NAPOLEON - ABEL GANCE - 1927

Innovative in particular for being filmed in Polyvision, the final reel of the film uses 3 projectors and screens in a 4:1 ratio with the left and right screens being toned blue and red to form the tricolore . Originally shown by Abel Gance in 1927  at  9hrs 22mins the current version restored by Kevin Brownlow is 5hrs 32mm at 20fps. Rarely performed because of the complexity of the synchronised projection and the use of an orchestra it is available on DVD in region 2 although the triptych is letterboxed. The filming and editing is also radical using many varied techniques such as handheld, fluid POV and jump cutting. Gance's cameras were made by Debrie Parvo, a type of camera also used by Sergei Eisenstein.

http://www.in70mm.com/news/2011/napoleon/index.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napol%C3%A9on_%281927_film%29

http://mubi.com/notebook/posts/the-return-of-abel-gances-napoleon

http://parallax-view.org/2012/03/18/abel-gances-napoleon/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parvo_%28camera%29