The Emperor's New Clothes (2001)

Alternative history and whimsical imagination make comfortable bedfellows in The Emperor's New Clothes. As happens in Simon Leys's novel The Death of Napoleon, the French emperor's demise is faked as part of a political comeback scheme, and Ian Holm--who had previously played Bonaparte in Time Bandits and a 1974 British miniseries--plays both Napoleon and the look-alike who "dies" on the island of St. Helena. En route to Paris to stage his miraculous "resurrection," Napoleon inadvertently finds happiness in Antwerp with an incredulous widow (High Fidelity's Iben Hjejle) while the look-alike--now comfortable with his pampered captivity--refuses to reveal his true identity! As directed by Alan Taylor, this delightful comedy is played at a perfect low-key pitch, favoring the subtleties of Holm's performance, which is every bit as clever as his Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. Little-seen in theatrical release, this acclaimed gem deserves a long life on DVD. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Emperor's New Clothes

This movie offers a great and fun twist on history. It's a movie for all ages. I highly recommend it. July 25, 2008

SUPPER

GREAT LITTLE MOVIE JUST FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT THINK OUT OF THE BOX
February 18, 2008

A favorite piece of historical fiction...

This story is a beautiful alternative history to Napoleon's last exile. Rather than finishing his days quietly on an island, Napoleon returns to France with the intent to recreate his empire. The story and the acting are outstanding. Ian Holm and Iben Hjejle are great together (btw, Tim McInnerny [Blackadder fame] is outstanding as a supporting actor), Ian Holm portraying Napoleon as few others can and Iben Hjejle portraying the woman who helps him. In addition, the pieces and clothing set the period very nicely (I love seeing the former member of the Old Guard with his heavily worn clothing, a nice setting for the period). Rating wise this is a five star piece for me. My favorite part is when Napoleon explains to the melon sellers how they'll sell melons the next dayt. Ian Holm shows us how Napoleon might have taken a thing like selling melons, assessed the proper means to deliver the goods to the people who can afford it, and then tells the 'troops' how to execute it! A superb piece! February 6, 2008

A Surprise !

QUESTION.... What makes a good film ?
ANSWER.... When a creative group of individuals can make a movie you enjoy despite your initial disinterest in seeing it at all.

I care very little about Napolean and even less for French history. But my wife wanted to see this movie.
(I prefer Italian and German and Roman history).

Surprisingly it was one of the most entertaining movies we have rented in a long time.

Very well done !!! October 15, 2007

More whimsical than biting, but extremely likeable

The Emperor's New Clothes got lost in the shuffle when FilmFour went to the wall, sitting on the shelf for a couple of years before a negligible release. Like the film itself, the premise had been around for years - Winston Churchill once pitched a variation to Charlie Chaplin - although it took decades to reach the screen: Napoleon never actually died on St Helena but escaped, leaving a double behind. Unfortunately the Emperor's plans to return to power were rather cut short by the double being unwilling to give up his cushy life on the island and own up to his true identity, and then compounding his sin by keeling over and dying, leaving the real Napoleon adrift in a Paris where nobody believes him and the asylums are full of people who think they're Napoleon. Alan Taylor's film never quite makes enough of its premise and the last act is a little scruffy around the edges as Ian Holm's little Emperor finds himself settling down with Iben Hjejle's widowed fruit seller, planning her street sales campaign with military precision, but it's a pleasing little number that gets by on wistful charm rather than biting satire. It never quite comes to grips with France's divided attitude to Napoleon's legacy - part dictator, part liberator - although it takes some nice digs at the post-Napoleonic tourist trade as Waterloo becomes a tourist trap filled with souvenir sellers and inns where Napoleon slept ("I've never set foot in this place in my life," notes Napoleon before dozing off on a bed under a `Napoleon slept here' sign). Extremely likeable. December 24, 2006

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