In Marseilles, France in 1794, Desiree Clary, a young millinery clerk, becomes infatuated with Napoleon Bonaparte, but winds up wedding General Jean-Baptiste Berandotte, an aid to Napoleon who later joins the forces that bring about the Emperor's downfall. Josephine Beauharnais, a worldly courtesan marries Napoleon and becomes Empress of France, but is then cast aside by her spouse when she proves unable to produce an heir to the throne.
Acting
Brando's smoldering Napoleon vs. Simmons' wounded dignity
Costume
Ridiculous hats, bigger emotions
Production
1950s Hollywood pretending to be 1790s France
Director
Henry Koster
Marlon Brando
Napoleon Bonaparte
Jean Simmons
Desiree Clary
Merle Oberon
Empress Josephine
Michael Rennie
Bernadotte
Cameron Mitchell
Joseph Bonaparte
Elizabeth Sellars
Julie
Charlotte Austin
Paulette Bonaparte
Cathleen Nesbitt
Mme. Bonaparte
Evelyn Varden
Marie
Isobel Elsom
Mme. Clary
John Hoyt
Talleyrand
Alan Napier
Despreaux
Louis Borel
Baron Morner (uncredited)
Richard Deacon
Etienne Clary
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Brando wore platform shoes and still looked up at most of the cast; he reportedly found the role 'ridiculous' and barely memorized lines.
This was Hollywood's answer to European art cinema—big stars, bigger sets, complete misunderstanding of French history.
US
