The Emperor's New Clothes Movie Review 2001

Historical comedy about Napoleon Bonaparte (Holm). Confined to the island of St. Helena by the British, the former emperor and his advisers plot to regain power in France by recruiting a look-alike named Eugene (Holm again) to trade places while the real Napoleon heads to Paris and restakes his claim to power. The first part of the plan works fine; the second part doesn't. Eugene likes playing the exiled ruler too much to reveal himself as an imposter and Napoleon turns out to enjoy his more simple life, especially with comely widow Pumpkin (Hjejle) proffering her charms. Loosely based on the French novel "The Death of Napoleon" by Simon Leys.

Distribution

Paramount Home Video, 5555 Melrose Ave., 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, Phone: (323)956-5000, URL: http://www.paramount.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 107 minutes.
Originally from British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Not-So-True Identity, Period Piece: 19th Century, Politics, Paris, Widows & Widowers

Screenplay

Kevin Molony, Herbie Wave

Cast

Ian Holm, Iben Hjejle, Tim (McInnerny) McInnery, Tom Watson, Nigel Terry, Hugh Bonneville, Murray Melvin, Eddie Marsan, Clive Russell

Cinematography

Alessio Gelsini Torresi

Director

Alan Taylor

Music

Rachel Portman

Other

Clive Winter, Masahiro Hirakubo, Carlo Rescigno, Sergio Ballo, Andrea Crisanti

Producer

Uberto Pasolini, Mikado Films, Senator Film Entertainment, FilmFour, Redware Films, Paramount Classics