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Napoleon

Original title: Napoléon
  • 19551955
  • 3h 10m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
575
YOUR RATING
Napoleon (1955)
BiographyDramaWar
Napoléon Bonaparte's life, loves and exceptional destiny from 1769 to 1821, but as seen through the eyes of Talleyrand, the cynical and ironic politician who once was the Emperor of France's... Read allNapoléon Bonaparte's life, loves and exceptional destiny from 1769 to 1821, but as seen through the eyes of Talleyrand, the cynical and ironic politician who once was the Emperor of France's Minister of Foreign Affairs.Napoléon Bonaparte's life, loves and exceptional destiny from 1769 to 1821, but as seen through the eyes of Talleyrand, the cynical and ironic politician who once was the Emperor of France's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
575
YOUR RATING
    • Sacha Guitry
    • Sacha Guitry(conceived by)
    • Joe Wyner(dialogue: english version)
  • Stars
    • Jean-Pierre Aumont
    • Jeanne Boitel
    • Pierre Brasseur
    • Sacha Guitry
    • Sacha Guitry(conceived by)
    • Joe Wyner(dialogue: english version)
  • Stars
    • Jean-Pierre Aumont
    • Jeanne Boitel
    • Pierre Brasseur
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

    Daniel Gélin and Sacha Guitry in Napoleon (1955)
    Napoleon (1955)
    Napoleon (1955)
    Napoleon (1955)
    Napoleon (1955)
    Napoleon (1955)

    Top cast

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    Jean-Pierre Aumont
    Jean-Pierre Aumont
    • Régnault de Saint-Jean d'Angély
    Jeanne Boitel
    • Madame de Dino
    Pierre Brasseur
    Pierre Brasseur
    • Le vicomte Paul de Barras
    Gianna Maria Canale
    Gianna Maria Canale
    • Pauline Borghese
    Pauline Carton
    Pauline Carton
    • Une aubergiste
    Jean Chevrier
    Jean Chevrier
    • Le général Duroc
    Danielle Darrieux
    Danielle Darrieux
    • Eléonore Denuelle
    Clément Duhour
    Clément Duhour
    • Le maréchal Michel Ney
    Jacques Dumesnil
    Jacques Dumesnil
    • Le maréchal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte
    O.W. Fischer
    O.W. Fischer
    • Le prince Karl von Metternich
    Jean Gabin
    Jean Gabin
    • Le maréchal Jean Lannes
    Daniel Gélin
    Daniel Gélin
    • Napoléon Bonaparte - jeune
    Cosetta Greco
    Cosetta Greco
    • Elisa Baccioli
    Sacha Guitry
    Sacha Guitry
    • Le prince Charles de Talleyrand
    Madeleine Lebeau
    Madeleine Lebeau
    • Emilie Pellapra
    Jean Marais
    Jean Marais
    • Le comte de Montholon
    Lana Marconi
    • Marie Walewska
    Luis Mariano
    Luis Mariano
    • Le chanteur Garat
      • Sacha Guitry
      • Sacha Guitry(conceived by)
      • Joe Wyner(dialogue: english version)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Erich von Stroheim: as Ludwig van Beethoven in the Imperial Court of Austria.
    • Goofs
      The narration by the character of Talleyrand is purportedly spoken in 1821-1822, shortly after Napoléon Bonaparte's death. However, in the last scene Talleyrand describes Napoleon's reburial which happened in 1840, even though Talleyrand himself died in 1838.
    • Quotes

      Bonaparte: I've just been born Joseph! Good bye! Good bye you English!

    • Connections
      Referenced in Cinéastes de notre temps: Sacha Guitry (1965)
    • Soundtracks
      Plaisir d'Amour
      Music by Johann Martini

      Lyrics by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian

      Sung by Luis Mariano

      (1760)

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    3/10
    A Ridiculous View of a Historical Titan
    Except that this film is short, I was tempted to call it "NAPOLEON BLOWN-APART", but that suggests the film is actually long and has some degree of detail. THis monstrosity is under ninety minutes. There are short films about Napoleon, but they concentrate on one aspect of the man. CONQUEST deals with Napoleon and his Polish mistress. DESIREE with his relationship with Desiree Clary Bernadotte, the future Queen of Sweden. This was Sacha Guitry's attempt to do a complete account of Napoleon's thirty year career as a world figure, in a totally inadequate amount of time.

    The French version of the film actually has some continuity lacking in the English version. But most people in the U.S. have seen (if they have seen it at all) the English version. It is best known because of the cameo appearances, in particular of Orson Welles as General Hudson Lowe (who? - he's the British official who was appointed to be the jailer of Napoleon on St. Helena, but who managed to botch his assignment) and Eric Von Stroheim (very briefly) as Beethoven. Guitry, a talented boulevardier type, essayed the role of Talleyrand. None are shown to great advantage.

    It is set (apparently) in 1821, with Guitry in his Paris salon, talking to his intellectual friends, upon hearing the death of his former master. To be truthful, knowing Talleyrand, he would have said a word or two about Napoleon but then turned to more interesting current matters. The film does not go into the collapse of the relationship between the great Emperor and his gifted Foreign Secretary. Talleyrand was noted for his selfish ability to destroy a government that was no longer benefiting him, and then reappear in a more powerful position in the next regime. He helped destroy about seven of them, including Napoleon's. Historians have despised his selfishness, but they have usually praised him for knowing when to ditch the Emperor (Talleyrand was wary of the constant warfare, which the Emperor did not seem to know when to stop - he seemed to be using war to cover previous failures of policy, and to build up his remarkable reputation). The final blow was when Napoleon discovered that Talleyrand had been contacting Metternich and other foreign adversaries about undercutting Napoleon's diplomatic forays. In front of the whole court Napoleon cursed out Talleyrand, calling him a silk stocking full of "merde". He then left the court with his chief courtiers. Talleyrand watched thoughtfully, and said, "How sad that such a great man is so vulgar!" He redoubled his activities, assisted by his rival and foe (usually, but not here) Joseph Fouche, the head of the secret police. In 1814-15 they beat Napoleon at last.

    None of this is in the movie (at least the English version) that we see. Talleyrand is very philosophical, telling the story of the rise, fall, and rise of Napoleon and his legend. But in cramming the events from 1785 to 1821 we get a too rapid outline. The film though does even more than this. Talleyrand tells of how Napoleon's remains are returned to France for burial in Les Invalides (his magnificent tomb in Paris). But this happened in 1840, ordered by King Louis Philippe for popularity reasons. Only problem is that Talleyrand was dead by 1838.

    Since Welles is in the film for about two minutes, I might as well discuss this. In 1955 he was filming CONFIDENTAL REPORT (a.k.a. MR. ARKADIN), and (like OTHELLO) he was partly paying for it himself. So Welles was willing to appear in many films (especially in France) in bit cameo roles. His part is that of Lowe, who was a mediocre military figure who got the job as a last choice (the first choice, the Duke of Wellington, felt he and Bonaparte could never share an island together). Lowe was introduced to Bonaparte in the latter's residence of Longwood, and Bonaparte was polite like a host. But Lowe just glowered at him (as Welles does here). Bonaparte, quickly judging the idiot that he was stuck with, put his own hat on to show his contempt. It never improved, but we only see this scene.

    After Bonaparte died, his aides wanted a suitable tomb for him, but every time they presented a statement for the tombstone (General of the Armies, Emperor of France), Lowe turned down the recommendation. In disgust, they suggested a blank tombstone. Stupidly, Lowe agreed (as a surprised Welles does). Lowe never realized how truly eloquent the empty tombstone was - loyal Bonapartists from around the globe would know at that tombstone that no words could describe the giant who was under it adequately. Napoleon really did not need Les Invalides, but the French wanted to do it properly.

    The film is a total waste as a decent historical chronicle. Catch the 1927 Abel Gance classic, or CONQUEST or even DESIREE (even though it is a wretched film in it's own right - at least it gives the viewer some idea of how Sweden's modern royal family came into power). Catch the Armand Assante two part television movie about Napoleon and Josephine. But, unless you want to see all of Orson Welles or Eric Von Stroheim's performances, ignore this one. For Orson and Eric I give this a three.
    helpful•9
    13
    • theowinthrop
    • Aug 9, 2005

    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 25, 1955 (France)
      • France
      • Italy
      • French
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Fort de Mourmelon, Mourmelon-le-Grand, France
    • Production companies
      • Courts et Longs Métrages (C.L.M.)
      • Filmsonor
      • Francinex
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 3 hours 10 minutes
      • Mono

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