Eagle in a Cage (1972)

Eagle in a Cage (1972)

„Eagle in a Cage“ is a 1972 historical drama film directed by Fielder Cook, based on the screenplay by Millard Lampell.

Defeated, but far from broken, following his final defeat at Waterloo, French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte arrives at St. Helena, the barren, wind-swept South Atlantic island to which the British and their allies have exiled him in 1815. Guarding Napoleon are troops led by English general Sir Hudson Lowe, the island’s governor. Although Lowe allows Napoleon and his small entourage (his valet, Haitian bodyguard General Gourgaud, chief aide Count Bertrand and Bertrand’s wife, Madame Bertrand ) to move freely around the island, Napoleon bristles at the idea of being Lowe’s prisoner.

Lowe, who despises Napoleon, assigns the emperor’s young physician at St. Helena, Dr. Barry O’Meara, a fellow Irishman, to keep an eye on Napoleon and report any significant bits of conversation he might overhear while in the emperor’s company.

Napoleon flirts with Betsy Balcombe, the wild young daughter of a local British merchant, who offers to steal a map of the island for Napoleon. After bathing nude in the ocean with Madame Bertrand, Napoleon then reminisces with his former mistress, whose son was killed while fighting with Napoleon’s army.

Later, Napoleon cajoles Betsy, whose parents abuse her, into taking him to see Longwood, the bleak cliff top mansion that is to be his permanent home.

Despite being drawn to Napoleon, O’Meara argues with him about his love of war and lust for power. Napoleon insists he made France the greatest country in the world and sacrificed his men only when necessary. Soon after, Napoleon tricks O’Meara into believing he is in his cottage writing and, with Gourgaud, begins his escape from St. Helena. Lowe captures Napoleon on the beach and orders Gourgaud executed for killing one of his soldiers. Lowe then sends Napoleon and his remaining entourage to the damp, rat-infested Longwood, where the emperor’s health continues to decline. Again, O’Meara complains to Lowe about Napoleon’s treatment, and Lowe, who believes that the emperor will soon be sent to England to stand trial for war crimes, agrees to make improvements.

Napoleon, meanwhile, resumes his affair with Mme. Bertrand, who takes pleasure in his powerlessness while lamenting her own failed life. Napoleon also seduces the eager Betsy, advising her to use men to her benefit when necessary.

Later, a British soldier in Napoleon’s employ secretly informs the emperor that the French are rising up in Paris against their occupiers. Soon after, Lord Sissal, an elderly English diplomat, arrives on the island. In private, Sissal offers Napoleon a chance to return to France to quell the uprising, in exchange for declaring war on Prussia. When Napoleon demands the right to invade Austria, too, Sissal balks and threatens to go through with the trial if Napoleon refuses to follow his plan. Desperate for freedom, Napoleon accepts the diplomat’s terms. O’Meara tries to convince Sissal that Napoleon, who has stomach cancer, is not well enough to travel. As Sissal is boarding his shore-bound carriage, Napoleon collapses and falls from his horse. Sissal promises Napoleon that his offer „still stands,“ then allows the ailing emperor to be carried back to Longwood.

An 1971 American historical drama film, directed by Fielder Cook, produced by Millard Lampell and Albert Schwartz, written by Lampell, cinematography by Frano Vodopivec, starring Kenneth Haigh, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, Billie Whitelaw, Moses Gunn, Ferdy Mayne, Lee Montague, Michael Williams, Hugh Armstrong, and Athol Coats. Georgina Hale makes her screen debut. Hale appeared as Alma Mahler in Ken Russell’s 1974 „Mahler“ (1974) and won the 1975 BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles.

This historical fiction was based on the teleplay of the same name, also by Millard Lampell, which aired on the Hallmark Television Playhouse on October 20, 1965, starring Trevor Howard as Napleon and Pamela Franklin as Betsy. Lampell had written an episode of „East Side, West Side“ that was admired by George Schaefer, producer of Hallmark’s Hall of Fame. He commissioned Lampell to write an original script. Howard, Lampell, and Franklin were nominated for Emmies. Lampell won. When he accepted it he said „I think I ought to mention that I was blacklisted.“ This led to the New York Times offering Lampell the chance to write an article about the blacklist. The incident is credited as helping draw mainstream public attention to the existence of the blacklist and contributing to its end.

Lampell wrote the part of the black general specifically for Moses Gunn who had been in his play, „Hard Traveling.“ Lapel said, „There were actually black generals in Napoleon’s army, from Haiti and elsewhere, although not with Napoleon on St. Helena.“

Variety called it „a dramatically fascinating entry for the class market.“

The Los Angeles Times said it was „completely involving.“

Cast:

• Billie Whitelaw – Madame Bertrand
• Ralph Richardson – Sir Hudson Lowe
• John Gielgud – Lord Sissal
• Kenneth Haigh – Napoleon Bonaparte
• Moses Gunn – General Gourgaud
• Ferdy Mayne – Count Bertrand
• Lee Montague – Cipriani
• Georgina Hale – Betty Balcombe
• Michael Williams – Dr. O’Meara
• Hugh Armstrong – English soldier
• Athol Coats – Sentry

„Ein gewisser General Bonaparte“ ist ein historisches Filmdrama von 1972 unter der Regie von Fielder Cook, basierend auf dem Drehbuch von Millard Lampell.

Nach seiner endgültigen Niederlage bei Waterloo kommt der französische Kaiser Napoleon Bonaparte auf St. Helena an, der kargen, windgepeitschten Insel im Südatlantik, auf die ihn die Briten und ihre Verbündeten 1815 verbannt haben. Napoleon wird von Truppen unter der Führung des englischen Generals Sir Hudson Lowe, dem Gouverneur der Insel, bewacht. Obwohl Lowe Napoleon und seinem kleinen Gefolge (seinem Kammerdiener, dem haitianischen Leibwächter General Gourgaud, seinem wichtigsten Adjutanten Graf Bertrand und Bertrands Frau, Madame Bertrand) erlaubt, sich frei auf der Insel zu bewegen, sträubt sich Napoleon gegen die Vorstellung, Lowes Gefangener zu sein.