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IMDbPro

Désirée

  • 19541954
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
20,649
1,602
Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons in Désirée (1954)
The rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France.
Play trailer2:36
1 Video
85 Photos
BiographyDramaHistory
The rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France.The rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France.The rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
20,649
1,602
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Henry Koster
    • Writers
      • Annemarie Selinko(book)
      • Daniel Taradash
    • Stars
      • Marlon Brando
      • Jean Simmons
      • Merle Oberon
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Henry Koster
    • Writers
      • Annemarie Selinko(book)
      • Daniel Taradash
    • Stars
      • Marlon Brando
      • Jean Simmons
      • Merle Oberon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 33User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:36
    Trailer

    Photos85

    Marlon Brando in "Desiree" 1954 20th Century Fox
    Marlon Brando in "Desiree"
    Désirée (1954)
    Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons in Désirée (1954)
    Désirée (1954)
    Marlon Brando in Désirée (1954)
    Jean Simmons and Michael Rennie in Désirée (1954)
    Jean Simmons, Richard Deacon, Isobel Elsom, and Elizabeth Sellars in Désirée (1954)
    Marlon Brando in Désirée (1954)
    Jean Simmons and Michael Rennie in Désirée (1954)
    Jean Simmons and Michael Rennie in Désirée (1954)
    Marlon Brando and Michael Rennie in Désirée (1954)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marlon Brando
    Marlon Brando
    • Napoleon Bonaparte
    Jean Simmons
    Jean Simmons
    • Désirée Clary
    Merle Oberon
    Merle Oberon
    • Empress Josephine
    Michael Rennie
    Michael Rennie
    • Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte
    Cameron Mitchell
    Cameron Mitchell
    • Joseph Bonaparte
    Elizabeth Sellars
    Elizabeth Sellars
    • Julie - Désirée's Sister
    Charlotte Austin
    Charlotte Austin
    • Paulette Bonaparte
    Cathleen Nesbitt
    Cathleen Nesbitt
    • Mme. Bonaparte
    Evelyn Varden
    Evelyn Varden
    • Marie
    Isobel Elsom
    Isobel Elsom
    • Mme. Clary - Désirée's Mother
    John Hoyt
    John Hoyt
    • Talleyrand
    Alan Napier
    Alan Napier
    • Despreaux
    Mary Stewart
    Mary Stewart
    • Minor Role
    Leon Alton
    Leon Alton
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Louis Borel
    • Baron Morner
    • (uncredited)
    Sven Hugo Borg
    Sven Hugo Borg
    • Aide
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Bourne
    • Count Brahe
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Bradley
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Henry Koster
    • Writers
      • Annemarie Selinko(book)
      • Daniel Taradash
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although Marlon Brando didn't take his role seriously--despite every effort by director Henry Koster--"Desiree" outgrossed his other 1954 film, "On the Waterfront (1954)."
    • Goofs
      Jean Bernadotte's name is mispronounced throughout the film. It is actually pronounced BER-NAH-DOH.
    • Quotes

      Count Brahe: You will enjoy life in Sweden, madame. Stockholm is called the Venice of the north.

      Desiree Clary: [Shivering] I prefer the Venice of the south!

    • Connections
      Featured in Biography: Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Désirée: Main Title
      (uncredited)

      Composed By Alfred Newman

      Orchestrated By Alexander Courage

    User reviews33

    Review
    Top review
    Jean Simmons Is Dynamite -- Make That Pure Feminist Kryptonite!
    The strange thing about this movie is that it really is what its title promises -- the story of Desiree, and nothing more. Made in the dark years before the feminist movement, (indeed, in the worst days of the feminine mystique) the film makers seem to assume that the "ideal" woman is warm, impulsive, kittenish, flirtatious and yet non-sexual. Desiree is forever stuck at the end of childhood. She lives through great events but her "womanly" nature makes her ignore everything but her own physical comfort. She is Scarlett O'Hara without the suffering, cruelty or ambition, and Natasha Rostov without the fellow-feeling, patriotism and mystical sympathy for others. It's odd how you feel enchanted by her, and yet you feel disgusted with yourself for wanting a girl who remains infantile in so many ways. Truly a guilty pleasure.

    Some of the things Desiree says in this movie are beyond belief. For example, after she becomes Princess of Sweden, her husband suggests that she needs some tutors, and she cries, "I haven't learned anything since I was ten!" And like, who is supposed to stand up and cheer? You could be the worst sexist pig in the world and this movie would make you feel like Anna Quindlen.

    Or take the scene where the Swedes arrive in the middle of the night and tell Marshall Bernadotte (a superb Michael Rennie) that he is now in line to be King of Sweden. Bernadotte tells Desiree, his wife, to hurry up and get dressed. "Put on anything, you understand?" And she wails, "no, no, I don't understand anything!" Some other comments have said Jean Simmons is "whining" in this movie. But it's much worse than that. She's really pure feminist Kryptonite! The whole point is that men find her irresistible because she always, always, plays dumb and does nothing but bleat about being hungry, tired, or confused.

    Problem is, Jean Simmons is just so natural and so attractive that it sort of goes down easy. You really do find yourself wanting to hug her every other scene, if you're a man anyway. If you're Anna Quindlen you probably just want to slap her. She's the feminist anti-Christ.

    At least she's not a blonde!
    helpful•11
    15
    • Dan1863Sickles
    • Dec 31, 2004

    FAQ1

    • Audrey Hepburn---Was She Suppose to Play Desiree?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 11, 1955 (Belgium)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
      • Desirée
    • Filming locations
      • 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Peninsula, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,720,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.55 : 1

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