War and Peace

War and Peace (Russian: Война и мир) is a 1965–67 Soviet war drama film co-written and directed by Sergei Bondarchuk and a film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel War and Peace. The film, released in four installments throughout 1966 and 1967, starred Bondarchuk in the leading role of Pierre Bezukhov, alongside Vyacheslav Tikhonov and Ludmila Savelyeva, who depicted Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostova.

The picture was produced by the Mosfilm studios between 1961 and 1967, with considerable support from the Soviet authorities. At a cost of 8.29 million Soviet rubles – equal to US$9.21 million at 1967 rates, or $50–60 million in 2017, accounting for ruble inflation – it was the most expensive film made in the Soviet Union. Upon its release, it became a success with audiences, selling approximately 135 million tickets in its native country. War and Peace also won the Grand Prix in the Moscow International Film Festival, the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Plot
In St. Petersburg of 1805, Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a rich nobleman, is introduced to high society. His friend, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, joins the Imperial Russian Army as aide-de-camp of General Mikhail Kutuzov in the War of the Third Coalition against Napoleon. As Pierre's father recognizes him, Pierre attracts the attention of Hélène Kuragin and marries her, only to learn through rumor that she has been unfaithful and slept with Fedor Dolokov, an intimate of Hélène's brother Anatol. Meanwhile, Andrei takes part in the failed campaign in Austria, where he witnesses the Battle of Schöngrabern and the Battle of Austerlitz, is badly wounded and mistaken for dead. He returns to his father's estate just in time to witness his wife Lisa die during childbirth.

In the end of 1809, Natasha, the young daughter of a count attends her first ball. Andrei falls in love with her and intends to marry her, but his father demands they wait. Andrei travels abroad, and Natasha desperately longs for him. But she then meets Anatol Kuragin and decides she prefers him over Andrei. At the last minute, she regrets her choice and abandons her plans to elope with Anatol. However, Andrei has heard of her plans and declares their betrothal is over. Pierre, trying to calm her down, suddenly announces he loves her.

In 1812, Napoleon's Army invades Russia. General Kutuzov asks Andrei to join him as a staff officer, but he requests a command in the field. Pierre sets out to watch the upcoming confrontation between the armies but, during the Battle of Borodino, he volunteers to assist in an artillery battery. Andrei's unit waits in the reserve, but he is hit by a shell and both he and Anatol suffer severe wounds. The French Army is victorious and advances on Moscow.

As Moscow is set ablaze by the retreating Russians, the Rostovs flee their estate, taking wounded soldiers with them, and unbeknownst to them, also Andrei. Pierre, dressed as a peasant, tries to assassinate Napoleon but is taken prisoner. As the French are forced to retreat, he is marched for months with the Grande Armée, until being freed by a raiding party. The French are defeated by General Kutuzov in the Battle of Krasnoi. Andrei is recognized and is brought to his estate. He forgives Natasha on his deathbed. She reunites with Pierre and they marry as Moscow is being rebuilt.

Cast

 * Sergei Bondarchuk as Pierre Bezukhov
 * Lyudmila Savelyeva as Natasha Rostova
 * Vyacheslav Tikhonov as Andrei Bolkonsky
 * Boris Zakhava as Mikhail Kutuzov
 * Anatoly Ktorov as Nikolai Bolkonsky
 * Antonina Shuranova as Maria Bolkonskaya
 * Oleg Tabakov as Nikolai Rostov
 * Viktor Stanitsyn as Ilya Rostov
 * Kira Golovko as Natalya Rostova
 * Irina Skobtseva as Hélène Kuragin
 * Vasily Lanovoy as Anatol Kuragin
 * Irina Gubanova as Sonya Rostova
 * Oleg Yefremov as Fedor Dolokhov
 * Eduard Martsevich as Boris Drubetskoy
 * Aleksandr Borisov as Uncle Rostov
 * Nikolai Rybnikov as Vasily Denisov
 * Viktor Murganov as Alexander I of Russia
 * Larisa Borisenko as Mlle. Bourienne
 * Georgy Millyar as Morel
 * Nonna Mordyukova as Anisya
 * Anna Timiryova as old lady
 * Boris Khmelnitsky as Bolkonsky's adjutant
 * Valeri Yeremichev as Alexander Ostermann-Tolstoy
 * Boris Smirnov as Vasili Kuragin
 * Nikolai Tolkachev as Kyril Bezukhov
 * Dzhemma Firsova as Katishe Mamontova
 * Mikhail Khrabrov as Platon Karataev
 * Nikolay Trofimov as Tushin
 * Vladislav Strzhelchik as Napoleon
 * Jānis Grantiņš as Ludwig von Wolzogen
 * Dz. Eizentāls as Carl von Clausewitz
 * Galina Kravchenko as Marya Karagina
 * Boris Molchanov as Louis-Nicolas Davout
 * Lev Polyakov as Jacques Lauriston
 * Rodion Aleksandrov as Alexander Balashov
 * Anastasiya Vertinskaya as Lisa Bolkonskaya
 * Nikita Mikhalkov as Russian soldier
 * Giuli Chokhonelidze as Pyotr Bagration
 * Vadim Safronov as Francis II
 * Jean-Claude Ballard as Ramballe
 * Yelena Tyapkina as Marya Dmitryevna
 * Sergei Yermilov as Petya Rostov
 * Herberts Zommers as Count Benningsen
 * Nikolai Bubnov as Karl Mack von Leiberich
 * Angelina Stepanova as Anna Scherer
 * Erwin Knausmüller as Franz von Weyrother
 * Mikhail Pogorzhelsky as Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly
 * Leonid Vidavsky as Paisi Kaysarov
 * Nikolai Grinko as Dessalles