Désirée

1954 110 min ★ 6.6 Drama, Romance

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.

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Cast

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

Details

Director

Henry Koster

Tagline

"The life...the women...the conquests of Napoleon!"

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Production

20th Century Fox

Reviews

W

Wuchak

October 13, 2021

★ 7/10

_**Talky Napoleonic drama with Brando, Jean Simmons and Michael Rennie**_ From 1794-1815, the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte (Marlon Brando) is chronicled through the eyes of Désirée Clary (Jean Simmons), a young millinery clerk from Marseilles, who is initially infatuated with the future emperor of France, but winds up marrying one of his top generals, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (Michael R...