The Emperor's New Clothes

2001, Comedy, 1h 46m

85 Reviews 500+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

The premise of The Emperor's New Clothes is intriguing, and Holm gives a delightful performance. Read critic reviews

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The Emperor's New Clothes Photos

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Movie Info

History records that when the great Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated at Waterloo he lost his power, his country and his freedom. Exiled to the island of St. Helena, he purportedly died a broken man. Yet history has been known to be wrong. Now comes a decidedly different version of events, an original tale about Napoleon's last great adventure -- and the adventures of the lowly imposter who assumed his identity in a grand conspiracy to outwit the world.
  • Rating:
    PG (Brief Language)
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Alan Taylor
  • Producer:
    Uberto Pasolini
  • Writer:
    Simon Leys, Kevin Molony, Alan Taylor, Herbie Wave
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $569.4K
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Paramount Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Ian Holm
Napoleon Bonaparte, Eugene Lenormand
Iben Hjejle
Pumpkin
Tim McInnerny
Dr. Lambert
Tom Watson
Gerard
Nigel Terry
Montholon
Hugh Bonneville
Bertrand
Murray Melvin
Antommarchi
Eddie Marsan
Marchand
Clive Russell
Bommel
Alan Taylor
Director
Simon Leys
Writer
Kevin Molony
Writer
Alan Taylor
Writer
Herbie Wave
Writer
Uberto Pasolini
Producer
Paul Webster
Executive Producer
Hanno Huth
Executive Producer
Roberto Cicutto
Executive Producer
Polly Leys
Co-Producer
Marco Valerio Pugini
Co-Producer
James Wilson
Co-Producer
Rachel Portman
Original Music
Alessio Gelsini Torresi
Cinematographer
Masahiro Hirakubo
Film Editing
Andrea Crisanti
Production Design
Carlo Rescigno
Art Director
Sergio Ballo
Costume Design
Leo Davis
Casting
Kevin Molony
Associate Producer
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Critic Reviews for The Emperor's New Clothes

All Critics (85) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (62) | Rotten (23)
Full Review… Jamie Russell BBC.com Full Review… Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Full Review… Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Full Review… Marta Barber Miami Herald Full Review… Ella Taylor L.A. Weekly Full Review… Susan Stark Detroit News Full Review… Renee Schonfeld Common Sense Media Full Review… Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Full Review… Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Full Review… Jamie Gillies Apollo Guide Full Review… Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope Full Review… Margaret A. McGurk Cincinnati Enquirer
View All Critic Reviews (85)

Audience Reviews for The Emperor's New Clothes

  • Mar 31, 2021
    An amusing concept that leans into the apocryphal myths surrounding Napoleon bolstered by a terrific Ian Holm performance.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Aug 20, 2007
    bilbo baggins pretends to be napoleon the famous french emperor whoms ass we kicked. ian holm... the bloke always looking for a ring to put his finger in... doesn't play a frenchman well at all. no french accent, no speech in french at all. no looking like a twat. there were many holes in the storyline, such as how come nobody actually recognised napoleon? he was only the leader of the fricken' country. i have to say the last 20 minutes were more interesting when he was trying to get people to believe his story, but by then who cares? and much like the character that tim mcinnery plays (blackadders lord percy... "I HAVE CREATED AN OUNCE OF PURE GREEN!") who pretends he doesn't recognise napoleon, i didn't recognise him either coz he was so bloody un french it was retarded
    Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
  • Jan 10, 2007
    [font=Century Gothic]"The Emperor's New Clothes" takes place in 1821 as Napoleon Bonaparte(Ian Holm) escapes from St. Helena after a six year exile, exchanging places with a look-a-like. The plan is for him to reach France by boat and the imposter to be revealed, allowing him to retake the throne. But the plan starts to go awry when the boat overshoots France, and he ends up in Belgium instead.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Emperor's New Clothes" is not the broad comedy I was expecting(though there is a little of that here). It is actually a gentle and poignant bit of speculation about history, dreams of glory and the people trying to recapture them. Through this, the movie conveys a subtle antiwar message. And Ian Holm sets the right mood with a magnificent performance. Only the pedestrian direction hurts the movie. [/font]
    Walter M Super Reviewer
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