| I made a collage of clips from the movie War and Peace (Voyna i mir, 1967). This shows Napoleon's advance into Russia's heartland culminating in the battle of Borodino and the capture of Moscow in September. Translation of the dialogue (sorry for the lack of subtitles): 0:51 Kutuzov: "Go along, and Christ be with you." 3:59 "Sir, if we throw in one more division, the enemy will be beaten." Napoleon: "Not yet. It's easy to make mistakes in the heat of battle. Confirm and report to me." 4:28 Napoleon: "We should send in some of the reserve. What do you think?" Officer: "Send in Claparède's division." Napoleon: "I can't send that! Send in Friant's division instead." 4:55 "Sir, the enemy's leading elements have been pushed back. Prince Bagration has been wounded." 5:02 Kutuzov: "You, go find out what has happened. 5:12 "Your grace..." 6:45 Napoleon: "There it is, at last, that holy capital. There it is, at my feet, awaiting its destiny. Strange, beautiful, majestic... But why is the city's envoy taking so long?" 7:16 "Sir, the city has been abandoned. Everyone has left." Some historical background: "In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia. He aimed to compel Emperor Alexander I to remain in the Continental System and to remove the imminent threat of a Russian invasion of Poland. The French-led Grande Armée, consisting of 650000 men (270000 Frenchmen and many soldiers of allies or subject areas), crossed the Niemen River on 23 June 1812. Russia proclaimed a Patriotic War, while ... |
