AllMovie

Released in 1942 as Les Destin Fabuleux de Desiree Clary, this Sacha Guitry production made it to America six years later as Mlle. Desiree. Based on the romance between Napoleon Bonaparte and merchant's daughter Desiree, the film is divided into two parts. In part one, the younger Napoleon (Jean-Louis Barrault) pledges eternal fidelity to Desiree (Genevieve Guitry), but destiny dictates that he marry the much-older Josephine. Part Two takes place several years later, as Napoleon, now Emperor of France and now played by Sacha Guitry himself, renews his romance with the older-but-wiser Desiree (now portrayed by Gaby Morlay). Mlle. Desiree was later remade, sort of, as Desiree, with Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons.