Conquest (1937 film)
Conquest | |
---|---|
Directed by | Clarence Brown Gustav Machatý (uncredited) |
Screenplay by | S. N. Behrman Salka Viertel Samuel Hoffenstein Talbot Jennings Zoë Akins |
Based on | Pani Walewska by Wacław Gąsiorowski Helen Jerome |
Produced by | Bernard H. Hyman |
Starring | Greta Garbo Charles Boyer Reginald Owen Alan Marshal |
Cinematography | Karl Freund |
Edited by | Tom Held |
Music by | Herbert Stothart |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Loew's, Inc. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 113 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $2,732,000 US[1][2] |
Box office | $2,141,000 |
Conquest (also called Marie Walewska) is a 1937 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film which tells the story of the Polish Countess Marie Walewska, who becomes the mistress of Napoleon in order to influence his actions towards her homeland.[3][4] It stars Greta Garbo, Charles Boyer, Reginald Owen, Alan Marshal, Henry Stephenson, Leif Erickson, Dame May Whitty, George Zucco, and Maria Ouspenskaya.
The movie was adapted by S.N. Behrman, Samuel Hoffenstein, Helen Jerome and Salka Viertel from the novel Pani Walewska by Wacław Gąsiorowski. It was directed by Clarence Brown and Gustav Machatý (uncredited).
It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Charles Boyer) and Best Art Direction (Cedric Gibbons and William A. Horning).[5]
Its worldwide gross amounted to $2,141,000. But its massive budget led to a loss of $1,397,000.
Plot[]
Napoleon Bonaparte (Charles Boyer) launches an unsuccessful seduction of the Countess Marie Walewska (Greta Garbo), who is married to a much older man (Henry Stephenson), but she resists until convinced that giving in will save Poland. After her husband annuls their marriage and Napoleon divorces the Empress Josephine, the pair are free to formalize their happy relationship, but Napoleon shocks her by announcing his decision to wed the Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria for political reasons. While he doesn't expect it to impact his relationship with Marie, she leaves him, without ever telling him that she is expecting his child.
Cast[]
- Greta Garbo as Countess Marie Walewska
- Charles Boyer as Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte
- Reginald Owen as Talleyrand
- Alan Marshal as Captain d'Ornano
- Henry Stephenson as Count Anastas Walewski
- Leif Erickson as Paul Lachinski (as Leif Erikson)
- Dame May Whitty as Maria Letizia Buonaparte
- Maria Ouspenskaya as Countess Pelagia Walewska
- C. Henry Gordon as Prince Poniatowski
- Claude Gillingwater as Stephan (Marie's servant)
- Vladimir Sokoloff as Dying soldier
- George F. Houston as Grand Marshal George Duroc
- Stanley Andrews as Prince Mirska
- Oscar Apfel as Count Potocka
- Scotty Beckett as Alexandre Walewska
- Betty Blythe as Princess Mirska
- Ed Brady as Soldier
- Paul Fix as Dumb Soldier
- Henry Kolker as Sen. Wybitcki
- Mitchell Lewis as Beppo
- Lois Meredith as Countess Potocka
- Charles Middleton as Sergeant at Elba
- Dennis O'Keefe as Jan Walewska
- Cleve Traughber as Countess Marie Walewska's newborn son
- Robert Warwick as Capt. Laroux
- Ian Wolfe as Prince Metternich
- Noble Johnson as Roustan
- George Givot as Constant
Production[]
Boyer's fee was $125,000, with an equal amount to be paid for any French version, as well as an overtime provision. In the final event, Boyer earned $450,000 for his performance; reshoots on the film saw the budget rise.[2]
Reception[]
Writing for in 1937, Graham Greene gave the film a poor review, characterizing it simply as "one of the dullest films of the year". Greene's chief complaints came from the plot, writing, and "middlebrow" dialogue which inelegantly attempted to bridge "poetic and realistic drama". Greene also notes a number of scenes or moments of "unconscious comedy" which undermined the film and let to a feeling of "great fake emotions booming out - Love, Country, Ambition".[6]
References[]
- ^ [1][citation needed]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Scott Eyman, Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer, Robson, 2005 p 199
- ^ Variety film review; October 27, 1937, page 18.
- ^ Harrison's Reports film review; November 13, 1937, page 183.
- ^ "NY Times: Winterset". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ Greene, Graham (23 December 1937). "Marie Walewska/True Confession". . (reprinted in: Taylor, John Russell, ed. (1980). The Pleasure Dome. Oxford University Press. pp. 187, 190. ISBN 0192812866.)
External links[]
- Conquest at IMDb
- Conquest at the TCM Movie Database
- Conquest at AllMovie
- Conquest at the American Film Institute Catalog
- 1937 films
- English-language films
- 1937 romantic drama films
- American romantic drama films
- American films
- Biographical films about Napoleon
- American black-and-white films
- Films based on Polish novels
- Films based on romance novels
- American films based on plays
- Films directed by Clarence Brown
- Films directed by Gustav Machatý
- Films scored by Herbert Stothart
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- Films based on multiple works
- History of Poland on film
- Cultural depictions of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord