Napoléon (miniseries)

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Napoleon
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Genre	Miniseries, Historical
Creator(s)	Didier Decoin and Max Gallo, Yves Simoneau - director
Starring	Christian Clavier Gerard Depardieu Isabella Rossellini John Malkovich Alexandra Maria Lara Heino Ferch Claudio Amendola
Country of origin	France / Germany / U.K.
No. of episodes	4
Production
Running time	90 minutes per episode
Broadcast
Original channel	A&E (U.S.)
Links
IMDb profile

Napoleon was a historical miniseries which explored the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 2002, it was the most expensive television miniseries in Europe, costing $46,330,000 to produce. The miniseries covered Napoleon's military successes and failures, including the Battles of Eylau, Austerlitz, Waterloo and the retreat from Russia. It also delved into Napoleon's personal life: his marriage to and divorce from Josephine de Beauharnais, his marriage to Marie Louise, the Duchess of Parma and daughter of Francis II, and his affairs with Eleanore Denuelle and Marie Walewska.

The show aired on the Arts and Entertainment (A&E) channel in the United States. A three-disc DVD (full screen) recording, under the A&E label and with A&E extra features, is sold in the United States. In Canada, there is a four-disc DVD (fullscreen) recording, under the REMSTAR label and without the A&E extra features, in both English and French editions.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

1 Introduction
2 Battles and Action
- 2.1 Historical Inaccuracy
3 External links

[edit] Introduction

The series begins with Napoleon on Saint Helena. Hudson Lowe, the British governor of the island, repeatedly demands Napoleon show his presence. After a futile attempt to convince Napoleon to leave his home, an English girl (Miss Betsy), soon appears.

Although there is no explicit mention of this, it is assumed that Napoleon is reminiscing about his past successes to Miss Betsy, as it is revealed at the end. The story begins with his meeting of Josephine de Beauharnais, his future wife and Empress. Later, it focuses on Napoleon's military involvement as Barras' chief of staff in neutralizing Royalist forces.

[edit] Battles and Action

The first episode begins with the young Napoleon's suppression of Royalist rioters with the famous "Whiff of Grapeshot" (short range canister fire from a cannon) around the Church of St. Roch (October 5, 1795) Later on, Napoleon is shown failing to take a bridge from the Austrians at the Battle of Arcole (November 15-17, 1796) during his first Italian campaign. The episode ends with the attempted bombing by the Royalists of Napoleon's carriage while it was en route to the opera house.

In the second episode, there is an extended sequence showing the Battle of Austerlitz (December 2, 1805). This is followed by a very brief scene of the Battle of Jena (October 14, 1806). The episode ends in the midst of the snowy Battle of Eylau (February 7-8, 1807) with Napoleon waiting desparately for reinforcements led by Marshal Michel Ney.

The third episode begins with the last minute arrival of Ney's reinforcements at Eylau battlefield, the charge of the French cruiassier heavy cavalry (led by Marshal Joachim Murat) against the Russian lines, and Napoleon's sending of his Imperial Guard grenadiers into action. The middle of the episode shows Napoleon suffering a serious defeat at the Battle of Aspern-Essling (May 21-22, 1809) and the death of his closest general Marshal Jean Lannes. There is no depiction of the Battle of Borodino (August 17-18, 1812). Instead, Napoleon and his forces are shown waiting outside of Moscow before his entire army parades into the empty Russian city. The episode ends with Napoleon opening the window in the Czar's Kremlin bedroom to see the city engulfed in flames.

The fourth episode begins with the retreat of half-frozen French soldiers in the bitterly cold Russian winter while being attacked by mounted Cossacks. Later, there is the Battle of Waterloo (June 18, 1815) with Ney's heavy cavalry charge, the French taking of the farmhouse from the British, the assault of the Imperial Guard, and the final rout of the French forces. As soldiers flee the battlefield, Napoleon's Imperial Guard grenadiers form a square around their emperor and retreat in disciplined order in their square.

[edit] Historical Inaccuracy

During the miniseries' depiction of Napoleon as first consul, the incident of the Infernal Machine takes place. He is seen riding with his wife, Josephine, but in historical reality, this was not the case.
Cambronne is seen saying the infamous word of Cambronne and later a variation of his famous response about the Guard during the Battle of Waterloo. Neither is attributed to him.