The Emperor's New Clothes ( I vestiti nuovi dell'imperatore )

The Emperor's New Clothes (DVD) (*)

~~$30.99~~ $21.96

Original Title: I vestiti nuovi dell'imperatore
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
Italian ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Italian ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Italy ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
105 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Behind the scenes
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 2001 and produced in:
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )
Italy ( Italy, Greece )
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Alan Taylor

Written By:
Simon Leys
Kevin Molony

Actors:
Ian Holm ..... Napoleon Bonaparte
Iben Hjejle ..... Nicole 'Pumpkin' Truchaut
Tim McInnerny ..... Dr. Lambert
Tom Watson ..... Gerard
Nigel Terry ..... Montholon
Hugh Bonneville ..... Bertrand
Murray Melvin ..... Antommarchi
Eddie Marsan ..... Louis Marchand
Clive Russell ..... Sergeant Justin Bommel
Bob Mason ..... Captain Nicholls
Trevor Cooper ..... Leaud
Chris Langham ..... Maurice
Russell Dixon ..... Dr. Quinton
George Harris ..... Papa Nicholas
Niall O'Brien ..... Bosun

Synopsis:

Movies, especially science fiction films, love to ask, what if? This tepid romantic comedy has the disadvantage of imagining a what-if that probably hasn't crossed many people's minds lately. What if Napoleon Bonaparte, in his exile on St. Helena, had arranged for a double to impersonate him so he could sneak back to France to reclaim his imperial status?The film, adapted from a novel by Simon Leys, stars Ian Holm in the dual roles of Napoleon and Eugene, the drunken, buffoonish deckhand and look-alike who becomes his stand-in. Although there's plenty of opportunity for low comedy in the notion of an emperor and an oaf exchanging roles, 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' much to its detriment, doesn't pursue them. The film, directed by Alan Taylor, would rather think of itself as a witty, high-toned costume comedy with a reassuring message.

History tells us that Napolean Bonaparte died in exile on the desolate island of St. Helena in 1821. Or did he? A revisionist take on history, this tale proposes an alternative truth in which a secret network of loyalists hatch an ingenious plot: the Emperor will return to Paris, in order to reclaim his throne, while a look-alike takes his place in exile. Trading identities with a dissolute sailor, Napolean is spirited back to France to reclaim his throne. Yet early on in the scheme, the plan goes awry. The double refuses to give up playing Napolean, thereby leaving the former Emperor in Paris. Alone and penniless, Napoleon wanders through Paris unrecognized, trying to forge a new life as a commoner. Subsequently, he meets and falls for a beautiful widow.

Napoleon is in exile on St. Helena after the battle of Waterloo, and his followers smuggle a look-alike to the island, and smuggle Napoleon to a ship headed back to Europe. The plan is for the imposter to masquerade as Napoleon until the Emperor has time to reach Paris, and then for the imposter to declare his role as imposter, so that the real Napoleon can announce his return to Paris. The people of France will then flock to their leader and rise in glory under Napoleon once again.The trouble is, the imposter quickly warms to the role, privileges, and fine life of an exiled Emperor. He refuses to reveal his true identity, and when one of Napoleon's generals in exile with him tries to turn the imposter in, the imposter has the general sent away, as having lost his mind in the isolation of St. Helena. Meanwhile, the real Napoleon can't just stand in the square in Paris and announce his return, because the people all believe he is on St. Helena. Almost none of the citizenry has ever seen Napoleon up close, and in any case he's older and seedier looking now. In fact, we learn that whole groups of inhabitants of the Paris insane asylum walk around in Napoleon costumes, claiming to be the emperor!So the real Napoleon is stuck. And then the imposter dies on St. Helena. The death of Napoleon is announced to the world, and all hope of the real Napoleon being recognized as such disappears. Happily, in the meantime he has developed a wholesome common-law marriage with the widow of one of his soldiers of the Grand Army. Even she believes his claim to be Napoleon is an illusion of grandeur, but she sweetly tells him he can be 'her Napoleon.'The movie raised interesting questions of identity. Clearly we are who we are, at least partly because others agree that we are who we are.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 16 April, 2009.