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Napoléon

  • TV Mini Series
  • 20022002
  • 6h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Gérard Depardieu, John Malkovich, Isabella Rossellini, and Christian Clavier in Napoléon (2002)
Napoleon
Play trailer1:58
1 Video
22 Photos
  • Adventure
  • Biography
  • Drama

A masterful soldier, tactician and statesmen, Napoleon Bonaparte's courage and love for his country sees him rise from an unpaid general consumed with ambition to the most powerful man in Eu... Read allA masterful soldier, tactician and statesmen, Napoleon Bonaparte's courage and love for his country sees him rise from an unpaid general consumed with ambition to the most powerful man in Europe, then his fall, and exileA masterful soldier, tactician and statesmen, Napoleon Bonaparte's courage and love for his country sees him rise from an unpaid general consumed with ambition to the most powerful man in Europe, then his fall, and exile

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Christian Clavier
    • Isabella Rossellini
    • Gérard Depardieu
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Christian Clavier
    • Isabella Rossellini
    • Gérard Depardieu
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 47User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 4 wins & 11 nominations total

    Episodes4

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    2002

    Videos1

    Napoleon
    Trailer 1:58
    Napoleon

    Photos22

    Christian Clavier in Napoléon (2002)
    Napoléon (2002)
    Napoléon (2002)
    Napoléon (2002)
    Napoléon (2002)
    Isabella Rossellini and Christian Clavier in Napoléon (2002)
    Napoléon (2002)
    Christian Clavier in Napoléon (2002)
    Claudio Amendola and Marie Bäumer in Napoléon (2002)
    Isabella Rossellini in Napoléon (2002)
    Christian Clavier in Napoléon (2002)
    Gérard Depardieu and Christian Clavier in Napoléon (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christian Clavier
    Christian Clavier
    • Napoléonas Napoléon
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Isabella Rossellini
    Isabella Rossellini
    • Joséphine de Beauharnaisas Joséphine de Beauharnais
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Gérard Depardieu
    Gérard Depardieu
    • Joseph Fouchéas Joseph Fouché
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    John Malkovich
    John Malkovich
    • Charles Talleyrandas Charles Talleyrand
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Anouk Aimée
    Anouk Aimée
    • Letizia Bonaparteas Letizia Bonaparte
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Heino Ferch
    Heino Ferch
    • Armand Augustin Louis, Marquis de Caulaincourtas Armand Augustin Louis, Marquis de Caulaincourt
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Ennio Fantastichini
    • Joseph Bonaparteas Joseph Bonaparte
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Marie Bäumer
    Marie Bäumer
    • Caroline Bonaparteas Caroline Bonaparte
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Alexandra Maria Lara
    Alexandra Maria Lara
    • Comtesse Marie Walewskaas Comtesse Marie Walewska
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Ludivine Sagnier
    Ludivine Sagnier
    • Hortenseas Hortense
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Alain Doutey
    Alain Doutey
    • Maréchal Neyas Maréchal Ney
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Claudio Amendola
    Claudio Amendola
    • Maréchal Joachim Muratas Maréchal Joachim Murat
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    André Oumansky
    André Oumansky
    • Sieyesas Sieyes
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Jacques Brunet
    Jacques Brunet
    • Roger-Ducosas Roger-Ducos
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Jean-Gabriel Nordmann
    • Roedereras Roederer
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Sylvain Corthay
    Sylvain Corthay
    • Dr. Corvisardas Dr. Corvisard
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    Tamsin Egerton
    Tamsin Egerton
    • Betzyas Betzy
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    David Francis
    • Hudson Loweas Hudson Lowe
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The year is 1816, and Napoleon, held prisoner by the British on the island of St. Helena, is telling the young English girl Betsy his life story. His meteoric rise to military prominence begins with his victory over the Royalists in 1795, which is followed by campaigns in Italy and Egypt. He marries the young and capricious Josephine de Beauharnais, the love of his life, who unfortunately cannot bear him any children. After a coup d'état he seizes power in France and crowns himself Emperor of the French in 1804. After his decisive victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon reorganizes Europe and makes his relatives into princes and kings. Continuing resistance by the Spanish results in some initial losses, however. Meanwhile, Napoleon is increasingly fascinated by other women, including the Polish patriot Maria Walewska, who bears him a son. Napoleon intends to found an imperial dynasty, however, to strengthen his position. After divorcing Josephine, he marries the Austrian princess Marie-Luise, who gives birth to an imperial heir. Napoleon's attempt to bring the Tsar of Russia to his knees results in a massive catastrophe for his army, and prompts the European powers to form an alliance against him. In 1814, he is defeated in the Campaign of France, and is exiled to the island of Elba. Napoleon gathers all his strength one more time, however, returns to France and wins the hearts of its people again. With a new army, he goes into battle against the Allies in Waterloo on June 18, 1815. —Anonymous
    • napoleon bonaparte character
    • first french empire
    • first french republic
    • french history
    • military operation
    • 26 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • An epic life.
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
      • Romance
      • War
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The series was shot simultaneously in French and English, thus two versions exist, with the exact same actors and near-identical edits, but a different original language.
    • Goofs
      When Napoleon is with Eleanore Denuelle and his son to say goodbye, his hair is parted on his left side. When he leaves and turns around at the door, Napoleon's hair is parted on his right side.
    • Quotes

      Napoléon: The English are calling upon my men to desert by flooding our lines with this drivel. It'll have no effect on them!

      Maréchal Joachim Murat: I'm not so sure. The men have had enough. Most of the time we have to force them to obey!

      Napoléon: Have the officers discipline them again. That's why they're here.

      Maréchal Joachim Murat: The officers, they say that you torture your soldiers, and that you will never be able to seize Egypt.

      Napoléon: I have, Murat, Egypt is ours, almost ours. Cairo is a French city. The Nile Delta has been pacified, and all there is left to subjugate a few Turkish regiments.

      Maréchal Joachim Murat: Turks and Arabs, supported by the English. Be realistic, Bonaparte. We can't go on, especially with the plague on our heels.

      Napoléon: The doctors assured me that the epidemic could be contained.

      Maréchal Joachim Murat: The doctors can do nothing against fear.

      Napoléon: I can.

    • Alternate versions
      Shot simultaneously in French and English. For the French version, the French actors spoke in French, the rest recited their dialogues in English and were later dubbed by other actors. For the English version, the French actors repeated the same shots reciting the dialogues in English.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Napoleon
      Written by Richard Grégoire

      Performed by Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra-Sif 309

      Courtesy of Virgin Classics

    User reviews47

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    You will buy it anyway
    It is probably pointless recommending or not recommending this series as there are two types of people that are going to buy this: The Napoleon nuts like me and the period drama people. The latter will be in their element as the domestic sets are both lavish and authentic. There are also some remarkable likenesses such as Josephine, Murat and Caulencourt.

    On first viewing I was left a little cold. I thought that at last a substantial amount of time had been allocated to this, perhaps the greatest of all individual subjects. However, if there is one thing that any expert on the subject will tell you, it is that there is no way that you can even begin to condense this subject into 60 hours, let alone 6. The worst mistake that this film makes is attempting to replicate the battles themselves. The camera angles pan across large expanses revealing (at best) eight or nine hundred extras. All this whilst regular references are made to 20,000 losses on each side (Austerlitz, Eylau, Essling and especially Waterloo). Sometimes, it is almost laughable and cheapens the rest of the film. The makers would have been much better off by excluding any military action and just leaving it to innuendo – after all, Borodino is just referred to by Caulencourt when in Moscow conversing with Murat.. Thank God they didn't try to replicate that terrible battle! So, the plus points: Napoleon: At first I thought that Clavier was miles off the mark. If, like me you have seen and were bowled over by Rod Steiger's rendition in Waterloo then this will get some getting used to. After all, Napoleon is a red-blooded Corsican genius, capable of flying off the handle at any time, exhausting his counterparts and friends alike. Not in this version. Yet, Clavier has one saving grace. He introduces a measured, human approach that we know Napoleon had to have had from time to time. Almost schizophrenic some might say (Megalomania is the preferred terminology). I don't prefer his interpretation of Napoleon's to Steiger, but it is warmer if not necessarily more Corsican. If we could introduce this to Steiger's approach you may have the perfect Napoleon.

    The relationship between Napoleon and Josephine is also one of the better points of this series. Clavier's in-love out-of-love relationship is perfectly handled without the usual mushiness. Here is a relationship based on love, intensity, necessity and ultimately friendship and loss.

    Finally, Caulencourt is dealt with in some depth, as is Fauche, Murat and Talleyrand. But where is Berthier, Bessieres, Augereau, Davout and Ney (who suddenly appears towards the end despite his Russian campaign heroics)? Holes? Yes. But unless we get someone with $500,000,000 willing to approach this subject with the endeavour it deserves then we are left with this kind of product. So overall, not too bad. Vive l'Emperor!
    helpful•9
    0
    • davidjpeers
    • Dec 29, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 17, 2002 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Canada
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Hungary
      • Spain
      • Czech Republic
    • Official site
      • Official site (France)
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Наполеон
    • Filming locations
      • Hungary
    • Production companies
      • A+E Networks
      • ASP Productions
      • GMT Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      6 hours 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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