Customer Reviews

Desiree

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

although not totally historically correct, desiree is the story of the spirited daughter of a silk merchant who was napoleon's first love. she went on to marry jean-baptiste bernadotte when napoleon married the more politically beneficial josephine. the marriage was better for desiree since jean-baptiste was a soldier who rose from the ranks, became one of napoleon's marshals, one of his biggest detractors, one of his conquerors, and eventually king of sweden. all through this time is the rivalry involving desiree as well as the struggle for power and the thrones of europe. jean simmons gives her usual good performance, marlon brando is a convincing napoleon, and michael rennie shines as bernadotte. a very watchable movie.

Although there are some historical inaccuracies [Napoleon did not surrender his sword to Desiree, and some other small "enhancements"], and Jean Simmons is something of a drawback to the film, it's definitely worth watching. Marlon Brando's performance manages to capture the historical idea of Napoleon very well- the great intensity of his personality, the underlying brilliance and insatiable ambition. Napoleon is both repellent and fascinating at the same time. One can understand how, at his best, he hypnotized almost the whole of Europe. But he is perfidious also, dismissive of the death and destruction he caused on his way to accomplish his aims. Really, the character of Napoleon and Marlon Brando's rendition of it is the only reason to watch this film. Jean Simmons' Desiree is lovely and winsome, but kind of vapid. One wonders what Napoleon and Bernadotte saw in her. Michael Rennie's performance is very good in his role as Bernadotte, and he is not overshadowed at all by the strength of Brando's performance. His scenes with Napoleon are wonderful. Until something better comes along [unlikely...] this is the one to watch for a period piece about Napoleon.

Having read some of the other reviews of this movie I felt compelled to submit my own. I have long been fascinated by Napoleon and I have read and watched just about everything on his life that I can get my hands on. I found Brando's portrayal of Napoleon subtle and powerful. After having seen at least a half dozen different actors play Napoleon in various movies, Brando's has always stood head and shoulders above the rest to me. The story is not entirely accurate, but all the main elements of the story are pretty close (except Napoleon surrendering his sword to Desiree). The costumes and sets are outstanding in a way that seems to be captured only in old movies. This is not an in-depth analysis of Napoleon's life, rather, it focuses on Desiree, a one-time fiance of Napoleon. While that story is interesting, I find myself waiting for the next Brando scene. Brando does a magnificent job capturing the eneregy and confidence of the young Napoleon, and the fatigue and desperation of the defeated Napoleon. Brando's scene when he considers Bernadotte's request to renounce his French citizenship is brilliant. The movie is almost worth this scene alone.

I don't know why this movie is not more famous. The scenery and costumes are beautiful, and the acting is superb. I have never liked Marlon Brando, but he is excellent in this movie, as is Jean Simmons. Michael Rennie, somewhat forgotten nowadays, is good as well. The ending, although not historically accurate, always brings tears to my eyes. Great movie.

This is my favorite Brando film and basically my favorite movie. The depiction of Napoleon by Brando was excellent. I had read the book Desiree prior to seeing the movie, and felt that the movie was true to the book. It is a very romantic depiction of Napoleon and Desiree, and shows a very interesting side of Napoleon. I recently returned from France and vividly remembered Napoleon as depicted by Brando where ever I ventured.

I've always loved this movie based on one of my favorite novels growing
up. Annemarie Selinko originally wrote her historical novel as a series
of journal entries. This carries over very well into the movie. Marlon
Brando does a superb portrayal of Napoleon. Jean Simmons is the young
silk-merchant's daughter who is engaged to the young Napoleon before he
becomes powerful. The characters and story are based on fact. You have
to see it to appreciate how one person can have a profound effect on
history even though their name is soon forgotten.

Henry Koster directed many films with considerable charm and flair... His attempts at drama were for the most part less successful but always visually pleasant... He was nominated for an Academy Award for directing "The Bishop's Wife" in 1947... His reputation as a skilled artist led to his assignment as director of the first film in CinemaScope, "The Robe."

Koster does manage to keep the dynamism of "Désirée" and is excellent on both the technical level as on the screen acting... The film won Oscar Nominations for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color & Best Costume Design...

His high moment of the film was 'The Coronation Ceremony' where after the blessing of the crowns Napoleon seizes the crown from the Pope Pius VII and crowns first himself, then Josephine (Merle Oberon), Napoleon's first wife... (This petite brunette looked particularly ravishing as the empress).

Marlon Brando proved his versatility playing the great French soldier-statesman, a man insatiably ambitious, exceptionally intelligent, prompt to make decisions... Brando's performance is cool, calculating, compulsive, using a calm, measured English accent, providing the role its wise temperature of the most celebrated personage in the history of France & Europe...

British actor Michael Rennie plays the revolutionary general Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte with a noticed antipathy for his rival... Bernadotte shifts his allegiances, forming alliances with Russia, Great Britain & Prussia, contributing in the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig...

Jean Simmons - lovely as ever with her delicate beauty - gives the story fluid charm of a seventeen-year-old girl to a self-confident woman... We see her running through the streets of Marseilles, growing up in the outcome of the French Revolution, recording her daily written account of events, witnessing Napoleon's arrest...

Rescued from the threat of a jump into the Seine, Désirée rejects Napoleon's advances, and marries Count Bernadotte, now a Marshall of France...

Désirée was a romantic figure involved with two opposite characters: one as Emperor of France with an eternal search for wars and glory, and a king, uncertain sometimes about his capacities, with the necessity of a beloved queen besides him...

If not viewed as a history lesson, this fictionalized biopic is good entertainment and at least a point of departure for a study of a great French leader...

I read this book when I was a teenager and loved the movie when it first came out. I am much older now and so is the movie and both of us have kept our romantic flair. The video was in very good shape, Brando was adorable when he was young and Simmons is classic anytime, anyplace. I appreciate that the movie follows the book fairly closely and presents history in a true and faithful style. I have looked long and hard for this movie on tape, thanks for finding it.
Joey in Idaho

NOTE: this is a review of the DVD, not of the film Desiree itself. As a Brando enthusiast, I was desperate to get my hands on this. I coughed up the cost for it because I had been trying to track it down for years. It ended up being obscenely expensive, especially once the shipping came into play. I'm glad that I got the opportunity to see the film, but this is a very bad transfer. The aspect ratio is distorted, the audio track is muddled and the colors are muted and washed out. If you're a big enough Brando fan, you might want to pick this up out of desperation. Otherwise, I'd recommend looking for other alternatives.

Had a problem with DVD contacted DracDVD.
They were great posted out a new one straight away no problems.
Will use them again
Thanks Drac
Thanks Amazon.com