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Désirée

  • 19541954
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
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
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History

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

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In Marseilles, France in 1794, Desiree Clary, a young millinery clerk, becomes infatuated with Napoleon Bonaparte, but winds up wedding Genaral Jean-Baptiste Berandotte, an aid to Napoleon who later joins the forces that bring about the Emperor's downfall. Josephine Beauharnais, a worldly courtesan marries Napoleon and becomes Empress of France, but is then cast aside by her spouse when she proves unable to produce an heir to the throne. —alfiehitchie
    • emperor
    • napoleonic wars
    • french revolution
    • based on book
    • character name as title
    • 36 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The life...the women...the conquests of Napoleon!
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    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
    Gorgeous languid costume peice ..very understated.
    This movie is a feast for the eyes, and while slow paced and understated will be a very pleasant movie for some people.

    This movie has good and simple characters moving through complicated situations that are easily understandable to most of us. The ex-girlfriend who's still a supportive friend, married to best and able friend who's conscience puts him in opposition to his lady's old love etc. etc.

    Its a good romance/relationship film set in a gorgeous background using the vehicle of three real and outstanding characters to move through napoleonic history. I don't recall any gross historical errors so it may even be mildly educational too...

    Its a VERY good movie, but it isn't exciting or thrilling or passionate or sexy or violent, but if you like your films to be visual feasts and can deal with the fact that sometimes emotions can be less than torrid and overwrought. and that humans have more subtle motives than sex and power.. You might like this
    helpful•21
    3
    • scott_keyes
    • Mar 24, 2003

    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

    Related news

    Ridley Scott's "Napoleon"
    Mar 18SneakPeek
    Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon”
    Mar 3SneakPeek

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