War and Peace, Part I: Andrei Bolkonsky (1965)
Sergey Bondarchuk's monumental Soviet epic launches Tolstoy's saga of love, war, and destiny in Napoleonic Russia.
War and Peace, Part I: Andrei Bolkonsky - Movie Information
- Original Title: Война и Мир 1: Андрей Болконский
- Release Year: 1965
- Directed by: Sergey Bondarchuk
- Type: Movie
- Genres: History, Romance, War, Drama
- Runtime: 2h 27m
- Original Language: Russian
- Spoken Languages: Russian
- Release Date (Theatrical): March 14, 1966 (SU), February 3, 1967 (Germany), January 11, 1969 (Mexico)
- Alternative Titles: La guerra y la paz, parte 1: Andrei Bolkonsky (AR), Guerra e Paz, Parte 1: Andrei Bolkonsky (PT), Chiến Tranh Và Hòa Bình, Tập 1: Andrei Bolkonskiy (VN), Háború és béke, 1. rész: Andrej Bolkonszkij (HU), 전쟁과 평화 (KR), Wojna i pokój: Andriej Bołkoński (PL), War and Peace part1: Andrei Bolkonsky (US), Krieg und Frieden - Teil 1: Petersburg tanzt (DE)
- Production Companies: Mosfilm
- Production Countries: Soviet Union
War and Peace, Part I: Andrei Bolkonsky - Plot
In 1805 St. Petersburg, Pierre Bezukhov, 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 General Napoleon Bonaparte. Part one of the four-part adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel.
War and Peace, Part I: Andrei Bolkonsky - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Bondarchuk's epic vision of Tolstoy's Russia come to life:
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War and Peace, Part I: Andrei Bolkonsky - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Sergey Bondarchuk
Main Cast
- Ludmila Savelyeva
- Sergey Bondarchuk
- Vyacheslav Tikhonov
- Viktor Stanitsyn
- Kira Golovko
- Oleg Tabakov
- Sergei Yermilov
- Irina Gubanova
- Anatoli Ktorov
- Antonina Shuranova
Writers
- Vasiliy Solovyov
- Sergey Bondarchuk
War and Peace, Part I: Andrei Bolkonsky - FAQs
What is War and Peace, Part I: Andrei Bolkonsky about?
The film opens in 1805 St. Petersburg, introducing Pierre Bezukhov navigating high society and his friend Prince Andrei Bolkonsky heading off to war as aide-de-camp to General Kutuzov. It's the first chapter of Bondarchuk's monumental four-part adaptation of Tolstoy's beloved novel, blending intimate character drama with grand historical spectacle.
Is War and Peace, Part I a standalone film or a series?
It's the first of four parts in Bondarchuk's complete adaptation of Tolstoy's novel. The saga continues with Part II: Natasha Rostova (1966), Part III: The Year 1812 (1967), and Part IV: Pierre Bezukhov (1967). Each part works as a chapter in one sweeping cinematic epic rather than a standalone film.
Where can you stream War and Peace, Part I?
You can stream War and Peace, Part I: Andrei Bolkonsky on HBO Max or the Criterion Channel, both offering it as part of their flat-rate subscriptions. It's a rare chance to watch one of cinema's greatest achievements in a convenient streaming format.
Did War and Peace, Part I win any major awards?
The complete four-part War and Peace won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1969, making it one of the most celebrated Soviet productions in Oscar history. It also took home the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film that same year, cementing its legendary status worldwide.
Who are the main actors in this film?
The cast is exceptional. Ludmila Savelyeva shines as Natasha Rostova, Sergey Bondarchuk himself plays Pierre Bezukhov, and Vyacheslav Tikhonov brings quiet intensity to Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. The ensemble also includes Oleg Tabakov, Anatoli Ktorov, and Antonina Shuranova in memorable supporting roles.
How does Bondarchuk's adaptation compare to other versions?
Bondarchuk's Soviet epic is widely regarded as the most faithful and visually ambitious adaptation of Tolstoy's novel ever made. With a runtime of nearly seven hours across four parts and reportedly the largest film budget in Soviet history, it dwarfs the 1956 Hollywood version and the 1968 BBC miniseries in sheer scale and authenticity.
Is War and Peace, Part I based on a true story?
It's based on Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel, which blends fictional characters with real historical events — the Napoleonic Wars and the War of the Third Coalition. Figures like General Kutuzov and Napoleon Bonaparte appear as themselves, grounding the story in genuine 19th-century Russian history.
Where was War and Peace, Part I filmed?
Principal photography took place across the Soviet Union, with Mosfilm studios handling production. The filmmakers recreated 19th-century St. Petersburg ballrooms and vast battlefield sequences on location in Russia, deploying thousands of soldiers as extras to achieve an authenticity that remains breathtaking to this day.
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