So - how did they do? Very well in fact. The story has obviously had to be seriously edited down to fit the six-hour timeframe, so some things have been lost compared to the 1973 version. But this is no different really to Prokofiev editing the story to fit his 4 hour operatic version in the 1940's. And I have to say that Andrew Davies' script is, given its limitations, very good indeed. Episode 1 standout moments for me involved Jim Broadbent as Prince Bolkonsky - who I think improved a great deal on the actor who played the part in the 1973 version. He exuded "old power" and you really could imagine that this man had been a significant force at the Imperial Court. His exchanges with the also excellent James Norton as Prince Andrei were very well observed by both actors. I would also like to mention Rebecca Front, who did a great job as Anna Mikhailovna, helping Paul Dano's nervy and somewhat clueless Pierre see his dying father and achieve his inheritance, despite the machinations of Stephen Rea's Prince Vasilii.
I was also impressed with the flashback scenes of Pierre's drunken night with Anatole and Dolokhov - sexy and honest without being over the top. The suggestion of Anatole's incestuous relationship with his sister Helene, played by the gorgeous Tuppence Middleton was also very well handled, again, just enough without gilding the lily. And speaking of Lilies, Lily James was perfect as Natasha, striking just the right note as her young, naïve self.
The action scenes involving Nikolai's ill-fated cavalry charge and Andrei and his embattled cannon emplacement also deserve high praise. They were powerful and realistic and I feel the contrast between the brutality of the war scenes and the Machiavellian goings-on in the St. Petersburg salons was very well done - the juxtapositions and timings of scenes were just right.
In summary, everyone was brilliant. The script was fantastic, the story well told so far and, of course, the authentic Russian locations took the breath away.
Full marks to everyone. I can't wait for Episode 2!
I was also impressed with the flashback scenes of Pierre's drunken night with Anatole and Dolokhov - sexy and honest without being over the top. The suggestion of Anatole's incestuous relationship with his sister Helene, played by the gorgeous Tuppence Middleton was also very well handled, again, just enough without gilding the lily. And speaking of Lilies, Lily James was perfect as Natasha, striking just the right note as her young, naïve self.
The action scenes involving Nikolai's ill-fated cavalry charge and Andrei and his embattled cannon emplacement also deserve high praise. They were powerful and realistic and I feel the contrast between the brutality of the war scenes and the Machiavellian goings-on in the St. Petersburg salons was very well done - the juxtapositions and timings of scenes were just right.
In summary, everyone was brilliant. The script was fantastic, the story well told so far and, of course, the authentic Russian locations took the breath away.
Full marks to everyone. I can't wait for Episode 2!
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