Napoléon (1955)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Sacha Guitry

Writer:

Sacha Guitry (writer)

Release Date:

25 March 1955 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Orson Welles è Hudson Lowe in questa mega produzione cinematografica che racconta scorci ed episodi della vita di Napoleone.

Plot Keywords:

French Soldier | Based On History | Costume Drama | Napoleonic Wars | Battle

Cast

Jean-Pierre Aumont	...	Régnault de Saint-Jean d'Angély
Jeanne Boitel	...	Madame de Dino
Pierre Brasseur	...	Barras
Gianna Maria Canale	...	Pauline Borghese
Pauline Carton	...	Une aubergiste
Jean Chevrier	...	Le général Duroc
Danielle Darrieux	...	Eléonore Denuelle
Clément Duhour	...	Le maréchal Ney
Jacques Dumesnil	...	Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte
O.W. Fischer	...	Le prince von Metternich
Jean Gabin	...	Le maréchal Lannes
Daniel Gélin	...	Bonaparte
Cosetta Greco	...	Elisa Baccioli
Sacha Guitry	...	Talleyrand
Madeleine Lebeau	...	Emilie Pellapra

Also Known As:

Napoleone (Italy)
Napoleone Bonaparte (Italy)

Runtime:

France:182 min | USA:190 min | Japan:119 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:All | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Courts et Longs Métrages (C.L.M.)

Quotes:

Bonaparte: Joseph, I've just been born! Goodbye you British! Goodbye!

Guitry's best color film?

It appears that most of the comments here are based on viewing of the ridiculous Showtime American edition, which cuts out, if I am not mistaken, more than half the film, is dubbed and, apparently substitutes narration for dialogue, of which there is plenty, as well as the narration, ostensibly Talleyrand relating Napoleon's story on the day of his death, framing the historical episodes. At a little over three hours, this is a spectacular epic, and I recommend heartily seeing the French edition (an excellent print in gorgeous color, if a little dirty by American re-mastering standards). It looks gorgeous -- much more interestingly shot, designed and lighted than Guitry's other color epics, "Si Versailles m'etait conte" and "Si Paris nous etait conte," both of which have a very disappointing, glaring flat look. Many interesting star turns, notably a weird Beethoven by Erich von Stroheim and Orson Welles as Napoleon's jailer on St. Helena, but also some excellent more sustained performances, particularly Michele Morgan as Josephine and Daniel Gelin as the young Napoleon. (As in his earlier "Le destin fabuleux de Desiree Clary", Guitry -- who insists that after Austerlitz Bonaparte became Napoleon, another man entirely -- casts the younger and older Napoleon with two radically different-looking actors.) It's a very enjoyable film, and, if you know French, well worth seeking out in the French edition (no subtitles, unfortunately). The American one is a complete waste of time and money.