Country : France / Spain / Italy
Medium : Colour
Duration : 100′
Video : Éditions Montparnasse – 1989
Production : Ciné Alliance / Agata Films / G.E.S.I Cinematografica
Scenario : Jean Ferry and Christian-Jaque
Screenplay : Henri Jeanson
Music : Angelo Francisco Lavagnino
Director of photography : Roberto Gerardi
Plot : Marshal Lefebvre, an old soldier of the Republic, is amongst the troops which have taken the Tuileries. Despite his prestige he allows himself to henpecked by his fiancée Catherine, previously a washer woman whose difficult character is equalled only by her irreverence towards high-ranking State officers.
Cast : Julien Bertheau (Napoleon) ; Sophia Loren (Catherine) ; Robert Hossein (Lefebvre) ; Amalia Gade (Caroline) ; Renaud Mary ; Léa Gray
Extract : « Catherine. – I was the one who washed your clothes when you were a mere lieutenant.
Napoleon. – In the Hôtel des patriotes hollandais ?
Catherine. – That’s it. Go on. Now we’re getting somewhere. You remember me, don’t you ?
Napoleon. – It’s not Madame Sans-Gêne, is it ?
Catherine. – Bonaparte ! »
Review : A refreshing, unpretentious film with splendid, lively performances by Sophia Loren, Robert Hossein and Julien Bertheau (as an excellent Napoleon). The director Christian-Jaque, who ten years earlier had made the famous film Fanfan la Tulipe with Gérard Philipe in the title role, made his return to a genre which clearly he enjoyed and in which he excelled. Moreau and Sardou’s original is carefully respected, although historical accuracy is less so. But the main point of the film is fun, and as such, it is a great success.