A competent, albeit strictly one-sided, retelling of Napoleon's Hundred Days, though the attempts at rousing the audience's sympathy for the tragic figure of Napoleon are rather transparent. The film betrays its stage bound origins at times, but Gustaf Gründgens gives a suitably oily performance as the effete Fouché and the battle scenes are excitingly photographed.
German actor Werner Krauss, perhaps better known today as Dr. Caligari in the 1920 silent horror film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, had played Napoleon once before on film in Napoleon auf St. Helena (1929) and gives a fairly convincing performance here. He bears a strong resemblance to the more corpulent Emperor during his later days, and his portrayal of Napoleon's distress over the separation from his son is certainly moving.
German actor Werner Krauss, perhaps better known today as Dr. Caligari in the 1920 silent horror film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, had played Napoleon once before on film in Napoleon auf St. Helena (1929) and gives a fairly convincing performance here. He bears a strong resemblance to the more corpulent Emperor during his later days, and his portrayal of Napoleon's distress over the separation from his son is certainly moving.
