I read with great interest your article about Ridley Scott’s new film Napoleon (Emperor’s new clothes: why the French are ready to embrace Napoleon again, 17 November). However, I feel it is important to remind you of the truly classic film, Napoleon, directed in 1927 by Abel Gance. Kevin Brownlow’s fascinating book on that subject explains Gance’s visionary use of triptych screens and the talented work of his editor, Marguerite Beaugé.
Francis Ford Coppola was in the audience at an American showing of Napoleon in 1981, with a score by his father, Carmine Coppola, and said of its deafening ovation: “Don’t you wish you could make a picture that would get a reaction like that.” There’s a written play about the life of Abel Gance waiting to be staged.
Anthony Richards
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
• Simon Jenkins says film-makers have no licence to distort history, taking specific aim at Ridley Scott’s Napoleon (Napoleon and The Crown are travesties: there is no ‘artistic licence’ to distort history, 20 November). I wonder if Jenkins would apply his injunction to Jacques-Louis David’s iconic painting of Napoleon crossing the Alps on his fiery white charger when in fact he was on a mule and led across by a guide.
Michael Delahaye
Adelaide, Australia
• Thank you for the informative piece on Napoleon’s hat (Hat worn by Napoleon fetches record €1.9m at Paris auction, 19 November). I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised about the attention, but your article says there are another 20 knocking about in museums. More importantly, does anyone know the whereabouts of Keir Hardie’s iconic titfer? I don’t expect to find it in the possession of the current Labour leader.
Nigel Linford
Eastbourne, East Sussex
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