Désirée (1954): cast, story & where to watch
1954 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1954, Désirée is a drama and romance film directed by Henry Koster, running about 110 minutes. “The life...the women...the conquests of Napoleon!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In Marseilles, France in 1794, Desiree Clary, a young millinery clerk, becomes infatuated with Napoleon Bonaparte, but winds up wedding Genaral Jean-Baptiste Berandotte, an aid to Napoleon who later joins the forces that bring about the Emperor's downfall. Josephine Beauharnais, a worldly courtesan marries Napoleon and becomes Empress of France, but is then cast aside by her spouse when she proves unable to produce an heir to the throne.
Who’s in it. Désirée stars Marlon Brando as Napoleon Bonaparte, Jean Simmons as Desiree Clary, Merle Oberon as Empress Josephine and Michael Rennie as Bernadotte, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, Désirée has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Désirée page.
If you liked it. Fans of Désirée tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Désirée (1954)?
- In US, Désirée is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Désirée worth watching?
- Désirée holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Désirée?
- Désirée stars Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Merle Oberon, Michael Rennie and Cameron Mitchell.
- When was Désirée released?
- Désirée was released in 1954, with a runtime of about 110 minutes.