To the memory of great actor - Vyacheslav Tikhonov

08.02.1928-04.12.2009

The episode from "War and Peace"

Vyacheslav Tikhonov as Prince Andrey Bolkonsky (Austerlits).



This gigantic motion picture epic, based on the novel of the same name by the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, has won worldwide critical acclaim. For the shooting of the films battle scenes, such as the Battle of Borodino or the 1812 Moscow fire, a regular army was mustered into service, as well as a specially created cavalry regiment. Over 120, 000 soldiers participated as extras in the crowd scenes. More than 35, 000 costumes were made for the production. The details of 19th-century Russias everyday life, the period costumes, society and its traditions, the psychological characteristics and the heroism of the people, the glory of Russian arms all this attracts the viewer not less than the love story of the delightful Natasha Rostova and the Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. ATTENTION! You are offered a complete original version of the picture. The scenes previously cut out by censors are presented with the original Russian sound and with pertinent subtitles.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Battle of Borodino scene included 120,000 soldiers, making it one of the largest battle scenes ever filmed. Many museums in the USSR contributed artifacts for the production design, making it one of the most elaborate films ever created.
In the USSR, the film was released in 4 parts, with a total running time of 484 minutes (8 hours); a longer running time of 511 minutes is a miscalculation based on longer length of 70 mm prints.
Part 1 - 'Andrei Bolkonsky' and
Part 2 - 'Natasha Rostova', combined running time 255 minutes, released 1965
Part 3 - '1812', running time 104 minutes, released 1966
Part 4 - 'Pierre Bezukhov', running time 125 minutes, released 1966.

Directed by Sergei Bondarchuk.