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Désirée

  • 1954
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons in Désirée (1954)
The rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France.
Play trailer2:36
1 Video
87 Photos
Period DramaBiographyDramaHistoryRomance

Desiree Clary falls for Napoleon but marries Bernadotte, while Josephine weds Napoleon to become Empress before being dismissed for not producing an heir.Desiree Clary falls for Napoleon but marries Bernadotte, while Josephine weds Napoleon to become Empress before being dismissed for not producing an heir.Desiree Clary falls for Napoleon but marries Bernadotte, while Josephine weds Napoleon to become Empress before being dismissed for not producing an heir.

  • Director
    • Henry Koster
  • Writers
    • Annemarie Selinko
    • Daniel Taradash
  • Stars
    • Marlon Brando
    • Jean Simmons
    • Merle Oberon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    3.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Henry Koster
    • Writers
      • Annemarie Selinko
      • Daniel Taradash
    • Stars
      • Marlon Brando
      • Jean Simmons
      • Merle Oberon
    • 38User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:36
    Trailer

    Photos87

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    Top cast65

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    Marlon Brando
    Marlon Brando
    • Napoleon Bonaparte
    Jean Simmons
    Jean Simmons
    • Désirée Clary
    Merle Oberon
    Merle Oberon
    • Empress Josephine
    Michael Rennie
    Michael Rennie
    • Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte
    Cameron Mitchell
    Cameron Mitchell
    • Joseph Bonaparte
    Elizabeth Sellars
    Elizabeth Sellars
    • Julie - Désirée's Sister
    Charlotte Austin
    Charlotte Austin
    • Paulette Bonaparte
    Cathleen Nesbitt
    Cathleen Nesbitt
    • Mme. Bonaparte
    Evelyn Varden
    Evelyn Varden
    • Marie
    Isobel Elsom
    Isobel Elsom
    • Mme. Clary - Désirée's Mother
    John Hoyt
    John Hoyt
    • Talleyrand
    Alan Napier
    Alan Napier
    • Despreaux
    Mary Stewart
    Mary Stewart
    • Minor Role
    Leon Alton
    Leon Alton
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Louis Borel
    • Baron Morner
    • (uncredited)
    Sven Hugo Borg
    Sven Hugo Borg
    • Aide
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Bourne
    • Count Brahe
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Bradley
    Paul Bradley
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Henry Koster
    • Writers
      • Annemarie Selinko
      • Daniel Taradash
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews38

    6.43.7K
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    Featured reviews

    10thelittletwin

    One of the best book to film movies I've ever seen.

    My first introduction to this stroy was when my best friend gave me a copy of a very battered "Desiree" by Annemarie Selinko. When I found this movie, I was skeptical. I love the book, and most often, when books are made into movies, they are ruined. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie fit in so well with the book, and in fact used some of the same dialogue.

    I felt that all of the actors did a remarkable job. Desiree was almost exactly the way that I had pictured her. Jean-Baptiste was also very like the image I had previously formed. Napoleon was amazing. He was so like the real Napoleon, I didn't have any trouble beliving that it really was him. Even though there were some things left out, like the end of the book and therefore the end of the story, I enjoyed it very much. I would not object to seeing this movie more, and it made my love for the book increase a great deal.

    If you loved the movie, and even if you didn't, I would suggest getting a copy of the book. The romance between Desiree and Napoleon is much more pronounced as well as Desiree's love for Jean-Baptiste. The story-line is the same, but the end gives you the much needed satisfaction of seeing Desiree back in Sweden.

    In my opinion, this is a first-rate movie, and I reccommend it to all.
    5planktonrules

    Rather cold and dispassionate despite being a truly extraordinary story.

    This film is about Désirée Clary, a common French woman who was the one-time fiancée of Napolean and who later became queen of Norway and Sweden. She had a very remarkable life and it SHOULD have been an exciting film, though I found the movie to be very mannered and subdued...too subdued. As a result, it is not an especially exciting film...and it should have been. It follows her from her first meeting Napoleon and moves up through he ascending the thrones.

    Désirée Clary is played by Jean Simmons, Napoleon by Marlon Brando and her husband by Michael Rennie. The film is also sumptuous to look at--with lovely sets and in full Cinemascope color. What it does not talk about at all are the marital infidelities by Napoleon, Josephine as well as Désirée's husband--all which could have made the movie much more interesting. So it's pretty but sanitized...and a bit dull because of this. It also just never sparked my interest at all and much of it is because the film is too episodic. Her life might better be told as a mini-series instead.
    6bbmtwist

    Brando's Napoleon is the only reason for watching

    Recently I viewed for the umpteenth time CONQUEST with Charles Boyer's brilliant Oscar-nominated performance as Napoleon. I have just seen DESIREE for the first time and am intrigued by Brando's take on the man. The make-up department has given him a Napoleonic nose bridge and he has supplied the rest. He plays N. as a moody, passionate, obsessed man, but plays him in a quiet, controlled manner. Only twice in the film does he lose his temper. This is a performance I will go back to and study. Brando's insight is as always stellar. His Napoleon believed so much in his "destiny," that he assumed the rest of the world would fall into place around that obsession. Fascinatnig to watch.

    The film itself is a pretty, early CinemaScope epic with Oscar-nominated Art Direction and Costume Design. Jean Simmons does her very best to bring this woman to life, but as others here have observed, Desiree was a rather dull child, noted for her beauty, and little else. That her life was a Cinderella story (from milliner to Queen of Sweden) is of no doubt, but she never seemed to have deserved her good fortune. It is really Brando's film. He has 19 scenes and makes the most of every one.

    If you are a Brando or Napoleon fan, do see it, but don't expect much from the story. It's pretty straight-forward with little drama (though the circumstances make for much drama if written properly).
    8HotToastyRag

    Fantastic, and beautiful costumes!

    I fell in love with Marlon Brando's and Jean Simmons's chemistry in Guys and Dolls, but I didn't know until recently that they'd made another film together prior to their musical pairing. In Desiree, Brando plays Napoleon Bonaparte, and once again, he's paired up with Jean Simmons, the title character. Yes, we all know Bonaparte married a woman named Josephine, not Desiree, so what's the story about?

    Daniel Taradash wrote a very interesting script, with exciting, passionate characters. The film lasts decades, starting from Bonaparte's introduction to Desiree, before he changed his name, through the memorable Battle of Waterloo. As famous a figure as he was, the film actually focuses on Desiree, the woman torn between Bonaparte and Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. She's vivacious, loving, strong, and smart. It's easy to see how the two very powerful men fell in love with her. And if you thought Jean and Brando had sizzling chemistry together, just wait until you see her with Michael Rennie. He's absolutely adorable in this movie, and when Brando humiliates Jean by leaving her for Merle Oberon, it's no wonder she considers crying on Michael's very tall, comforting shoulder.

    The Oscar nominated costumes, designed by Charles Le Maire and Rene Hubert, are exquisitely beautiful. Jean gets to wear a different gown in every scene, even in the diary-writing montages. She wears a gorgeous turquoise dress for only ten seconds, but it's a beautiful ten seconds. If you've only seen Jean in The Big Country or Guys and Dolls, you've got to rent this movie if only to see how beautiful she looks when she really dolls up (no pun intended). Even though Brando gets first billing, it's her show.
    scott_keyes

    Gorgeous languid costume peice ..very understated.

    This movie is a feast for the eyes, and while slow paced and understated will be a very pleasant movie for some people.

    This movie has good and simple characters moving through complicated situations that are easily understandable to most of us. The ex-girlfriend who's still a supportive friend, married to best and able friend who's conscience puts him in opposition to his lady's old love etc. etc.

    Its a good romance/relationship film set in a gorgeous background using the vehicle of three real and outstanding characters to move through napoleonic history. I don't recall any gross historical errors so it may even be mildly educational too...

    Its a VERY good movie, but it isn't exciting or thrilling or passionate or sexy or violent, but if you like your films to be visual feasts and can deal with the fact that sometimes emotions can be less than torrid and overwrought. and that humans have more subtle motives than sex and power.. You might like this

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Although Marlon Brando didn't take his role seriously--despite every effort by director Henry Koster--"Desiree" outgrossed his other 1954 film, "Sur les quais... (1954)."
    • Goofs
      Napoleon didn't conceive of the idea of attacking Italy. France had been fighting Austria in the War of the First Coalition since April 1792. France and Austria had armies facing each other in northern Italy. Napoleon was appointed to command the French army in Italy on March 1, 1794. he took command on the 26th and proceeded to inflict a series of defeats on the Austrian Army in the eastern Po River valley.
    • Quotes

      Count Brahe: You will enjoy life in Sweden, madame. Stockholm is called the Venice of the north.

      Desiree Clary: [Shivering] I prefer the Venice of the south!

    • Connections
      Featured in Biography: Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Désirée: Main Title
      (uncredited)

      Composed By Alfred Newman

      Orchestrated By Alexander Courage

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Désirée?Powered by Alexa
    • Audrey Hepburn---Was She Suppose to Play Desiree?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 2, 1955 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
      • Desirée, la amante de Napoleón
    • Filming locations
      • Château de Fontainebleau, Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, France(location shooting)
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $2,720,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 50m(110 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.55 : 1

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