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| Conquest - 1937 |
Coming up next we have 1937's "Conquest", a fictionalized version of the romance of Napoleon Bonaparte and Polish Countess Maria Walewska.
The film's cast includes Greta Garbo, Charles Boyer, Reginald Owen, Alan Marshal, Henry Stephenson, Leif Erickson, May Whitty, Maria Ouspenskaya, C. Henry Gordon, and Jean Fenwick.
After her house is ransacked by Cossacks, Countess Marie Walewska hears that Napoleon Bonaparte is in Poland. As he is a particular hero of hers, she races to see him, hoping to do so unobserved.
Not only does she see him, Marie gets to meet him as well. Napoleon is charmed by her. "Are you real or born of a snowdrift?," Napoleon asks her. Marie replies, "Whichever Your Majesty wishes." Napoleon smiles and says "Snow vanishes. I prefer you real." Marie watches him get into his carriage and ride away.
Eventually, Marie and her much older husband, Count Anastas, attend a ball in honor of Napoleon. And Anastas has arranged for them to be presented to the Emperor.
Anastas's son and grandson are presented to Napoleon, and the Emperor is very surprised to find the old man has such a young wife, and that she is the young woman he met not long before on a snowy night. Smiling, Napoleon says, "I congratulate you, madame. For a grandmother, you are extraordinarily
well-preserved. I regret I did not know you when you
were young."
Napoleon watches Marie with interest throughout the course of the ball, and the Polish officials take notice.
Eventually, they share a dance. Napoleon hopes for more than a casual acquaintance, but Marie is quick to rebuff all of his advances, to Napoleon's great disappointment.
Napoleon sends her a letter in which he says that he will be more disposed to treat Poland kindly if she will be an cure for his loneliness. Polish officials also come and beg her to do what she can for Poland.
Against her better judgment, Marie agrees and goes to visit Napoleon. She wants a purely platonic friendship, but he wants more.
They seem to be at an impasse. Napoleon argues his point, and Marie continues with her rebuttals.
Soon, however, Marie is worn down by Napoleon's charms and she falls hopelessly in love with the man. Her husband is furious with her, and annuls their marriage. Napoleon begins divorce proceedings against Empress Josephine.
Napoleon's mother, Laetitia, comes to meet Marie, wondering if she is just a passing fancy or a permanent fixture in her son's life. Madame Bonaparte is thrilled with Marie, and loves the fact that Marie asks nothing from him.
Marie finds out that she is expecting a child. Joyful at the prospect of motherhood, she is anxious to tell Napoleon. However, his mind is on other matters, namely ensuring a stable throne for himself and his future offspring.
He tells her of his plans to form an alliance with the Habsburgs, leaving a bereft Marie to face an uncertain future. She does not get the chance to tell him that she is expecting a baby.
The two go their separate ways. Napoleon makes his bride Empress of France, and Marie gives birth to a son named Alexandre.
Years pass. Napoleon is toppled from his throne and sent into exile. From his island prison, the once mighty general is obsessed with returning to France and his place as Emperor.
Marie comes to visit him, bringing their son. She tells Napoleon that the boy is his, and Napoleon is very affectionate with young Alexandre.
She has come at an inopportune time. Napoleon is planning an attack which he hopes will put him back on the throne. Marie advises him against it, begging and pleading with him. She also tells him how much their relationship meant to her. "You have given me much more than love, Napoleon
Bonaparte. You touched me and gave me
life. You lifted me up. The whole world went away from me. I will never know that little world again," she says.
Mother and son watch as Napoleon boards a ship for France. "He has a star he must follow. Let us pray that it will bring him peace," Marie tells her son as they wave the once proud warrior goodbye.
Cast rundown:
Greta Garbo..............................Countess Marie Walewska
Charles Boyer............................Napoleon Bonaparte
Reginald Owen...........................Duke de Tallyrand
Alan Marshal..............................Capt. d'Ornano
Henry Stephenson......................Count Anastas Walewski
Leif Erickson..............................Paul Lachinski
May Whitty................................Laetitia Bonaparte
Maria Ouspenskaya.....................Countess Pelagia Walewska
C. Henry Gordon........................Prince Poniatowski
Jean Fenwick.............................Empress Marie Louise
And that's all for Conquest. Audiences didn't respond to this movie, and MGM lost more money on this film than any other film from the period of 1920 to 1949. However, Charles Boyer was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Napoleon. It is an outstanding performance.
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