The film follows the life of Napoleon from his early life in Corsica to his death at Saint Helena. 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.
Production
Genuine French palaces—no green screens in 1955!
Direction
Guitry narrates like a mischievous history professor.
Costume
Military uniforms so detailed you'll weep for the budget.
Director
Sacha Guitry
Daniel Gélin
Napoléon Bonaparte
Michèle Morgan
Joséphine de Beauharnais
Raymond Pellegrin
Old Napoléon Bonaparte
Sacha Guitry
Talleyrand
Jean-Pierre Aumont
Regnault de St-Jean d'Angely
Jeanne Boitel
Madame de Dino
Gilbert Bokanowski
Trader / Louis XVI (uncredited)
Pierre Brasseur
Barras
Gianna Maria Canale
Pauline Borghese
Jean Chevrier
General Duroc
Danielle Darrieux
Eléonore Denuelle
Clément Duhour
Marshal Michel Ney
Jacques Dumesnil
Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte
O.W. Fischer
Karl von Metternich
Jean Gabin
Marshal Jean Lannes
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Guitry filmed at the actual Treaty of Fontainebleau rooms where Napoleon abdicated—no sets needed when you have keys to French national heritage.
Released the same year as the disastrous Suez Crisis, the film's nostalgic imperial grandeur landed... awkwardly with contemporary French audiences.
FR
