1810 in Paris, Napoleon has prepared to marry Marie-Louise, who he rechristens just Louise. In her tv debut Susan Wooldridge is smashing as the young beauty, and he episode is darkly comical, as she immediately breaks her pledge to obey the emperor in all respects by arguing with him over every little thing on their impromptu wedding night (which takes place at Napoleon's whim, he having married her in absentia), long before the formal wedding ceremony occurs.
Meanwhile Marie Walewska has a baby boy, and Louise becomes pregnant, all the while Josphine talking behind her succesor's back. Ian Holm plays Napoleon as a worried man as the birth of Louise's child approaches.
The amusing scene turns dramatic and downbeat as there's a problem during childbirth, with Louise nearly dying but ultimately a son is born to her. Now he returns to his duties as emperor, supervising a war with Spain. He's afraid of a repeat of the travails of her childbirth, and Louise remains in poor health, ascribed by her doctor to hypochondria. Napoleon turns to war, deciding to attack Russia to eliminate it as a rival superpower.
A poignant moment occurs when Napoleon's baby is brought to Josephine and she exudes maternal love for the child she never could have herself. A touching, brief interlude in the contentious saga, with Ian Holm stoically watching as Josephine has her brief joy, leading to a subtle rapprochement with Holm's Napoleon, beautifully played by the stars.
The segment ends with Napoleon dead-set on one last geat victory -off to war, with the viewer well aware of tragic consequences to come.
Meanwhile Marie Walewska has a baby boy, and Louise becomes pregnant, all the while Josphine talking behind her succesor's back. Ian Holm plays Napoleon as a worried man as the birth of Louise's child approaches.
The amusing scene turns dramatic and downbeat as there's a problem during childbirth, with Louise nearly dying but ultimately a son is born to her. Now he returns to his duties as emperor, supervising a war with Spain. He's afraid of a repeat of the travails of her childbirth, and Louise remains in poor health, ascribed by her doctor to hypochondria. Napoleon turns to war, deciding to attack Russia to eliminate it as a rival superpower.
A poignant moment occurs when Napoleon's baby is brought to Josephine and she exudes maternal love for the child she never could have herself. A touching, brief interlude in the contentious saga, with Ian Holm stoically watching as Josephine has her brief joy, leading to a subtle rapprochement with Holm's Napoleon, beautifully played by the stars.
The segment ends with Napoleon dead-set on one last geat victory -off to war, with the viewer well aware of tragic consequences to come.