May 28, 2023

Somehow or other, Kenneth Haigh just hasn't the wherewithal to carry off this story of Napoleon's exile on St. Helena. What we are left with, despite decent efforts from Sir Ralph Richardson, Sir John Gielgud and Billie Whitelaw, is really as dull as the exiled Emperor's life must have actually been on the island at the time. Only once, could there be described as any action - otherwise it is all a very talky exercise that makes for 100 minutes o… read the rest.

Somehow or other, Kenneth Haigh just hasn't the wherewithal to carry off this story of Napoleon's exile on St. Helena. What we are left with, despite decent efforts from Sir Ralph Richardson, Sir John Gielgud and Billie Whitelaw, is really as dull as the exiled Emperor's life must have actually been on the island at the time. Only once, could there be described as any action - otherwise it is all a very talky exercise that makes for 100 minutes of pretty wearisome stuff. There is some nice photography (of Yugoslavia) to be seen, but I'm struggling to think of anything else to write... Pity he didn't have a television set at the time for this - he might have died of boredom and saved thousands of lives!

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