Napoléon (1955)

20% want to see it
(375 ratings)

Showing no signs of slowing down in his 70th year, Sacha Guitry served as director and writer of the lavish historical epic Napoleon, and also costarred as Talleyrand. It is now hard to assess the quality of the film, since most American prints are severely edited, and the color photography… More Showing no signs of slowing down in his 70th year, Sacha Guitry served as director and writer of the lavish historical epic Napoleon, and also costarred as Talleyrand. It is now hard to assess the quality of the film, since most American prints are severely edited, and the color photography appallingly washed out. Reviewers in 1955 admired the effort that went into this $1,800,000 production, but complained that the viewer left the film with no deeper understanding of Napoleon Bonaparte than the viewer had had when coming in. Daniel Gelin poses impressively as the young Bonaparte, registering emotion only when things go wrong in his conquest of Europe, while Raymond Pellegrin is somewhat better as the older, more jaded Napoleon (the transition between the two actors is handled in a near-comic fashion). The Revolution is reduced to a few fleeting scenes, while the rest of the film is devoted to political infighting and betrayal. The huge supporting cast includes Michele Morgan as Josephine and Lana Marconi and Dany Robin, respectively, as Napoleon's mistresses Waleska and Desiree. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: Sacha Guitry
Genres: Drama

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Cast

            Raymond Pellegrin as Napoleon

            Daniel Gélin as Bonaparte

            Sacha Guitry as Talleyrand

            Jean-Pierre Aumont as Renault de Saint-Jean d'Angely

            Michèle Morgan as Josephine de Beauharnais

            Henri Vidal as Murat

            Danielle Darrieux as Eleonore Denuelle

            Orson Welles as Hudson Lowe

            Maria Schell as Marie-Louis d'Autriche

            Micheline Presle as Hortense de Beauharnais

            Pierre Brasseur as Barras

            Gianna Maria Canale as Pauline Borghese

            Pauline Carton as Innkeeper

            Louis de Funès
            
            Eleonora Rossi Drago as Mme. Foures

            Jacques Dumesnil as Bernadotte

            O.W. Fischer as Metternich

            Jean Gabin as Marshal Lannes

            Cosetta Greco as Elisa Bacchiochi

            Madeleine Le Beau as Emilie Pellapra

            Jean Marais as Count de Montholon

            Armand Mestral as Marshal Oudinot

            Yves Montand as Marshal Lefebvre

            Patachou as Mme. Sans-Gene

            Roger Pigaut as Caulaincourt

            Dany Robin as Desiree Clary

            Noël Roquevert as Gen. Cambronne

            Maurice Teynac as Las Cases

            Clément Duhour as Marshal Ney

            Erich von Stroheim as Ludwig van Beethoven

            Jean Chevrier as Gen. Duroc

            Jeanne Boitel as Mme. de Dino

            Luis Mariano as The Singer Garat

            Lana Marconi as Marie Walewska
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