Napoleon (2002)

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Filmed in France, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Morocco, and Canada, this ambitious biographical TV miniseries chronicles the life and times of the "Little Corporal" from Corsica who managed to conquer nearly all of Europe within a period of a dozen years. The narrative begins in the mid-1790s,… More Filmed in France, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Morocco, and Canada, this ambitious biographical TV miniseries chronicles the life and times of the "Little Corporal" from Corsica who managed to conquer nearly all of Europe within a period of a dozen years. The narrative begins in the mid-1790s, as Napoleon Bonaparte (played, curiously enough, by comic actor Christian Clavier) makes his mark on posterity with spectacular victories in Austria and Egypt. On the home front, Napoleon woos and wins the lovely (and considerably older) Josephine (Isabella Rossellini), but finds time for extracurricular romances with other women, notably Countess Marie Walewska (Alexandra Maria Lara). Ultimately, Bonaparte's ambitions destroy him, first in Russia, then at Waterloo, consigning the general-cum-emperor to live out his life in humiliation and exile. When originally broadcast in France in October 2002, Napoleon ran six hours (plus commercials), with four episodes. For its American presentation on the A&E cable network beginning April 8, 2003, the production was literally sliced in half, shown in two installments with a running time of three hours. What remained was all highlights and few insights, though a few brilliant moments remained, many of these supplied by the supporting cast, which included Gérard Depardieu (who also produced) as Fouche, and John Malkovich as Talleyrand. Thankfully, the full six-hour version was made available in the U.S. on DVD and VHS in 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 6 hr.
Directed By: Yves Simoneau
Written By: Didier Decoin
Genres: Drama, Television

On DVD: Apr 29, 2003

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Cast

            Christian Clavier as NapolÃ©on

            Isabella Rossellini as JosÃ©phine de Beauharnais

            Gérard Depardieu as Joseph FouchÃ©

            John Malkovich as Charles Talleyrand

            Anouk Aimée as Letizia Bonaparte

            Claudio Amendola as Marechal Joachim Murat

            Fabienne Babe as Madame De Stael

            Jacques Brunet as Roger-Ducos

            André Chaumeau as Louis XVIII

            Florence Darel as Madame Recamier

            Guillaume Depardieu as Muiron

            Alain Doutey as Ney

            Ennio Fantastichini as Joseph Bonaparte

            David J. Francis as Hudson Lowe

            Yves Jacques as Lucien

            Roc LaFortune as Marchand

            Jean-Gabriel Nordmann as Roederer

            Ludivine Sagnier as Hortense de Beauharnais

            Julian Sands as Klemens Metternich

            Marie Tifo as Nurse

            Charlotte Valandrey as Madame De Coigny

            Philippe Volter as Barras

            John Wood as Pope Pio VII

            Serge Dupire as Cambronne

            Jacky Nercessian as Roustam

            André Oumansky as Sieyes

            Heino Ferch as Marquis de Caulaincourt

            David La Haye as Duc D'Enghien

            Florence Pernel as Madame Tallien

            Sebastian Koch as Marshal Jean Lannes

            Toby Stephens as Alexander I of Russia

            Natacha Amal as Madame Bertrand

            Mavie Horbiger as Marie Louise of Austria

            Alexandra Maria Lara as Countess Marie Walewska

            Jessica Paré as Eleanor Denuelle

            Marie Bäumer as Caroline Bonaparte

            Tamsin Egerton as Betzy

            Sylvain Corthay as Dr. Corvisard

            Julian Rachlin as Paganini
See full cast

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