Napoleon (1927)

Last updated:
October 6, 2025

Abel Gance’s Napoleon (1927) is one of the most ambitious and innovative films of the silent era. This monumental work not only redefined epic filmmaking but also showcased experimental camera techniques that were decades ahead of their time. The film tells the story of Napoleon Bonaparte’s early life, tracing his rise from a determined young Corsican boy to a national hero during the French Revolution.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Childhood in Corsica

The film opens with a young Napoleon at a military academy, already demonstrating his strategic genius and leadership qualities. In a famous early sequence, the young cadet leads a snowball fight as if it were a military campaign—complete with tactics, formations, and unyielding determination. This serves as a symbolic prologue to his future as a brilliant (and often ruthless) general.

Revolutionary France and the Rise of an Idealist

As Napoleon grows, France descends into chaos. The film captures the violent and passionate atmosphere of the French Revolution with dizzying energy. Gance uses multiple exposures, rapid editing, and handheld camera movements—techniques almost unheard of at the time—to depict the emotional intensity of the era.

Napoleon becomes a commander in the army of the Revolution, driven by both ambition and patriotic idealism. His charisma and discipline quickly make him a key figure in the fight against France’s internal enemies.

The Siege of Toulon

One of the film’s centerpiece sequences is the Siege of Toulon, which marks Napoleon’s first major military victory. Here, Gance employs dynamic camera movements and elaborate battlefield choreography to emphasize Napoleon’s tactical brilliance and growing legend.

Personal Struggles and Love

Between his battles, the film humanizes Napoleon through his relationship with Josephine de Beauharnais. Their romance is presented in a poetic, emotional tone—Gance contrasts Napoleon’s stormy personality with Josephine’s grace and calm. This subplot also introduces one of the few moments of tenderness in an otherwise intense and politically charged narrative.

Revolutionary Betrayal and Exile

Napoleon’s rise to prominence earns him not only fame but also enemies. Political machinations and betrayals drive him temporarily into exile, but Gance’s direction frames this setback as a prelude to his greater destiny. The film turns almost mythic here—Napoleon is shown as both man and symbol, haunted by visions of France and his own destiny.

The Return and the Call of Destiny

Napoleon returns to lead the French army in Italy, rallying his men with a passionate speech about freedom and unity. The sequence explodes into a three-screen finale using Gance’s groundbreaking Polyvision technique—three synchronized projectors creating a massive panoramic image.

Movie Ending

The film ends with Napoleon leading his troops across the Alps, heading toward Italy for what will become his legendary campaign. The snow and storm reflect both the hardship and the magnitude of his mission. As the army advances, the screen widens into the iconic triptych format, symbolizing the vastness of Napoleon’s ambition and the scope of his destiny.

The final images intercut between Napoleon, the French flag, and the soaring eagle—Gance’s symbol for the spirit of France. The eagle flies across the three screens, merging Napoleon’s personal destiny with the fate of his nation.

There is no epilogue or closure on his later life or downfall; the film ends on a triumphant note, positioning Napoleon as both hero and myth, leaving audiences awestruck.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. There are no post-credits scenes in Napoleon (1927). Silent films of this era did not use post-credits sequences—the story concludes firmly within the film’s final triptych montage.

Type of Movie

Historical epic / silent drama / biographical war film.
It’s a visual and emotional spectacle—a revolutionary mix of history, art, and innovation.

Cast

Albert Dieudonné as Napoleon Bonaparte
Gina Manès as Joséphine de Beauharnais
Vladimir Roudenko as Young Napoleon
Edmond Van Daële as Maximilien Robespierre
Alexandre Koubitzky as Danton
Antonin Artaud as Jean-Paul Marat

Film Music and Composer

Originally a silent film, Napoleon was shown with live orchestral accompaniment. Over the years, several scores were composed for various restorations.
The most famous modern restoration score was composed by Carl Davis (for the 1981 restoration), blending classical French themes with military marches and revolutionary songs.

Filming Locations

The film was shot mainly in France, including Corsica, the French Riviera, and Paris studios.
These authentic locations added realism to the historical narrative, grounding Gance’s epic visual style in tangible French landscapes that reflected Napoleon’s journey from humble origins to greatness.

Awards and Nominations

While Napoleon was not eligible for modern-style awards when released, it is considered one of the greatest silent films ever made.

In later decades, it received numerous restoration honors and special screenings at film festivals.
In 1981, the restored version won a BAFTA Award for Best Original Score (Carl Davis).
The film is preserved by Cinemathèque Française and BFI, recognized as a landmark of world cinema.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Abel Gance originally planned Napoleon as part of a six-part saga covering the emperor’s entire life, but only the first part was completed.
Over 40 cameras were used—unheard of for the 1920s.
Gance invented or popularized techniques like handheld cameras, fast cutting, split screens, multiple exposures, and widescreen projection.
Some sequences were filmed with real soldiers to achieve authentic battle realism.
Gance’s obsession with innovation often exhausted his crew, leading to an infamous shoot where he filmed 20-hour days.

Inspirations and References

The film draws from historical records, Napoleon’s letters, and French revolutionary history.
It also reflects Abel Gance’s fascination with heroic mythology—he saw Napoleon as a modern Achilles, both a visionary and a tragic figure.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Many versions of Napoleon exist due to lost footage. Early prints were heavily cut by distributors.
Some scenes depicting Napoleon’s youth and his family life were shortened or removed in early releases. Restorations by Kevin Brownlow (1970s–2000s) reinserted several missing sequences.

No alternate ending was ever filmed—Gance intended the triptych finale as his definitive conclusion.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not directly based on a single book, but it’s inspired by multiple historical biographies of Napoleon, especially 19th-century French accounts.
Gance’s portrayal is highly romanticized—less concerned with strict accuracy, more focused on Napoleon as a national and mythic symbol.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The snowball fight at the military academy (Napoleon’s first “battle”).
The Convention scene, where the camera spins among revolutionaries shouting “Liberté!”
The Siege of Toulon, filmed with dazzling energy.
The triptych finale, one of the most famous endings in silent film history.

Iconic Quotes (Intertitles)

“France is an idea, and I am her sword.”
“The eagle soars again.”
“A man’s destiny is written in the stars—and in the hearts of his people.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The eagle motif appears throughout the film as a metaphor for Napoleon’s soul.
In several crowd scenes, Abel Gance himself appears briefly as a revolutionary.
The tricolor filter effect (blue, white, red) was hand-tinted to mirror the French flag.
Many soldiers’ uniforms were modeled after actual French Revolutionary War garments preserved in museums.

Trivia

The film ran nearly 9 hours in its original version; most screenings showed only a condensed 4-hour cut.
Stanley Kubrick cited Napoleon (1927) as a major influence on his unmade Napoleon project.
The Polyvision technique anticipated widescreen cinema by over 25 years.
Only a handful of theaters could even project the film as intended in 1927.

Why Watch?

Napoleon (1927) is a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of cinema. It’s a breathtaking example of silent-era innovation, blending artistry, patriotism, and technological genius. Even today, few films feel as passionate or visually daring.

Director’s Other Movies

La Roue (1923)
J’accuse! (1919)
Lucrezia Borgia (1935)
Austerlitz (1960)

Napoleon (1927)