Absolutely. It was the end of an era, and those few days proved quite the climax.
Napoleon entered with a bang, and he sure went out with one too.

If you are a student of battles and famous personalities, you might enjoy the movie "Waterloo" (1970). On YouTube, I came across a series of movie reviews called "History Buffs". This accuracy review in 26 minutes gives some fun facts, such as it was shot entirely in the Ukraine and utilized 16,000 actual Russian soldiers as extras, giving the movie incredibly exciting drama and actual military discipline to the details. This is relevant because it was one of the last non-CGI era movie epochs. I really enjoyed it and this gave me all the more reason to watch my full-length DVD again. Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWKk5Sy0JT8

If you like "History Buffs: Waterloo", then watch also "History Buffs: Zulu" (1964). I enjoyed it, too. Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VygWpmwBO8M

Yes, 'Waterloo' is a film I have watched more times than I care to count. It gets about 8 out of 10 in my book, and since it is unlikely to be re-made anytime soon that will have to do. I think the casting of Rod Steiger as Napoleon is excellent, and Christopher Plummer is good as the Duke. I also like Dan O'Herlihy cast in the role of Marshal Ney, all red hair and bravado.

Certainly all those Russian army extras give the film an authentic massed formation feel, and the birds-eye view of the Allied squares (British red-coated exclusively, although let's say some are Hanoverian) under attack from the massed French cavalry is quite awe-inspiring. And the all-too-brief shot of the massed columns of the Imperial Guard advancing to the attack in the early evening with their drummers beating the pas de charge still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up; what a shame they didn't extend this shot and make it longer.

However....There is very little reference to the Dutch, Belgian, Nassau, Hanoverian or Brunswick elements of the Allied army. The Prussians make a brief, almost cameo appearance. The charge of the Union Brigade against D'Erlon's columns is reduced to a slow motion charge of a handful of Scots Greys (for 1970s style dramatic effect, but....??). The Household Brigade is absent apparently, and as for any allied cavalry formation - completely invisible. And, at the end of the film the volleys of the British Guards that stalled the Imperial Guard in the evening appear to be fired by troops in a distinct open order...and where are the 52nd Light infantry??

In terms of film representation of Napoleonic battles I think I prefer the Russian 'War and Peace' classic presentation of Borodino. But Waterloo is pretty good.

I have a copy of the Uniform reference book that was prepared for the film; the title is 'The Armies at Waterloo'. I have had since the 1970s and I still refer to it regularly.

In 2015, we ran a Ligny game at a local Show. We fielded nearly 3000 figures & it took two days for the French to more-or-less duplicate the historical outcome.

We've also gamed a far less ambitious Quatre Bras but intend to do that, too, as a mega-game in the future. The French lost that one because the Allied cavalry commander was a mite too aggressive.

Both are great battles to wargame.
You can see photos of Ligny at Bennos:


http://bennosfiguresforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=173&t=17902&p=195980&hilit=ligny+ochoin#p195980

donald

Your Ligny game looks quite fantastic Donald. Thanks for sharing the link.

It's a testament to the value of 1/72 figures for wargames 'in the grand manner'; bigger than 15mm, so you can actually see individual figures as well as units. But a bit smaller (and less expensive) than 28mm.

Great battlefield landscape and scenery as well. This one must have taken months in the planning, surely?

Up till this year (sigh), we've put on a mega game on at our local Train & Hobby show for the past 12 years. Bronze Age, Punics, Waterloo, SYW, ECW AZW etc. Something new, every year.

It's the focus of our group's yearly activities & although we do other things, game other periods, it is, indeed, the yearly focus.

Thanks for the kind comments.

donald

Well, 2020 might be written off but there is always 2021 to look forward to.

Where does your Train and Hobby Show reside? I might just turn up next year! It will be, for instance, the 263rd (I think) anniversary of Leuthen (5 December 1757). Your new Austrians could have a 'public' outing, and this time they might just be on the winning side...just if they can move fast enough to block the Prussian oblique attack. And if they have not already done so, Strelets might be suitably inspired by this to produce some SYW cavalry (VIP ticket included)….you never know.

August, in Pine Rivers in Brisbane, QLD. OZ.

Turn up? You'd be given a command & a place of honour!

2021 will be Antietam. One of our number is very much a fan of the ACW. He is currently constructing the unique terrain items needed. Literally dozens of metres of snake fencing & his cornfields! You need to see them.

So Strelets (& maybe HaT's???) ACW output is very opportune.

donald

Hallo Donald,

your Ligny-Battlefield is really great... !

I am totally surprised that the Battle of Ligny is being depicted in Australia.

Here in Europe, the Battle of Ligny, which the Prussians fought without any hope of British support, is almost forgotten. Maybe because it wasn't a "glorious victory"... But the Prussians stopped Napoleon's advance there, forced him to battle and inflicted heavy losses on him. Without Ligny, there would have been no victory at Waterloo.

That's why I'm really excited about your Ligny game and the great details of the landscape.

Wonderful

:+1:

Here, in Australia, Gerd, the topics of Prussia & Ligny are rarely off people's lips.

But seriously, a few people in OZ, like any where else, know some history & the vast majority struggle to know anything that happened before last Tuesday.

And thanks for the kind words.

donald

Great photos Paintdog! I especially like to admire the close-ups of the figures!

Cheers