Veteran actor IAN HOLM enjoys himself immensely in THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES, a "what if" historical drama set in 1821.

On the remote Atlantic island of St. Helena, Napoleon Bonaparte (HOLM) lives in exile after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo six years previously. With a small entourage of loyal followers and heavily guarded by British soldiers, the sea constantly patrolled by British warships, things look bleak for The Little Corporal. Yet his life is about to change forever...

A secret plot by a network of loyal Bonapartists is in motion. The idea is to swap the ex-Emperor with a double, able-bodied seaman Eugene Lenormand (also HOLM) while Napoleon escapes back to France via ship. Their identities will be switched for the duration of the journey. Once installed in Paris, Napoleon will reclaim his former throne after the doppelganger on St Helena, the real Eugene Lenormand, proclaims himself a fraud by revealing his true identity to a shocked world.

However,… more »

Veteran actor IAN HOLM enjoys himself immensely in THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES, a "what if" historical drama set in 1821.

On the remote Atlantic island of St. Helena, Napoleon Bonaparte (HOLM) lives in exile after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo six years previously. With a small entourage of loyal followers and heavily guarded by British soldiers, the sea constantly patrolled by British warships, things look bleak for The Little Corporal. Yet his life is about to change forever...

A secret plot by a network of loyal Bonapartists is in motion. The idea is to swap the ex-Emperor with a double, able-bodied seaman Eugene Lenormand (also HOLM) while Napoleon escapes back to France via ship. Their identities will be switched for the duration of the journey. Once installed in Paris, Napoleon will reclaim his former throne after the doppelganger on St Helena, the real Eugene Lenormand, proclaims himself a fraud by revealing his true identity to a shocked world.

However, things do not go as planned. Napoleon's ship changes course mid-journey and he misses a crucial link with his supporter network but on finally arriving in Paris (via Belgium and a stop at the Waterloo battlefield!) he finds himself alone and friendless.

The contact he is due to meet here has just died and Napoleon soon strikes up a friendship with the man's young widow, melon seller Nicole "Pumpkin" Truchaut (IBEN HJEJLE) while at the same time inciting the jealousy of the local Doctor Lambert (TIM McINNERNY), who soon suspects that the new arrival is not all he seems to be. Meanwhile, on St Helena, the real Eugene Lenormand is beginning to enjoy his newfound role as Emperor...

Such is the premise of this brilliant period drama, filled with humour as Napoleon settles into his Parisian lifestyle while attempting to plan his inevitable return to power. How he adapts to civilian life, helping Nicole overturn the fortunes of her failing business, and later dealing with the bad news which arrives from the Atlantic, is the gist of the story.

HOLM does well in a dual role and makes a good Napoleon (a character he has, admittedly, played before) and he easily captures the Emperor's mannerisms and whims perfectly, while HJEJLE and McINNERNY are also great value - although the latter could have done with more screen time due to his wonderful verbal duelling with HOLM! There is a wealth of instantly recognizable British character actors to look out for, too. The period setting is well captured on screen and the dialogue superbly written.

Extra features on the disc include the Original Theatrical Trailer, short interviews with the main stars plus Director ALAN TAYLOR and Producer UMBERTO PASOLINI (15 minutes), and Behind The Scenes footage running to 16 minutes.

While many complex plots were discussed to rescue Napoleon from St Helena, none in reality were carried out. However, this fictional account of what might have been is cracking entertainment and highly recommended!