The Emperor's New Clothes (2001)

During Napoleon's exile on St. Helena, some loyalists hire a look-alike to swap places with the deposed Emperor. While the impostor lives in luxury on the island, the real Napoleon returns to Paris in order to retake the throne.

Director:

Alan Taylor

Writers:

Simon Leys (novel), Kevin Molony (screenplay)

Stars:

Ian Holm, Iben Hjejle, Tim McInnerny

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Holm	...	Napoleon Bonaparte / Sergeant Eugene Lenormand
Iben Hjejle	...	Nicole 'Pumpkin' Truchaut
Tim McInnerny	...	Dr. Lambert
Tom Watson	...	Gerard
Nigel Terry	...	Montholon
Hugh Bonneville	...	Bertrand
Murray Melvin	...	Antommarchi
Eddie Marsan	...	Louis Marchand
Clive Russell	...	Sergeant Justin Bommel
Bob Mason	...	Captain Nicholls
Trevor Cooper	...	Leaud
Chris Langham	...	Maurice
Russell Dixon	...	Dr. Quinton
George Harris	...	Papa Nicholas
Niall O'Brien	...	Bosun

Storyline

Napoleon, exiled, devises a plan to retake the throne. He'll swap places with commoner Sergeant Eugene Lenormand, sneak into Paris, then Lenormand will reveal himself and Napoleon will regain his throne. Things don't go at all well. First, the journey proves to be more difficult than expected, but more disastrously, Lenormand enjoys himself too much to reveal the deception. Napoleon adjusts somewhat uneasily to the life of a commoner while waiting, while Lenormand gorges on rich food.

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Plot Keywords:

st. helena | emperor | impostor | alternate history | 19th century | 

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Taglines:

The world's most powerful man is about to fight his greatest battle... between love and glory.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief language

Details

Country:

Italy UK Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 2001 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Las nuevas ropas del emperador

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,474, 16 June 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$569,435, 6 October 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

FilmFour, Mikado Film, Panorama Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While the historical Napoléon Bonaparte never had the opportunity to say "They have changed my battlefield", it is reported that the Duke of Wellington, said exactly that when he revisited the place after the huge Dutch memorial mound was erected there.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Napoleon Bonaparte: No, that's not it. That's not right. Let me tell you what really happened...

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Connections

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

User Reviews

A forgotten gem

I watched the first screening of 'The Emperor's New Clothes' at the London Film Festival. The film seemed to disappear from the public eye after that, even though I personally thought that it was a good film.

In summary, this film is about Napoleon who wants to get his lost power back, and he pretends he is a peasant in order to eventually rise up and seize it. During this time, he meets a woman he falls in love with. The film explores how his life evolves over the longing of love and power, and there is the realization that he cannot achieve both.

This film is moving and witty. One of the most memorable scenes was when Napoleon tries to convince others that he is Napoleon, but he is not believed, and they take him to an asylum where there are many others there that believe that they are Napoleon.

I was surprised that this film did not get respected; it is a forgotten gem.