Waterloo (1970)

Sergei Bondarchuk’s Waterloo (1970) is an epic war drama that attempts to recreate the fateful events of the Battle of Waterloo with an astounding level of historical detail and massive scale. Featuring a mix of Hollywood and Soviet filmmaking sensibilities, it’s notable for its extensive use of practical effects, thousands of real-life extras, and a sense of grandeur rarely matched in modern cinema.

Detailed Summary

Prelude: Napoleon’s Return from Elba

The film opens with Napoleon Bonaparte (Rod Steiger) having abdicated and exiled to the island of Elba. However, he escapes and returns to France, greeted by loyal troops and supporters. The scene sets the stage for the Hundred Days and Napoleon’s attempt to reclaim his empire, with France once again under his control.

In contrast, the European powers quickly unite to stop him. The British, led by the Duke of Wellington (Christopher Plummer), and the Prussians, under Field Marshal Blücher, mobilize their armies.

Building Tensions: The Road to Waterloo

Napoleon’s strategy is to divide and conquer. He aims to separate the British and Prussian forces and defeat them individually. The film shows the pre-battle military maneuvers with a strong focus on the personalities involved. Wellington is portrayed as calm and composed, in stark contrast to Steiger’s intense and increasingly volatile Napoleon.

There’s also a brief depiction of the Battle of Ligny, where Napoleon defeats the Prussians, giving him a false sense of advantage going into Waterloo.

Battle Commences: The Morning of June 18, 1815

The heart of the film is the recreation of the Battle of Waterloo itself. With thousands of Soviet soldiers used as extras and real cavalry charges, this segment is one of the most visually impressive battle sequences ever filmed. The French assault the fortified farmhouse at Hougoumont, while artillery barrages thunder across the fields.

Napoleon delays his attack due to wet ground, giving the Prussians more time to arrive—a critical historical detail the film retains accurately.

The Grand Assault and Turning Point

One of the film’s most iconic sequences is the massive French cavalry charge against the British squares—tight formations of redcoats repelling repeated attacks. The futility of this assault is underscored by Bondarchuk’s direction, highlighting both the bravery and the tragedy of the soldiers involved.

As the Prussians finally arrive on the battlefield, Napoleon launches his final gamble: sending in the Imperial Guard, his elite troops. They advance confidently but are met by well-positioned British forces and devastating musket fire.

Collapse and Defeat

As the Imperial Guard falters and retreats—a moment captured with emotional weight—the rest of the French army breaks into chaos. Napoleon, realizing his fate, is left isolated and defeated. The film ends with him being taken into custody and sent into exile once more, this time to the remote island of Saint Helena.

Movie Ending

The ending of Waterloo is a somber, sweeping depiction of Napoleon’s irreversible defeat. After the Imperial Guard is repelled, the myth of his invincibility is shattered. Troops flee in panic, and Napoleon watches in silent despair. One of the final scenes shows him slumped on his horse, utterly alone, while the battlefield is littered with bodies and smoke.

The film closes with a voiceover narration stating that Napoleon surrendered and was exiled to Saint Helena, where he would live out the rest of his life in captivity. There is no romanticization of his fall—only the stark reality of hubris meeting its limit.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Waterloo does not have any post-credits scenes. Like most films of its era, it ends with a formal credit roll and no hidden or bonus content afterward.

Type of Movie

Waterloo is a historical war epic with elements of biography and military drama. It is particularly known for its large-scale battle choreography and historical accuracy.

Cast

• Rod Steiger as Napoleon Bonaparte
• Christopher Plummer as the Duke of Wellington
• Orson Welles as King Louis XVIII
• Jack Hawkins as General Sir Thomas Picton
• Dan O’Herlihy as Marshal Ney
• Virginia McKenna as the Duchess of Richmond

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Nino Rota, famed for his work on The Godfather and 8½. His music for Waterloo mixes military pomp with tragic undertones, effectively mirroring the epic and fatalistic atmosphere of the story.

Filming Locations

• Uzhhorod, Ukraine (then USSR) – The battlefield was recreated on massive fields, with terrain shaped to resemble the geography of Waterloo.
• Italy – Some indoor and dialogue scenes were filmed at Cinecittà Studios in Rome.

The Ukrainian plains were chosen for their ability to handle large numbers of troops and horses. Soviet cooperation allowed the filmmakers to use around 15,000 real soldiers as extras—unthinkable in most productions.

Awards and Nominations

• Nominated for Best Cinematography by the British Society of Cinematographers
• Received several local European honors for production design and battle choreography
• Despite its technical achievements, it was not a major award-season contender and was largely overlooked by the Academy Awards.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Sergei Bondarchuk insisted on using real soldiers for battle scenes, refusing to rely on miniatures or stock footage.
• Rod Steiger reportedly gained significant weight for the role of Napoleon and immersed himself in historical accounts of the emperor’s mannerisms and mental state.
• The set included working cannons and thousands of custom-made uniforms.
• Steiger and Plummer reportedly clashed on set due to their differing acting methods—Steiger being methodical and intense, Plummer more theatrical and instinctive.
• Several crew members were injured during cavalry scenes due to the sheer scale and chaos of live-action charges.

Inspirations and References

• Based heavily on real historical accounts, including military reports, journals, and memoirs of officers from both sides.
• Direct references to Victor Hugo’s descriptions of the battle appear in the film’s narration.
• The film also draws visual influence from 19th-century romantic paintings of the Napoleonic Wars.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

• Early cuts of the film included more scenes with the Prussians, including Blücher’s arrival, which were trimmed to tighten the runtime.
• A more introspective ending, featuring Napoleon reflecting in his tent after defeat, was shot but removed to preserve the battlefield-centric final note.
• There were also several battle scenes shot from different perspectives (such as a French foot soldier) that were left out.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not based on a single book, but rather a composite of many historical sources. It doesn’t have a novel counterpart, although several books (like The Battle by Alessandro Barbero or Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies and Three Battles by Bernard Cornwell) cover similar ground.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Napoleon inspecting his troops before the battle, giving an impassioned speech.
• The British forming squares against the French cavalry.
• The fall of La Haye Sainte farmhouse after brutal combat.
• The Prussians arriving on the battlefield, signaling the doom of the French.

Iconic Quotes

• Napoleon: “You think you’re stronger than me? You’re not stronger. You’re just lucky.”
• Wellington: “Next to a battle lost, the saddest thing is a battle won.”
• Napoleon (as the Guard retreats): “La Garde recule… Impossible!”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The Imperial Guard retreating in silence references a legendary (though historically debated) moment where they supposedly refused to surrender with the words: “The Guard dies but does not surrender.”
• Orson Welles’ appearance as King Louis XVIII is brief but loaded with symbolism—representing the decadence Napoleon tried to replace.
• The film’s color grading subtly shifts from golden tones in Napoleon’s early scenes to bleak greys during his downfall.

Trivia

• 17,000 costumes were made for the production.
• The battlefield set was over 5 square miles in size.
• The film cost around $25 million—astronomical at the time.
• Bondarchuk was chosen because of his success with another epic, War and Peace (1966).
• Some of the cavalry scenes used actual World War II tanks covered to resemble 19th-century artillery—shot from a distance.

Why Watch?

If you’re a history buff or fascinated by large-scale war epics, Waterloo is a must-see. Its battle scenes are among the most realistic ever filmed. The performances, especially by Steiger and Plummer, are intense and layered. Unlike modern CGI-heavy war movies, this one was built with real men, real horses, and real mud.

Director’s Other Movies

• War and Peace (1966)
• They Fought for Their Country (1975)
• Boris Godunov (1986)
• The Steppe (1977)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Napoleon (2023)
• Gettysburg (1993)
• A Bridge Too Far (1977)
• Glory (1989)
• Paths of Glory (1957)
• War and Peace (1966)
• The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968)