It is 1809 and Napoleon takes up residence in Vienna and the Austrian court moves to Prague. Prince Metternich entrusts the beautiful countess Arenberger with the task of acquiring for him news of the activities French army. The countess encounters Napoleon's couriers and tries to win the affection of one of them, count Ormond, who is however in love with Ginette, daughter of a gardener from Schonbrun. One day, the countess takes possesion of some important papers and sends them to Metternich in Prague. When the documents are discovered missing, the blame falls on count Ormond who, for his carelessness is sentenced to death by shooting. Ginette, in the meantime has discovered that she is in fact the illegitimate daughter of Napoleon and asks the emperor to pardon Ormond. Napoleon orders a new investigation into the case. The Countess returns the stolen papers, Ormond is rehabilitated and happily embraces his beloved Ginette. (According to an article appearing in the press at the time the film was made.)
In 1926 the film was presented again under the title In the Shadow of Napoleon. The film materials are believed lost.
císař francouzský Napoleon Bonaparte
kníiže Klemens Wenzel Metternich, rakouský ministr zahraničí
hraběnka Arenbergová
primabalerína Ginetta, Bonapartova tajná dcera
francouzský maršál Louis Berthier
Kurýři císařovi
Kurýři císařovi
The Emperor's Couriers
Napoleon / Ve stínu Napoleonově
Napoleon / In the Shadow of Napoleon
film
featuretheatrical distribution
lost film
drama, historical
Czechoslovakia
1923
1923
premiere 9 April 1924
renewed premiere 11/1926
Brunafilm (původní 1924 a obnovená 1926)
feature film
65 min
1 850 meters
35mm
1:1,33
black & white
silent
Czech
without dialogue
without subtitles
Czech
Czech