S02E03 - Napoleon with Dr. Lynette Nusbacher

Published: Aug. 26, 2018, 11 a.m.

This week we are joined by military historian Dr. Lynette Nusbacher to discuss three 70’s films set in the Napoleonic era. We start with Sergei Bondarchuk’s expensive and Soviet-approved epic Waterloo (1970), pitting scenery-chewing Rod Steiger against Christopher Plummer and his eyebrow, with surely the most bodies on screen we’ve ever seen. Joe’s choice of Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon (1975) is a gruelling three hours of beautiful tableaux and a somewhat blank performance from Ryan O’Neal in his quest to reach the gentleman sphere. We finish with Ridley Scott’s first feature film The Duellists (1977) visually inspired by Barry Lyndon, narratively inspired by Joseph Conrad, following two cavalry officers honor-bound into repeatedly duelling throughout the course of Napoleon’s campaigns. Also: The world still revolves around Orson Welles. Napoleon wasn’t as short as we’ve been led to believe. 200 year-old spoilers. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Lynette Godwins Napoleon. “By God, I’ve lost my leg, sir.” Napoleon always wins, except when it rains. Eyes Wide Barry Lyndon Shut. The Whiffenpoofs. Lynette pulls focus over both of us. The 1595 Club. The Mark 1 eyeball. It all goes a bit Jane Austen. Green Baize Vampire spotted. We play a game of “Yes, Commander” and somehow we don’t mention Sharpe once. Lynette corrects ABBA.