Main Cast: Christian Clavier, Isabella Rossellini, Gérard Depardieu, John Malkovich, Anouk Aimée
Release Year: 2002
Country: FR
Run Time: 360 minutes
Plot
Filmed in France, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Morocco, and Canada, this ambitious biographical TV miniseries chronicles the life and times of the "Little Corporal" from Corsica who managed to conquer nearly all of Europe within a period of a dozen years. The narrative begins in the mid-1790s, as Napoleon Bonaparte (played, curiously enough, by comic actor Christian Clavier) makes his mark on posterity with spectacular victories in Austria and Egypt. On the home front, Napoleon woos and wins the lovely (and considerably older) Josephine (Isabella Rossellini), but finds time for extracurricular romances with other women, notably Countess Marie Walewska (Alexandra Maria Lara). Ultimately, Bonaparte's ambitions destroy him, first in Russia, then at Waterloo, consigning the general-cum-emperor to live out his life in humiliation and exile. When originally broadcast in France in October 2002, Napoleon ran six hours (plus commercials), with four episodes. For its American presentation on the A&E cable network beginning April 8, 2003, the production was literally sliced in half, shown in two installments with a running time of three hours. What remained was all highlights and few insights, though a few brilliant moments remained, many of these supplied by the supporting cast, which included Gérard Depardieu (who also produced) as Fouche, and John Malkovich as Talleyrand. Thankfully, the full six-hour version was made available in the U.S. on DVD and VHS in 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Anouk Aimée - Letizia Bonaparte; Claudio Amendola - Marechal Joachim Murat; Fabienne Babe - Madame De Stael; Jacques Brunet - Roger-Ducos; André Chaumeau - Louis XVIII; Florence Darel - Madame Recamier; Guillaume Depardieu - Muiron; Alain Doutey - Ney; Ennio Fantastichini - Joseph Bonaparte; David J. Francis - Hudson Lowe; Yves Jacques - Lucien; Roc Lafortune - Marchand; Jean-Gabriel Nordmann - Roederer; Ludivine Sagnier - Hortense de Beauharnais; Julian Sands - Klemens Metternich; Marie Tifo - Nurse; Charlotte Valandrey - Madame De Coigny; Philippe Volter - Barras; John Wood - Pope Pio VII; Serge Dupire - Cambronne; Jacky Nercessian - Roustam; André Oumansky - Sieyes; Heino Ferch - Marquis de Caulaincourt; David La Haye - Duc D'Enghien; Florence Pernel - Madame Tallien; Sebastian Koch - Marshal Jean Lannes; Toby Stephens - Alexander I of Russia; Natacha Amal - Madame Bertrand; Mavie Horbiger - Marie Louise of Austria; Alexandra Maria Lara - Countess Marie Walewska; Jessica Paré - Eleanor Denuelle; Marie Baumer - Caroline Bonaparte; Tamsin Egerton - Betzy; Sylvain Corthay - Dr. Corvisard; Julian Rachlin - Paganini
Credit
Rémy Jouvin-Bessiere - Art Director, Yves Simoneau - Associate Producer, Peter Murphy - Boom Operator, Louis Piche - Boom Operator, Françoise Menidrey - Casting, Claude Leger - Co-producer, Jason Piette - Co-producer, Jonathan Vanger - Co-producer, Michael Lionello Cowan - Co-producer, Jan Mojto - Co-producer, David Rogers - Co-producer, Pierre-Jean Larroque - Costume Designer, Dominique Talmon - First Assistant Director, Yves Simoneau - Director, Mario Luraschi - Second Unit Director, Yves Langlois - Editor, Pierre Raymond - Executive Producer, Delia Fine - Executive Producer, Marc Vade - Executive Producer, Fulvio Pozzobon - Hair Styles, François Fauteux - Location Manager, Pierre Balducchi - Location Manager, Florence Bonamy - Location Manager, Paul Boutin - Location Manager, Mireille Gannage - Location Manager, Anna Honegger - Location Manager, Richard Gregoire - Composer (Music Score), Michel Cusson - Composer (Music Score), Marc Ouellette - Composer (Music Score), Richard Gregoire - Musical Direction/Supervision, Yves Simoneau - Musical Direction/Supervision, Didier Lizé - Musical Direction/Supervision, Michel Cusson - Musical Direction/Supervision, Sabrina Bernard - Makeup, Sylvaine Dufaux - Camera Operator, Richard Cunin - Production Designer, Guy Dufaux - Cinematographer, Arnaud Borrel - Cinematographer, Ginette Guillard - Production Manager, Gérard Depardieu - Producer, Jean-Pierre Guerin - Producer, Marc Jenny - Producer, Wolfgang Ramml - Producer, Sarim Fassi Fihri - Producer, Andre Szots - Producer, Kornel Sipos - Producer, Oldrich Mach - Producer, Georges Demetreau - Special Effects, Hybride Technologies - Special Effects, Sara Helminger - Special Effects, Olivier Zeninski - Special Effects, Didier Lizé - Sound Mixer, Bruce Gray - Sound Mixer, Richard Lewis - Sound Mixer, Claude La Haye - Sound/Sound Designer, Christian Wangler - Sound/Sound Designer, Didier Lizé - Sound/Sound Designer, Roger Walker - Sound Editor, Phillip Barnes - Sound Editor, Robin Green - Sound Editor, Erik Henry - Special Effects Supervisor, Thierry Delattre - Special Effects Supervisor, Didier Decoin - Teleplay By, Marie-Hélène Labret - Unit Production Manager, Bruno Vatin - Unit Production Manager, Didier Decoin - Screenwriter, Marlea Willis - Unit Publicist, Vernice Klier - Dialogue Coach, Erik Henry - Digital Effects, Isabelle Malenfant - Associate Editor, Vincent Buron - First Assistant Camera, Chris Abomnes - First Assistant Camera, Dany Racine - First Assistant Camera, Neil Robertson - First Assistant Camera, Serge Grenier - Key Grip, Madoro Music - Music Editor, Peermusic - Music Editor, Paul Lavergne - Music Producer, Julian Rachlin - Musical Performer, Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra - Musical Performer, Frédéric J. Lozet - Post Production Supervisor, Elizabeth Boorn - Production Coordinator, Sylvie Francois - Production Coordinator, Veronique Marchat - Production Coordinator, Jean-Laurent Agrinier - Properties, Jacqueline Gamard - Script Supervisor, François Daignault - Steadicam Operator, Valentin Monge - Steadicam Operator, Rick Dunford - ADR Editor, Samantha Southwick - ADR Editor, Jean-Paul Loublier - ADR Recordist, Eric Ferret - ADR Recordist, Max Hoskins - Dialogue Editor, Dianne Greaves - Foley Artist, Jack Stew - Foley Artist, Ted Swanscott - Foley Artist, Justine Angus - Foley Editor, Nathalie Chesnais - Key Costumer, Agathe Dupuis - Key Hairstylist, Muriel Baurens - Key Make-up, Andréane Melancon - Second Assistant Camera, Vincent Richard - Second Assistant Camera, Jocelyn Simard - Second Assistant Camera, Sylvie Fennec - Set Dresser, Jean-François Corneille - Set Dresser, Jacques Leguillon - Set Dresser, Réal Proulx - Set Decorator, David Craig - Supervising Producer, Max Gallo - Book Author, Carina Baccanale - Assistant Editor, Tracie Gemmel - Assistant Editor, Gael Leger - Assistant Editor
