Désirée
“The life...the women...the conquests of Napoleon!”
Synopsis
In Marseilles, France in 1794, Desiree Clary, a young millinery clerk, becomes infatuated with Napoleon Bonaparte, but winds up wedding General Jean-Baptiste Berandotte, an aid to Napoleon who later joins the forces that bring about the Emperor's downfall. Josephine Beauharnais, a worldly courtesan marries Napoleon and becomes Empress of France, but is then cast aside by her spouse when she proves unable to produce an heir to the throne.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Désirée (1954) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
Type: Trailer • Published 2019-09-03
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Marlon Brando
Napoleon Bonaparte
Jean Simmons
Desiree Clary
Merle Oberon
Empress Josephine
Michael Rennie
Bernadotte
Cameron Mitchell
Joseph Bonaparte
Elizabeth Sellars
Julie
Charlotte Austin
Paulette Bonaparte
Cathleen Nesbitt
Mme. Bonaparte
Evelyn Varden
Marie
Isobel Elsom
Mme. Clary
John Hoyt
Talleyrand
Alan Napier
Despreaux
Leon Alton
Party Guest (uncredited)
Louis Borel
Baron Morner (uncredited)
Richard Deacon
Etienne Clary
Edith Evanson
Queen Hedwig
Bess Flowers
Attendant Holding Baby at Palace Ball
Carolyn Jones
Mme. Tallien
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 16, 1954
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Henry Koster
- Screenplay & Story
- Daniel Taradash, Annemarie Selinko
- Original Score
- Alex North
- Original Title
- Désirée
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Swedish
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Henry Koster
Daniel Taradash, Annemarie Selinko
Alex North
Milton Krasner
William Reynolds
Julian Blaustein
Department Leadership Roster
Henry Koster
Director
Daniel Taradash
Writer
René Hubert
Costume Design
Milton Krasner
Director of Photography
Alex North
Original Music Composer
Julian Blaustein
Producer
William Reynolds
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Désirée.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Désirée.
***Retro***
Abstrusest 2
Movies
Classic Movies Collection
Copy of TMDB public list 8294149 - Classic Movies Collection
Marlon Brando Portfolio - Movies
Curated master portfolio of movies starring Marlon Brando Portfolio - Movies. Updated frequently. Last updated September 26, 2026.
Missing Mine
Similar Titles to Désirée
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
4.9
9.0
7.7
4.1
6.6
7.5
6.6
6.0
6.1
5.5
7.0
6.8
6.8
6.3
6.5
7.5
6.7
6.3
6.6
More Like Désirée
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Désirée
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Désirée about?
In Marseilles, France in 1794, Desiree Clary, a young millinery clerk, becomes infatuated with Napoleon Bonaparte, but winds up wedding General Jean-Baptiste Berandotte, an aid to Napoleon who later joins the forces that bring about the Emperor's downfall. Josephine Beauharnais, a worldly courtesan marries Napoleon and becomes Empress of France, but is then cast aside by her spouse when she proves unable to produce an heir to the throne.
Who directed Désirée?
Désirée was directed by Henry Koster.
Who stars in Désirée?
The principal cast of Désirée includes Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Merle Oberon, Michael Rennie, Cameron Mitchell.
When was Désirée released and how long is it?
Désirée was released in 1954 with a total runtime of 1h 50m.
Who composed the musical score for Désirée?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Désirée was composed by Alex North.
Is Désirée based on a book or true story?
Désirée is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Annemarie Selinko".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Désirée?
Désirée holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).