Désirée

Désirée

Year: 1954

Runtime: 110 mins

Language: English

Director: Henry Koster

RomanceDramaEpic history and literatureLavish dramas and sumptuous royaltyPassion and romance

In 1794 Marseille, millinery clerk Désirée Clary becomes infatuated with Napoleon Bonaparte, but marries his aide, General Jean‑Baptiste Berandotte, who later joins the forces that topple the emperor. Meanwhile, worldly courtesan Josephine Beauharnais marries Napoleon, becomes Empress of France, and is cast aside when she cannot produce an heir.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Désirée (1954)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Désirée (1954). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 18th century to early 19th century (1794–1815)

The events span the French Revolution era and the Napoleonic Wars. It follows Désirée Clary and Napoleon from their early romance through Napoleon's rise, coronation, and dynastic marriages, to exile after Waterloo. The timeline ends with the long shadow of empire and the personal costs of political ambition.

Location

Marseille, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Elba, Saint Helena

Marseille opens the story as Désirée meets Napoleon and the Clary family becomes entangled with Corsican ambition. The action travels to Paris, Rome and Stockholm as the Napoleonic era reshapes Europe. The later chapters move to exile settings on Elba and finally St. Helena, framing the price of power.

❗️ Port cities 🗺️ European capitals 🌍 Napoleonic era

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:47

Main Characters – Désirée (1954)

Meet the key characters of Désirée (1954), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Désirée Clary

A central figure whose relationship with Napoleon moves from romance to strategic alliance. She lends Napoleon money to return to Paris and ultimately marries Bernadotte, bearing his son Oscar, while watching empires rise and fall around her.

❤️ Protagonist 👑 Romantic 🧭 Strategist

Napoleon Bonaparte

A Corsican officer who ascends to become France's leading general and later emperor. His political and marital maneuvers reshape Europe, and the film traces his rise, coronation, wars, and eventual exile.

🔥 Ambitious 🗺️ Military 👑 Imperial

Julie

Désirée's sister who becomes entangled with Joseph and Napoleonic intrigues. Her brief romance reflects how family ties are pulled into the maelstrom of revolutionary politics.

💃 Family 💘 Romantic 🧭 Spectator

Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte

A capable general who falls for Désirée and marries her, becoming heir to the Swedish throne. He participates in major campaigns and later helps crown and unsettle Napoleon’s fortunes.

💼 Steward 🎖️ Military 🤝 Partner

Empress Josephine

Napoleon's wife and social foil who embodies the personal costs of political ambition. Her marriage intersects with Désirée’s life and Napoleon’s ruses of power.

👑 Royalty 💞 Love 🪧 Political

Joseph Bonaparte

Napoleon's brother involved in the early Bonaparte family dynamics that shape the political landscape. He appears as part of the ruling circle during Napoleonic campaigns.

🧩 Family 🗺️ Politics 🤝 Alliance

Mme. Clary

Désirée's mother whose concerns about marriage prospects and social status influence Désirée's choices in the romance with Napoleon and the family’s fortunes.

👪 Family 💼 Social 🧭 Guidance

Oscar

Son of Bernadotte and Désirée, born into a union that symbolizes a personal stake in the dynastic politics surrounding the Napoleonic era.

🧒 Heir 👪 Family 🏛️ Dynastic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:47

Major Themes – Désirée (1954)

Explore the central themes of Désirée (1954), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love and Ambition

Love shapes choices as Désirée navigates marriage proposals and shifting loyalties while Napoleon pursues power. Their romance intersects with politics, altering destinies and resources. The film shows how affection can both nurture and complicate political plans.

👑 Power and Destiny

Napoleon's hunger for dominion drives his career from general to emperor, setting the uniforms and crowns against his personal life. The story links personal alliances to statecraft, controlling who marries whom for strategic advantage. Destiny seems to favor force, yet it reshapes lives beyond the throne.

🤝 Loyalty and Choice

Bernadotte's loyalty to Désirée tests the borders between love and duty as he rises in Sweden. Désirée's choices—between Napoleon, Bernadotte, and her own happiness—reverberate through dynastic politics. The narrative explores whether personal loyalty can survive the pressure of empire.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:47

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Désirée Summary

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Désirée Summary

Désirée Timeline

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Désirée Timeline

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