RETRO-ACTIVE: THE BEST FROM CINEMA RETRO'S ARCHIVES
(This article has been revised and updated from its original version.)
BY LEE PFEIFFER
The Fourth of July seems to be an appropriate day to revisit our review
of one of the most savaged films of its times- and to re-evaluate many
merits that were initially overlooked.
It certainly isn't unusual for studios to invest money in director's cuts of films that were critical and box-office successes, but in a highly unusual move, Warner Home Video has made it possible for director Hugh Hudson and star Al Pacino to revisit and improve upon one of the most notorious box-office bombs of all time: the 1985 epic Revolution. The film was ravaged by critics and a disinterested public virtually ensured the movie would go down in the annals of Hollywood financial disasters. Yet, like Heaven's Gate, it's a film that is often mocked by people who probably haven't even seen it. I had only viewed it once - when it was first released on VHS. With the widescreen image cropped and the shoddy transfer work that was the rule during those dark days of the pre-DVD era, I was not impressed with the movie- though I felt it had far more qualities than its reputation might indicate. The story centers on Tom Dobb, a poor widower who comes to New York City with his young son Ned to sell his furs. He finds the city in a state of revolutionary fervor, as colonists are on the verge of all-out rebellion against King George. Dobb is apolitical, but soon he and his son are ensnared by the events of the day and are virtually forced to serve in the rapidly-formed colonial army. The plot follows father and son through the early days of the revolution, when independence seemed to be a foolish dream. George Washington's forces lost most of the major battles and the troops starved and froze before the tide of battle turned.
There are two other major characters in the film: Daisy (Nastassja
Kinski), a rebellious teenager disowned by her Tory family for
obsessively fighting for the cause of the revolutionaries, and Sgt. Maj.
Peasy (Donald Sutherland), a soft-spoken but sadistic British officer
with a penchant for molesting little drummer boys. In the original
version of the film, director Hugh Hudson (fresh from acclaim for Chariots of Fire and Greystoke, The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes) found
himself under great pressure from the financing team that was backing
the film. He had to make some drastic artistic compromises and knew full
well that the finished film released to theaters was far from his
original vision. What he didn't expect was the sheer venom extended to
his movie. The criticism was scathing and much of it was directed at
star Al Pacino, who garnered the worst reviews of his career. There was
little mention of the magnificent battle scene, the outstanding
production design or the stirring score. The film vanished from theaters
and both director and star suffered career set-backs.
The new version of the film is titled Revolution Revisited and
benefits extensively from the mere fact it looks terrific in the DVD
format. Hudson cut about five minutes of the film (including the sappy
ending that was forced on him by the producers) and more crucially,
added a narration by Pacino that ties up many loose ends and makes the
story far more coherent. (One complaint: Pacino virtually whispers the
narration, making it difficult to hear without the sound cranked up full
volume.) Nevertheless, the movie deserves a re-evaluation and I have to
say that it now plays wonderfully. Hudson's skill at handling the epic
qualities of the story, without sacrificing the human aspect, is far
more apparent with the new version. The performances are all first rate,
even if the characters are still a bit sketchy. (Pacino and Kinski keep
bumping into each other in the most unlikely places, though it's never
explained why their brief encounters lead to an obsessive love affair.)
Hudson's use of the hand-held camera during the main battle sequence was
scoffed at by critics, but today it is standard practice - and adds
immeasurably to the feeling of realism. Assheton Gorton's production
design is truly superb and transplants you back into the era with a
feeling of conviction.
In addition to the original trailer (which shows some of the cut
final scene), the DVD has a very unique featurette- a recent sit down,
causal conversation between Hudson and Pacino in which they candidly
discuss what went wrong with the first version of the film. Both agreed
it was too hurried and was confusing. Pacino expresses amazement that he
was mocked for his accent in the film, even though it was carefully
worked on with the aid of historians to ensure accuracy. He also points
out this was the only film he had made that was not of a relatively
contemporary nature and his was disappointed to learn his audience would
not accept him in a historical epic. Both he and Hudson admit the film
damaged their careers and they didn't work again for years. This type of
candor is all too rare and quite refreshing in the realm of DVD
documentaries. Pacino says there are no other films he is as defensive
of and so enthusiastic about revisiting to give it a second chance. The
conversation lets us in on several juicy bits of trivia - Sylvester
Stallone wanted the lead role in this, and Al Pacino had been offered
the role of Rambo.
It sounds like a cliche, but you haven't seen Revolution until
you've seen the new, improved version. I don't want to overstate the movie's merits. This isn't some under-appreciated classic and some of its primary flaws remain. However, there is much to value here that was overlooked in the original version of the film and only improved upon in the director's cut. Hardcore Cinema Retro readers
will be especially appreciative of Hudson's achievement and the massive
scale of the film in that glorious era that preceded CGI. Given the passage of time, I believe the critics
were wrong about this one - and so was I.
(The U.S. DVD is now out-of-print but can be found on eBay. The film is currently available for streaming rental or purchase on Amazon. A Region 2 PAL format Blu-ray/DVD edition can be ordered from Amazon here.)