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Prominently featured in the <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006" title="2006">2006</a> film <span style="font-style: italic;"><a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_for_Vendetta_%28film%29" title="V for Vendetta (film)">V for Vendetta</a></span>. The piece is used as the character <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_%28character%29" title="V (character)">V</a>'s signature performance, and is played on the street loudspeakers when V destroys the <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Bailey" title="Old Bailey">Old Bailey</a> and is subsequently banned by <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chancellor_Sutler" title="Chancellor Sutler">Chancellor Sutler</a> (it is also heard during the climatic destruction of the <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Westminster" title="Palace of Westminster">Palace of Westminster</a>). The cannon blasts are replaced by the destruction of the building and accompanying fireworks. <br />
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The <span style="font-weight: bold;">1812 Overture</span> is an orchestral work by <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyotr_Ilyich_Tchaikovsky" title="Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky">Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky</a> commemorating the unsuccessful <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon%27s_invasion_of_Russia" title="Napoleon's invasion of Russia">French invasion</a> into <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a>, and the subsequent devastating withdrawal of <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon" title="Napoleon">Napoleon</a>'s <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grande_Arm%C3%A9e" title="Grande Armée">Grande Armée</a>, an event that marked <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1812" title="1812">1812</a> as the major turning point of the <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleonic_Wars" title="Napoleonic Wars">Napoleonic Wars</a>.<br />
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A theme representing marching armies follows, performed by the <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horn_%28instrument%29" title="Horn (instrument)">horns</a>. The Russian <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_dance" title="Folk dance">folk dance</a> theme commemorates the battle beating back Napoleon. The retreat from Moscow late in October 1812 is reflected by a <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminuendo" title="Diminuendo">diminuendo</a>. The firing of <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon" title="Cannon">cannon</a>reflects the military advances toward the French borders. With theconflict over, we return to the chant, this time performed by the fullorchestra with a peal of bells for the victory and the liberation ofRussia from French occupation. Below the cannon and the marching theme,we hear the Russian national anthem, <span style="font-style: italic;"><a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Save_the_Tsar" title="God Save the Tsar">God Save the Tsar</a></span>. The Russian anthem is a counterpart to the French anthem that was heard earlier.<br />
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