Considering this film is getting on for 70 years I must say it has stood the test of time exceptionally well. The art director has excelled himself with the very impressive sets and the black & white format captures the sad mood of those times when Poland was under the heel of almighty Russia. This is made clear in the opening sequence when the Russian soldiers invade the Walewski palace on horseback trampling and destroying the beautiful interior. Countess Maria (Greta Garbo) realizing the sorry state in which Poland finds herself agrees to plead with the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Charles Boyer)to save her country and give it independence.
The dialogue which follows and continues through much of the film sounds very much like a series of political speeches, but even so Napoleon is mesmerised by this beautiful and sad Countess. They fall in love and spend as many nights together as his military manoeuvres permit. She divorces her husband the aging Count Walewski.
Having seen this film I have come to believe that Charles Boyer IS Napoleon. He looks the part, acts with authority. struts about in his uniform and never goes out of character. Whenever i think of Napoleon in the future I will think of him as portrayed in this film. Although it is his film, Greta Garbo does have her moments. Watch her suppressed happiness as she is about to announce her pregnancy and the anguish that follows when Napoleon informs her of his intention to marry an Austrian Princess to produce a royal heir.
This film is predominently a love story (and all the dialogue is imagined by the screen writers). It is not a documentary on the life of Napoleon and thankfully the war scenes are kept to a minimum. As for the love interest I believe the scenes they played together could have had more warmth and intimacy. It was not until little Alexander appeared that I was aware of any true love in their lives.
The dialogue which follows and continues through much of the film sounds very much like a series of political speeches, but even so Napoleon is mesmerised by this beautiful and sad Countess. They fall in love and spend as many nights together as his military manoeuvres permit. She divorces her husband the aging Count Walewski.
Having seen this film I have come to believe that Charles Boyer IS Napoleon. He looks the part, acts with authority. struts about in his uniform and never goes out of character. Whenever i think of Napoleon in the future I will think of him as portrayed in this film. Although it is his film, Greta Garbo does have her moments. Watch her suppressed happiness as she is about to announce her pregnancy and the anguish that follows when Napoleon informs her of his intention to marry an Austrian Princess to produce a royal heir.
This film is predominently a love story (and all the dialogue is imagined by the screen writers). It is not a documentary on the life of Napoleon and thankfully the war scenes are kept to a minimum. As for the love interest I believe the scenes they played together could have had more warmth and intimacy. It was not until little Alexander appeared that I was aware of any true love in their lives.