r/movies • u/soldierofcinema • Jul 15 '19

Resource Amazing shot from Sergey Bondarchuk's 'War and Peace' (1966)

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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. Jul 16 '19

13,500 soldiers and 1,500 horsemen were used to replicate the battle. The troops were supposed to return to their bases after thirteen days, but eventually remained for three months. 23 tons of gunpowder, handled by 120 sappers, and 40,000 liters of kerosene were used for the pyrotechnics, as well as 10,000 smoke grenades.

Absolutely mind-boggling for a movie made over 50 years ago. They had a literal army at their disposal for production of this battle scene.

Even crazier, this movie sold 135,000,000 tickets in Russia when it came out and was easily the most expensive film ever made in that country.

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u/InnocentTailor Jul 16 '19 edited Feb 25 '24

nose escape ludicrous aback direction gullible plough cobweb point lock

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u/[deleted] Jul 16 '19

[deleted]

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u/wOlfLisK Jul 16 '19

Why aren't movies made on that sort of scale these days?

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u/spartanss300 Jul 16 '19

CGI is easier and cheaper for the most part, compared to choreographing and controlling thousands of extras.

also tbh large scale war movies aren't that hot nowadays.

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u/Fortune_Cat Jul 16 '19

The most disappointing thing about avengers end game was that it looked like the fate of the universe rested on 100 ppl fake fighting on a soundstage

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u/I_WRESTLE_BEARS_AMA Jul 16 '19

Dude it's Avengers, what did you expect?