| Wagner | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Biography drama |
| Written by | Charles Wood |
| Directed by | Tony Palmer |
| Starring | Richard Burton Vanessa Redgrave Gemma Craven Marthe Keller Ronald Pickup László Gálffi Miguel Herz-Kestranek John Gielgud Ralph Richardson Laurence Olivier |
| Country of origin | UK |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | Dublin, Ireland |
| Cinematography | Vittorio Storaro |
| Running time | 466 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Hungarofilm |
| Broadcast | |
| Original airing | December, 1983 |
Wagner is a 1983 film on the life of Richard Wagner. The title role was played by Richard Burton, who said it was the role he was born to play. It was directed by Tony Palmer and written by Charles Wood.
Other main roles were played by Vanessa Redgrave, Gemma Craven, Marthe Keller, Ronald Pickup, Miguel Herz-Kestranek and László Gálffi.
Sir John Gielgud, Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir Laurence Olivier played ministers of Ludwig II of Bavaria. This was the only film in which these three actors ever appeared on screen in the same scenes. It was also the only film in which Richard Burton and Laurence Olivier both appeared.
The music of Wagner was specially recorded for the film, and conducted by Sir Georg Solti.
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Tony Palmer's original concept of Wagner was as a feature film. It lasted 7 hours 46 minutes, but it was later edited down to a 5-hour version in which some characters disappeared. Palmer said of Burton's performance, "Even now – although there were criticisms – I can't think of anybody who could have brought it off better than he did."[1]
Never destined to be a mass appeal film, it did receive glowing reviews from leading journals:
"Wagner can be mentioned alongside such exceptional film biographies as Gandhi, Reds and Abel Gance's Napoléon ... Wagner is one of the most beautifully photographed motion pictures in history."[2]
"An absolute bulls-eye... wonderful... technically brilliant.. musically and filmically on the highest level... it will surely set out on a triumphant procession around the world."[3]
"A monumental film... a complete work of art... truly visionary..."[4]
"A remarkable event... hardly a minute too long... a British Film of glory... takes the screen by storm... a big spirited work"[5]
Later the film was screened in episodes on television.
In 2011 it was re-released in a three-DVD set in its full original version as a feature film, in high definition and widescreen.[6] It had earlier been released on videotape.
It was filmed in many authentic locations including King Ludwig II's castle of Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee, and the Residenz in Munich, Germany. Other locations were in Hungary, Switzerland, Siena, Tuscany, Venice, Vienna and Dublin.
The orchestral music was specially recorded for the film, and conducted by Sir Georg Solti.[6]