Napoléon 

The year is 1816, and Napoleon, held prisoner by the British on the island of St. Helena, is telling the young English girl Betsy his life story. His meteoric rise to military prominence ... See full summary »

Stars:

Christian Clavier, Isabella Rossellini, Gérard Depardieu

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Christian Clavier	...	Napoléon 4 episodes, 2002
Isabella Rossellini	...	Joséphine de Beauharnais 4 episodes, 2002
Gérard Depardieu	...	Joseph Fouché 4 episodes, 2002
John Malkovich	...	Charles Talleyrand 4 episodes, 2002
Anouk Aimée	...	Letizia Bonaparte 4 episodes, 2002
Heino Ferch	...	Armand Augustin Louis, Marquis de Caulaincourt 4 episodes, 2002
Ennio Fantastichini	...	Joseph Bonaparte 4 episodes, 2002
Marie Bäumer	...	Caroline Bonaparte 4 episodes, 2002
Ludivine Sagnier	...	Hortense 4 episodes, 2002
Alain Doutey	...	Maréchal Ney 4 episodes, 2002
Claudio Amendola	...	Maréchal Joachim Murat 4 episodes, 2002
André Oumansky	...	Sieyes 4 episodes, 2002
Jacques Brunet	...	Roger-Ducos 4 episodes, 2002
Jean-Gabriel Nordmann	...	Roederer 4 episodes, 2002
Sylvain Corthay	...	Dr. Corvisard 4 episodes, 2002
Tamsin Egerton	...	Betzy 4 episodes, 2002
David Francis	...	Hudson Lowe 4 episodes, 2002
Florence Darel	...	Madame Récamier 4 episodes, 2002
Alain Teulié	...	Hippolyte Charles 4 episodes, 2002
Michel Ouimet	...	Docteur Ivan 4 episodes, 2002
Philip Lenkowsky	...	Cipriani 4 episodes, 2002
Tom Rack	...	Pêcheur 4 episodes, 2002
Geneviève Grandbois	...	Femme pêcheur 4 episodes, 2002
Patrick Bordier	...	Vétéran 4 episodes, 2002
Christopher Heyerdahl	...	Geoffroy St-Hilaire 4 episodes, 2002
Benjamin Sacks	...	Jeune soldat pestiféré 4 episodes, 2002
Emmanuel Karsen	...	Soldat hôpital 4 episodes, 2002
Deborah Rudetzki	...	Julie 4 episodes, 2002
Grégoire Bonnet	...	Louis 4 episodes, 2002
Laurence Margerie	...	Élisa 4 episodes, 2002
Constance Dollé	...	Pauline 4 episodes, 2002
Dimitri Michelsen	...	Eugène 4 episodes, 2002
Tomas Jaka	...	Grenadier blessé St-Cloud 4 episodes, 2002
Laurent Larcher	...	Soldat St-Cloud 4 episodes, 2002
Tristan Lignier	...	Officier Tuileries 4 episodes, 2002
Grégoire Vigneron	...	Laquais Tuileries 4 episodes, 2002
Bruce McEwen	...	Estafette Tuileries 4 episodes, 2002
Lee Michelsen	...	Huissier Tuileries 4 episodes, 2002
Mark Reed-Klevberg	...	Secrétaire Bonaparte 4 episodes, 2002
László Görög	...	Marbot 4 episodes, 2002
Andrew Hefler	...	Estafette blessé Danube 4 episodes, 2002
Doug Rand	...	Percier 4 episodes, 2002
Mike Dineen	...	Fortin 4 episodes, 2002
Zsolt Zágoni	...	Adjudant Vincennes 4 episodes, 2002
Stéphane Bourquin	...	Officier Fontainebleau 4 episodes, 2002
Shawn Howard	...	Ordonnance Fontainebleau 4 episodes, 2002
Christian Abomnes	...	Ordonnance Hudson Lowe 4 episodes, 2002
Patrick Albenque	...	Policier 4 episodes, 2002
François-Xavier Anseaume	...	Architecte 4 episodes, 2002
Peter Bartfay	...	Soldier 4 episodes, 2002
Václav Chalupa	...	Isabey 4 episodes, 2002
Leslie Clack	...	Dignitaire 4 episodes, 2002
Julie du Page	...	Jeune femme palais Erfurt 4 episodes, 2002
Bill Dunn	...	Dignitaire 4 episodes, 2002
Couy Griffin	...	Aide de camp église 4 episodes, 2002
Richard Harris-Temple	...	Policier 4 episodes, 2002
Zoltán Karácsony Pulika	...	Cavalier ferme 4 episodes, 2002
Curtis Matthews	...	Officier QG Barras 4 episodes, 2002
Franck Neckebrock		4 episodes, 2002
Tibor Pintér	...	Aide de camp 4 episodes, 2002
Gerard Whelan	...	Officier Ettenheim 4 episodes, 2002
Alexandra Maria Lara	...	Comtesse Marie Walewska 3 episodes, 2002
Julian Sands	...	Klemens Metternich 2 episodes, 2002
Mavie Hörbiger	...	Marie-Louise d'Autriche 2 episodes, 2002
Roc LaFortune	...	Marchand 2 episodes, 2002
Léopoldine Serre	...	Petite fille attentat 2 episodes, 2002
Andy Cam	...	Homme attentat 2 episodes, 2002
Sasa Rasilov	...	Policier rue St-Nicaise 2 episodes, 2002
Jerry Di Giacomo	...	Fuyard St-Nicaise 2 episodes, 2002

Storyline

The year is 1816, and Napoleon, held prisoner by the British on the island of St. Helena, is telling the young English girl Betsy his life story. His meteoric rise to military prominence begins with his victory over the Royalists in 1795, which is followed by campaigns in Italy and Egypt. He marries the young and capricious Josephine de Beauharnais, the love of his life, who unfortunately cannot bear him any children. After a coup d'état he seizes power in France and crowns himself Emperor of the French in 1804. After his decisive victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon reorganizes Europe and makes his relatives into princes and kings. Continuing resistance by the Spanish results in some initial losses, however. Meanwhile, Napoleon is increasingly fascinated by other women, including the Polish patriot Maria Walewska, who bears him a son. Napoleon intends to found an imperial dynasty, however, to strengthen his position. After divorcing Josephine, he marries the Austrian princess Marie-Luise,...

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Plot Keywords:

character name as series title | marie walewska character | napoleon bonaparte character | campaign | army | 

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Taglines:

He was a master of war and peace. His struggle was with love.

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | Romance | War

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France]

Country:

France Germany Italy Canada USA UK Hungary Spain Czech Republic

Language:

French English

Release Date:

17 September 2002 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Napoléon

Filming Locations:

Agadir, Morocco

Box Office

Budget:

EUR41,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

A+E Networks, ASP Productions, GMT Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

357 min (4 parts) 380 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The series was shot simultaneously in French and English, thus two versions exist, with the exact same actors and near-identical edits, but a different original language.

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Goofs

Tsar Alexander and Napoleon are listening to Paganini's Caprice No. 24. However, that piece was only composed in 1817, when Napoleon was already in St. Helena.

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Quotes

Caroline Bonaparte: I'm here to bring you Murat's support.
Napoléon: Murat? Who authorized you to speak for Murat?
Caroline Bonaparte: He and I love each other.
Napoléon: Murat is over 30, and you're not yet 20. I don't think our mother will approve. I don't think I will approve!

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Alternate Versions

There is a two-episode miniserie (approx. 90 mins each) that aired in English language (not-dubbed) on A&E. There is also an extended DVD version, which I do not have the detail for (also from A&E).

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Connections

Featured in Universum History: Andreas Hofer - Held wider Willen (2017)

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Soundtracks

Austerlitz
Written by 'Michel Cusson'
Performed by Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra-Sif 309
Courtesy of Virgin Classics

User Reviews

A mixed bag

On the plus side: the costumes and interiors are magnificent, Isabella Rossellini is good as Josephine, the historical events depicted are presented accurately, and the series gets better as it goes along (don't give up after the muddled first episode!).

On the minus side: we never really get a feel for what Napoleon actually stood for or why and how he was such a military genius, the film dwells on his private life when it could be dealing with the huge social and political issues of the time, the actors playing some of the secondary characters are laughably bad (Murat, Ney, Marie-Louise), and one has to strain to hear the dialogue (due to the foreign accents, background noise and music).

As for Christian Clavier, it's amazing how the comments on his performance stretch from "brilliant" to "trash." My own view is that he was off the mark as the younger Napoleon, but as the mature Napoleon had basically the right look and plenty of gravitas.

A good contribution to the body of film about the Emperor but also full of flaws.