Movie Diary 9/7/2008

Napoleon (Sacha Guitry, 1955). All-star version of Nappy’s life, directed by one of French culture’s most interesting mid-century figures…but it can’t be judged by this U.S. DVD, which leaves off about a third of the original running time, is in black and white rather than the original Eastmancolor, and doesn’t even sync up the English dubbing. The cast includes Orson Welles, Erich von Stroheim (briefly, as Beethoven), and most of the French actors of the time, but the lead role is split between Daniel Gelin and Raymond Pellegrin, in an actor-switch much wittier than the baton pass in Lost Highway.

The Red Spectre (Ferdinand Zecca, Segundo de Chomon, 1907). Nine-minute trick film in the manner of a Melies short, with a skeletal demon-magician causing women to vanish and burn up, until the tables turn.

Movie Diary 9/6/2008

The Emperor’s New Clothes (Alan Taylor, 2001). A charming, beautifully-made little comedy in which Napoleon (Ian Holm) escapes St. Helena but must remain incognito before he can reveal himself as the conqueror of Europe. I can’t understand why this movie doesn’t have a small following, or why its director works mostly in TV (the good stuff–Deadwood, Sopranos, etc.) instead of features. It also has a rare English-language role for Iben Hjejle, the Scrabble-worthy actress from Denmark and High Fidelity.