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Napoléon (1955 film)

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Napoléon
Directed bySacha Guitry
Written bySacha Guitry
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyPierre Montazel
Edited byRaymond Lamy
Music byJean Françaix
Production
companies
Distributed byCinédis
Release date
  • 25 March 1955 (1955-03-25) (France)
Running time
190 minutes
Countries
  • France
  • Italy
LanguageFrench
Budget$1.5 million[1]—$1.8 million[2]
Box office5,405,252 admissions (France)[3][4]

Napoléon is a 1955 French historical epic film written and directed by Sacha Guitry, which depicts major events in the life of Napoleon (Daniel Gélin as a young man, Raymond Pellegrin in later life; the switch takes place during a scene at a barber).

Guitry played the role of Talleyrand, controversial diplomat and first Prime Minister of France, narrating from a drawing room as if having just heard of Napoleon's death on the island of Saint Helena in 1821. The cast also features Yves Montand as Marshal Lefebvre, Maria Schell as Marie-Louise of Austria, Erich von Stroheim as Ludwig van Beethoven, and Orson Welles as Napoleon's British jailor, Sir Hudson Lowe.

The English dub was made as part of the original production, but is significantly shorter than the French version.

Plot

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The film follows the life of Napoleon from his early life in Corsica to his death at Saint Helena in May 1821. The film is notable for its use of location shooting for numerous scenes, especially at the French estates of Malmaison and Fontainebleau, the Palace of Versailles, and sites of Napoleonic battles including Austerlitz and Waterloo.

Cast

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References

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  1. ^ "Paris". Variety. 30 June 1954. p. 62.
  2. ^ "Variety (April 1955)". Variety. 13 April 1955. p. 15. {{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter |tile= ignored (|title= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Napoleon". Box Office Story.
  4. ^ "Box Office Figures for Jean Marais films". Box Office Story.
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