019)
Essay on War and Peace by Ella Taylor
Catalogue of when films were released in the USSR (Russian) www.kino-teatr.ru/box/history...
Interview on War and Peace (Russian) www.mk.ru/culture/2011/09/20/...
Music used in order of appearance:
Symphony No.38 in D Major
Soviet March Reprise - Red Alert 3 Soundtrack
Propaganda Tune - Metro 2033 Soundtrack
Russian Dance
1812 Overture
1812 Overture - Short version

[@Kurzula5150]

Coppola and Ridley Scott notoriously go the extra mile on production design. Bondarchuk went an extra hundred miles. "How many items from Soviet museums do you want, Mr Bondarchuk." "All of them."

[@CaruthersHodge]

He went the extra 100 miles and yet made it seem light a graceful forward step. One does not feel one is looking at a film but rather entering the novel and Life itself.

[@jaesemdianmanucan9165]

It was way better than Ridley Scott's Napoleon...

[@VoidVolken]

100%

[@MungoMcGhee]

@@VoidVolken 10,000%

[@brianwolle2509]

a million per cent!!!

[@kaykutcher2103]

Even King Vidor's stinker War and Peace was better. Herbert Lom as Napoleon was that film's only stroke of genius but at least it had one unlike Scott's. My dad is still gutted.

[@jaesemdianmanucan9165]

​@@kaykutcher2103 When I watched Ridley Scott's Napoleon I just said that was it? It's disappointing, it lacked grandeur during battles and WTF there are no trenches at Waterloo

[@pazzoredento2191]

I remember as a teenager being completely overwhelmed by this truly epic movie when it was first shown here in Australia. Only recently was I able to see it in its original uncut format again and am convinced it is the greatest movie ever made.

[@CaruthersHodge]

Dear commonwealth viewer, from a parallel universe I can only echo your memory and sentiment. For me its was a viewing on a cold, winter afternoon with my parents all those years ago and not unlike some scenes in the film.

[@cwilh6044]

So wild that something so epic and well made is just available for free on KZbin. Mosfilm just keeps posting all their greatest stuff, with english subtitles to boot, it's awesome.

[@davidc5191]

The one Soviet director who flourished under Stalin was Sergei Eisenstein who made visually stunning movies.

[@JonniePolyester]

It’s on KZbin! The Mosfilm channel ….. Kubrick must have been so jealous

[@gubbothehuggo2771]

Thank you for committing the daunting amount of research to cover this topic. My questions about the film’s seemingly impossible existence were not only answered, but even exceeded my perceptions of the lengths gone through to achieve it.

[@PeterSmith-go9ef]

Awesome film, I remember seeing it in 1970, I was ten years old. Many years later I saw it in a one day showing at The Barbican, and later The Royal Festival Hall. It is a mesmerising film, as intimately moving as it is breathtakingly awe inspiring. Bondarchuk is still my favourite Pierre Bezukhov. To think he followed this masterpiece with "Waterloo" my favourite film ever. What a talent, and what an achievement. You have done a great job in both your profiles of his two epics, many thanks.

[@tomsenior7405]

Excellent. I bloody love "Waterloo", even though it isn't the finest of cinematic works. If only the script was better. If only the camera work was better. If only the Highlanders didn't dominate the Allied numbers. If only The Direction was better. If only... And despite these faults, I count it as one of my all time favourites.

[@aishabintabubakr4944]

Think of it this way....Audrey Hepburn was seen as Natasha Rostova. Then the Russians said "Hold my vodka"

[@CaruthersHodge]

@@tomsenior7405 I fondly remember and still enjoy Waterloo with Bondarchuk directing the battle scenes. After War and Peace, I'm not surprised that the ' take away ' in the West was the completely fresh and revolutionary way Bondarchuk filmed the battle sequences. In an manner both involved and distanced, the remote, almost dreamy shots from above suggest the futility of human aspiration and conflict. This is all the more effective for not being judgemental and preachy but merely observing and whether or not, good or bad, as if to say ' Yes, here we are, this is our time and place, we must see it through. The ' why ' we shall never know '. I too saw War and Peace as a wide eyed child in 1968 or so and was dumb struck at the seemingly infinite world it creates. My few public viewings over the years were at rather more modest settings compared with London's majestic sites but it's hardly surprising that the whole world flocked to see this glorious film, a vast yet intimate masterpiece. Funny, The Barbican keeps popping into my mind. I was last their in the 1980s I'm sorry to say. I saw a play with David Waller, the veteran actor of happy memory.

[@DanielGarcia-tt4uy]

One of the greatest films of all time. A true masterpiece. Was lucky to see all parts of it in theater in 2019 following its restoration and was floored at how it looked and sounded. Just amazing.

[@Tallorian]

Thank you. Despite being Russian I've never before stumbled upon even a domestic review of War and Peace production story, so it's quite interesting to see it from the external perspective. I'd say you did very well with the research, collecting and editing all the footage. The only "cringey" moment for me was with those comments about soldiers and air force not being reimbursed for their part in the movie - I found them to be completely out of place and quite pointless in the essence. As you've stressed yourself on multiple occasions, their involvement was facilitated by the government. And it means just that, all the military servicemen involved in WnP production were on duty, and thus all the costs, materiel, logistics (and wages, where applicable) were covered by the Ministry of Defense. And I seriously doubt there were any hard feelings between MoD and Mosfilm about that. Better imagine how incredible it must have felt for someone to be conscripted to serve those two long boring years in the army, but to find themselves in the middle of a full-scale historical battle reconstruction/reenactment effort. Naturally, that came with certain hardships, but what a unique experience and memories for life to be told to grandchildren!

[@HistoriaenCeluloide]

*Sergei Bondarchuks wasn't only an epic film directorector but a talented actor as well, practically the most international soviet actor ever, he could be considered the soviet Orson Wells and as a matter of fact, they even coincided in the movie Battle of Neretva (1969)🧐*

[@GordonCaledonia]

Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov's score is amazing. He scored some of Tarkovsky's films. Great composer, rest in peace.

[@VoidVolken]

The score is great, Natasha's Waltz being one of my favourite tracks.

[@owaisthegamer240]

Finally an essay about this masterpiece

[@bregjejabra25]

This documentary about this movie was well made. Great job and thank you from Holland.

[@RedStarRogue]

The logistics and labour for this is goddamn insane.

[@CaruthersHodge]

Such a pithy reaction, this insane word must be the new argo - I suppose it means it's good.

[@komisiantikorupsikoruptord6257]

Ask 80 factory 😂 to Make clothes

[@CaruthersHodge]

Well yes, if that's what it takes if it's worth it and it certainly was !@@komisiantikorupsikoruptord6257

[@CaruthersHodge]

@@komisiantikorupsikoruptord6257 Well, It kept them busy and they did feel a sense of communal effort in a patriotic undertaking.

[@Marylandbrony]

I have a few ideas for a list Lawrence of Arabia Bridge on the River Kwai Ghandi Saving Private Ryan

[@VoidVolken]

I plan on doing Lawrence of Arabia as my next 'Insane Production Behind' video

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

Magnificent video and thank you for pointing me toward the Mosfilm channel on YT. I shall finally be able to see the entire masterpiece as intended.

[@GordonCaledonia]

Kurosawa's, *_Dersu Uzala_* is also on there, an amazing film set in Russia in the early 1900s: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXfEfWNpiLB4sKc

[@isrisentoday]

The film was extremely impressive indeed... but so is this video.

[@MichaelKennedy-tr1xc]

Just watched the film and now i truly appreciate why it is one of the finest films ever made. Thank you for paying tribute to this masterpiece!

[@Erick46673]

Only 751 subs? For such an incredible channel?

[@wilcomeijer2]

Having watched waterloo multiple times and needing that itch scratched, I'll watch the 4 parts of war and peace after seeing this video.

[@VoidVolken]

I hope you enjoy it

[@aishabintabubakr4944]

It's 7 hours long, but 7 hours well spent

[@LudicrousLabRat]

this content is so underrated...

[@colincolin5696]

Nothing I love better than seeing a small channel make a shit hot video like channels with millions of subs can’t.. never heard of this beast of a film but I’m definitely gonna watch it after this video 😅 top mate.

[@rayhallett]

It was a stunning thing to watch, and I appreciate your insight on the epic.Thanks!!

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

Excellent essay. Well done. Thank you.

[@MrChispa06]

Very well put together documentary which I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you!

[@el_naif]

An astounding documentary for an astounding film! Kudos!

[@Latinkon]

In terms of epic scale, the new Dune movie pales in comparison to Sergei Bondarchuk's magnum opus.

[@brianwolle2509]

have seen it. incredible!

[@Zed-fq3lj]

Thank you for this video...this is the most epic and grandiose movie project ever (after LOTR perhaps, that is a whole different level). An informative, interesting and professional video! 🙌👏

[@gubbothehuggo2771]

This makes Jackson’s Lord of The Rings look like a college student’s project.

[@timverrecchia1654]

Excellent video!

[@ToastersChannel]

Really great stuff man! Learned and saw a lot of new stuff about Bondarchuk and about the productions! Despite the errors and trails [like the mosin error which made me laugh] they are still masterpieces.

[@vladimirkalugin7287]

Excellent doc! Thanks!

[@salomaonplanetsaturn]

Thank you chief.

[@ReviveHF]

You forgot to mention the use of a six-channel audio recording system prior to Dolby Digital was made available to the public in 1992.

[@isleofjames3847]

You deserve so many more views than you are getting this is great work.

[@VoidVolken]

Thank you!

[@renekauts8323]

Great film no doubt! Production started during Khrushchev's time and was completed during Brezhnev's time?

[@VoidVolken]

Yes

[@quano5409]

Awesome work, this is your longest video yet right? It goes to show the staggering amount of work this epic saga required. I also noticed you have quite a few video about 90s scifi anime. I would check those out later when I got the time.

[@VoidVolken]

Yes, this is currently the longest video I have ever made. Concerning videos I have done on 90s anime, I recommend checking out my video on Ghost in the Shell as it's similar to these 'Insane production behind' videos.

[@quano5409]

@@VoidVolken Oh nice to know. Would definitely check that video out later.

[@CornishCreamtea07]

The biggest blank Cheque ever given to a director.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

I really admire your work and would very much like to see this/these film(s). I'd love to see more of your videos focusing on epics - may I suggest Cleopatra (1963), The Fall of the Roman Empire (1965?) and other such epics of the era. Many thanks. Subscribed.

[@VoidVolken]

Thanks, while I enjoy making videos on epics there are other topics I would like to cover as well, so I try to reasonably space them out. Cleopatra is on my list but I still need a couple of things before proceeding with that video. The Fall of the Roman Empire is unlikely as I don't even own a copy of the film and its been out of print for years with little prospects of coming back in print, same goes for El Cid.

[@yaboyed5779]

And to think Mosfilm made all 4 parts free on KZbin, like damn.

[@srothbardt]

Read the book. Pevear/Volkonsky trans. The Soviet movie is pretty good but somehow misses main power probably because you can’t turn certain books into movies, such as “Great Gatsby”.

[@oobrocks]

The battle of Borodino; which part will I find it (there’s 4 “chapters “) That’s all I care about

[@VoidVolken]

Part 3

[@oobrocks]

Thank u!

[@MrPh30]

And a couple of enourmous series Young Indiana Jones Winds of War War and Redemption

[@alexandergraham6912]

Kubrick is still watching it now......

[@valkyrie9553]

Thank you for this elaborate dive into this film behind the scenes history. I have two points to make though: Just because Bondarchyuk was originally from Ukraine, it doesn’t mean he wasn’t already an accomplished and well respected actor/director. After all he was

[@kamandi1362]

Where did you get the footage of Russians queuing at the cinema? Is it available on disc?

[@VoidVolken]

I got it from a television program called Les Sovietiques, its available on the Criterion Collection Blu Ray of War and Peace.

[@CaruthersHodge]

Not to butt in but I think I too have seen something of this footage of Russians queuing as well and a theatre packed with excited faces as the cast of the film are officially introduced at the beginning of production. It was part of the DVD extras to the non blue ray DVD box set. Bondarchuk looks every inch the avuncular director and not unlike Peter the Great. He had a daunting task ahead.

[@eastern2western]

When cgi is not available, u just use the real thing.

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

Communism has many problems but it does allow for the resources of an entire nation to be brought to bare for a single project

[@JeffreyBernabe]

Didn't even know. BTS videos existed

[@oo0Spyder0oo]

Hard to understand why millions would tolerate a leader like Stalin, I guess it’s no different now with Putler.

[@renekauts8323]

Stalin and Putin are both mass murderers.

[@MarMar-nq9ii]

Сталин и Путин абсолютно разные, даже противоположные.

[@joek600]

here is your cookie now f off

[@abrahamoyevaar2226]

The white uniformed bearskin lads are Dutch, not Austrian.

[@abrahamoyevaar2226]

Mind you, they could be Saxon or Italian too.