The Emperor's Couriers

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1923

Production year

1923

Premiere

9 April 1924

Runtime

65 min

Category

film

Genre

drama, historical

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Film state

lost film

Original title

Kurýři císařovi

Czech title

Kurýři císařovi

English title

The Emperor's Couriers

Parallel title

Napoleon / Ve stínu Napoleonově

English parallel title

Napoleon / In the Shadow of Napoleon

Synopsis

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.)

Note

In 1926 the film was presented again under the title In the Shadow of Napoleon. The film materials are believed lost.

Cast

Rainer Simons

císař francouzský Napoleon Bonaparte

Paul Askonas

kníiže Klemens Wenzel Metternich, rakouský ministr zahraničí

Nini Forster

hraběnka Arenbergová

Stella Šmehlíková

primabalerína Ginetta, Bonapartova tajná dcera

Leopold Řezníček

francouzský maršál Louis Berthier

Crew and creators

Production info

Original Title

Kurýři císařovi

Czech Title

Kurýři císařovi

English Title

The Emperor's Couriers

Parallel Title

Napoleon / Ve stínu Napoleonově

English Parallel Title

Napoleon / In the Shadow of Napoleon

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Film state

lost film

Genre

drama, historical

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1923

Production Year

1923

Premiere

premiere 9 April 1924
renewed premiere 11/1926

Production

Brunafilm

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Brunafilm (původní 1924 a obnovená 1926)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

65 min

Original length in metres

1 850 meters

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,33

Colour

black & white

Sound

silent

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

without dialogue

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Intertitles languages

Czech

Opening/End credits languages

Czech