THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES

UK, 2001, 107 minutes, Colour.
Ian Holm, Iben Hjejle, Tim Mc Inerney, Tom Watson, Nigel Terry, Hugh Bonneville, Murray Melvin, Eddie Marsan.
Directed by Alan Taylor.

Stand-ins and Doubles have contributed to many a tale of action from The Man in the Iron Mask to The Prisoner of Zenda to Churchill in The Eagle Has Landed or I Was Monty's Double. It is part of the always enjoyable speculation, 'What if...?. And, if the 'what if...?' concerns an alternate to what the history books say, it is even more interesting. What if the pauper became the prince and the prince the pauper? What if Napoleon did not only escape from Elba but also from St Helena and the man who died in exile on the island was his double? That is the plot of The Emperor's New Clothes. The double actually has the better experience. From being a servant, he has a few months as emperor being waited on hand and foot. Poor Napoleon himself, after serving on a ship and scrubbing the decks, being taken into Belgium and given the opportunity of a stopover at Waterloo where he has to listen to commentary that he disagrees with and to see the postcards and the commercialisation, finds that he has to keep his identity secret under pain of being put away. He is taken to an asylum where he has the unnerving experience of seeing a multitude of inmates who, by dress and action, think that they are Napoleon. What he does find, however, is that there is far more to life than being the military genius and conqueror of the age. Being human, loving a family are far more important.

1. The popularity of stories about Napoleon? French perspective? British perspective? The figure of Napoleon, attempts at world-conquering, the little man, the little corporal? His defeats, escapes, his not committing suicide but living on? The irony of many mad people thinking they are Napoleon? The nature of Napoleon complexes?

2. The whimsy of the title, the tone of the film, the jokes, the imagination of an alternative end of Napoleon's life?

3. The European locations, Italy, standing in for St Helena, France, Malta? The re-creation of the 19th century in its detail, the island of St Helena, the French and Belgian countryside, Paris, the homes, costumes and décor? The musical score and its jolly tone, its solemn tones?

4. The structure of the film: the beginning of the lantern slide, Gerard and the pictures, Napoleon explaining how to put the lens on, the flashbacks and his telling the "true" story? The happy ending?

5. Napoleon on St Helena, standing on the cliff, wanting punctuality, his bath, dictating his memoirs, his arrogant attitude towards the British staff, warning them to go back beyond the fence, their listening in and reporting his memoirs? The French staff, their waiting on him, honouring him? The plan for his leaving the island, the meeting with Eugene in the cave, his dismissal of him as not looking like him, his rowing to the boat? The parody of Eugene taking Napoleon's place, trying to learn his walk, his being trained, his answering the British with Napoleonic arrogance, his eating too much, his dictating his racy memoirs, especially about Poland (and their later being quoted in the bookshop to Napoleon)? His collapse and death?

6. Eugene, his comment about scrubbing the decks, wanting to have the Napoleonic experience after working for Napoleon for eighteen years, "My turn", not revealing the truth? His death, the British meeting with the French, the punishments and humiliation if the truth went out, their decision to conceal the impostor?

7. Napoleon himself and his scrubbing the decks, his being humiliated, on his knees, his imperious manner, restraining himself, the friendly sailor and looking at the dawn, his taking the cigars and smoking them? Bypassing France and the plan going awry? Going to Antwerp, going along the canal, trying the horse, going on the barge to Brussels? Getting the coach, the stop at Waterloo, the souvenirs, the people talking about Napoleon, the inn, his going to sleep, the bed with the sign that the emperor Napoleon had slept there? The young woman and her kindliness, the food? His continuing in the night mail, his being apprehended by the soldiers, kept under guard, taken out in the fields, the code, his being recognised and guided to walk into France?

8. Arrival in Paris, meeting with Gerard, his dead contact? His meeting with Pumpkin and the doctor? His being allowed to stay, his insulting Pumpkin, his collapse, saying he was Napoleon? His staying, his friendliness with the people, his hopes of rousing them and a new coming? His strategy for the sales, the exhilaration of selling all the fruit, the collage of people eating the watermelons? Pumpkin and her buying the bed, wanting the piano? Her taking in of Gerard, Napoleon's friendship with him? Napoleon and the love of Pumpkin, the jealousy of Dr Lambert? His waiting for news from St Helena? Going to the palace, making the guards stand at attention, trying to make contact with the head of the garrison? The contrast with his domestic life, his becoming domesticated?

9. The news of Napoleon's death, the people clamouring for the paper, his anger, reaction, Pumpkin thinking he was mad when he appeared in uniform, the doctor and his suspicions, searching his room, finding the portrait of his son, taking him to the mental asylum with all the inmates thinking they were Napoleon?

10. Pumpkin, charming, ordinary, the fifteen years of marriage yet barely seeing her husband because of his loyalty to Napoleon and going to the wars? Taking in Gerard? The attentions of Dr Lambert and her not realising that he was in love with her? Her possessions being taken, Napoleon selling all the fruit and her success? Buying the lavish bed? The domestic scenes, chasing the chickens_? Her fear for Napoleon's sanity, saying to him that he was Napoleon, the happy ending?

11. Dr Lambert, his attention, devotion, suspicions of Napoleon's identity, taking the portrait of Napoleon's son, not revealing the truth to Pumpkin when his love was rejected, his return, bringing the psychiatrist, taking Napoleon to the asylum?

12. The French staff on St Helena, their manner and style? The loyal soldiers throughout France ready for Napoleon's return?

13. The French in Paris, in the neighbourhood, selling the fruit? Sick of war, happy for peace? Not really wanting the emperor to return?

14. Pumpkin's comment about Napoleon causing so many widows and orphans in France? His learning to be human, getting a wife and son, his memories of his own son, his becoming a new man? The implausibility of the gift of earrings to Pumpkin?

15. Films like this and their imaginative reinterpretation of history, what if...?