The story of the life of the lover of Napoleon, Desiree Clary, daughter of a Marseilles merchant who met Napoleon early in his career and later married Jean Bernadotte, his greatest General who as Carl Johan XIV adopted heir to the throne of Sweden, and the first Bernadotte King (Played by Michael Rennie with great dash)of the Royal Family that still occupy the Swedish throne. Desiree was indeed her own woman, who may have been the lover of Napoleon but she refused to marry him, all pre Empress Josephine (played by Merle Oberon) and before she met Bernadotte, who she did marry. Apparently she had an eye for a winner since napoleon was exiled to Elba and Jean Bernadotte was crowned Carl Johan l, ancestor of the present King Carl Gustav XVI.
Desiree was noted for her cool head and rational decision making in marrying Bernadotte instead of Napoleon. But she hated the rigors and stultifying protocol of the Swedish court and returned to Paris where she lived most of the rest of her life, leaving her son, Oscar l in the care of her more than competent husband. She late in her life came back to Stockholm to sit on Sweden's throne.
Simmons plays Desiree with a cool and calculating eye and manner. Very competent acting on her part. Cannot say this about Brando, as this was one of his most disappointing roles, he simply was not meant to play Napoleon Bonaparte. No panache and little emotion.
The Bernadotte Family was a compromise in Swedish history as the ancient House of Vasa had completely run out of male heirs, and needed a new Royal House to take over. The choice of a French Catholic family was not an especially popular one in Lutheran Sweden, but with their conversion this all vanished and Carl Johan became a beloved figure in Scandinavian history. Much more beloved was his wife, whose French sense of style became very popular in Sweden. They are related to all the Scandinavian Royals, as well as Queen Elizabeth (distantly) of England. Desiree was a great lover of jewels and fashion and added to the Swedish and Danish Crown Jewels, Crown Princess Viktoria as well as Crown Princess Mary of Denmark both wear jewels Desiree brought to Sweden from France
Jean Simmons plays Desiree as a cool and calculating measurer of men. True to her real personality. Merle Oberon played Empress Josephine with much regret and ennui as an Empress, divorced from Bonaparte and put aside for an Austrian princess. All in all a revealing look at what became the foundation of the Swedish and Danish royals. But it came off as tragic and cold on screen. I gave it a 7 because of the acting of both Simmons and Rennie and the sumptuous costumes and scenery. Not something I watch again frequently, but good for an afternoon diversion on TCM.
Desiree was noted for her cool head and rational decision making in marrying Bernadotte instead of Napoleon. But she hated the rigors and stultifying protocol of the Swedish court and returned to Paris where she lived most of the rest of her life, leaving her son, Oscar l in the care of her more than competent husband. She late in her life came back to Stockholm to sit on Sweden's throne.
Simmons plays Desiree with a cool and calculating eye and manner. Very competent acting on her part. Cannot say this about Brando, as this was one of his most disappointing roles, he simply was not meant to play Napoleon Bonaparte. No panache and little emotion.
The Bernadotte Family was a compromise in Swedish history as the ancient House of Vasa had completely run out of male heirs, and needed a new Royal House to take over. The choice of a French Catholic family was not an especially popular one in Lutheran Sweden, but with their conversion this all vanished and Carl Johan became a beloved figure in Scandinavian history. Much more beloved was his wife, whose French sense of style became very popular in Sweden. They are related to all the Scandinavian Royals, as well as Queen Elizabeth (distantly) of England. Desiree was a great lover of jewels and fashion and added to the Swedish and Danish Crown Jewels, Crown Princess Viktoria as well as Crown Princess Mary of Denmark both wear jewels Desiree brought to Sweden from France
Jean Simmons plays Desiree as a cool and calculating measurer of men. True to her real personality. Merle Oberon played Empress Josephine with much regret and ennui as an Empress, divorced from Bonaparte and put aside for an Austrian princess. All in all a revealing look at what became the foundation of the Swedish and Danish royals. But it came off as tragic and cold on screen. I gave it a 7 because of the acting of both Simmons and Rennie and the sumptuous costumes and scenery. Not something I watch again frequently, but good for an afternoon diversion on TCM.