Conquest (1937)
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- Approved
- 1h 53min
- Drama, History
- 22 Oct 1937 (USA)
- Movie
A Polish countess becomes Napoleon Bonaparte's mistress at the urging of Polish leaders who feel she could influence him to make Poland independent.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Greta Garbo | ... |
Countess Marie Walewska
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| Charles Boyer | ... |
Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte
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| Reginald Owen | ... |
Tallyrand
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| Alan Marshal | ... |
Capt. d'Ornano
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| Henry Stephenson | ... |
Count Anastas Walewski
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| Leif Erickson | ... |
Paul Lachinski
(as Leif Erikson)
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| May Whitty | ... |
Laetitia Bonaparte
(as Dame May Whitty)
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| Maria Ouspenskaya | ... |
Countess Pelagia Walewska
(as Marie Ouspenskaya)
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| C. Henry Gordon | ... |
Prince Poniatowski
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| Claude Gillingwater | ... |
Stephan (Marie's servant)
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| Vladimir Sokoloff | ... |
Dying soldier
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| George Houston | ... |
Grand Marshal George Duroc
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Alex Akimoff | ... |
Singer (uncredited)
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| Stanley Andrews | ... |
Prince Mirska (uncredited)
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| Oscar Apfel | ... |
Count Potocka (uncredited)
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| Scotty Beckett | ... |
Alexandre Walewska (uncredited)
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Arthur Belasco | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Joseph E. Bernard | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Betty Blythe | ... |
Princess Mirska (uncredited)
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| Sidney Bracey | ... |
Polish Servant (uncredited)
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| Ed Brady | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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| Henry Brandon | ... |
Staff Officer (uncredited)
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Horace G. Brown | ... |
Nobleman (uncredited)
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Raymond Butler | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Yakima Canutt | ... |
Cossack (uncredited)
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Aileen Carlyle | ... |
Servant (uncredited)
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| Lane Chandler | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Albert Conti | ... |
Count Wallenstein (uncredited)
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| Harry Cording | ... |
Cossack (uncredited)
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| D'Arcy Corrigan | ... |
Priest (uncredited)
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George Cowl | ... |
Count Augustus Walewska (uncredited)
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| Guy D'Ennery | ... |
Prussian Servant (uncredited)
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| George Davis | ... |
Grenadier (uncredited)
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Carlos De Valdez | ... |
Turkish Ambassador (uncredited)
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| Kay Deslys | ... |
Polish Servant (uncredited)
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Dr. Farid | ... |
Persian Ambassador (uncredited)
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| Jean Fenwick | ... |
Maria Louisa (uncredited)
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| Paul Fix | ... |
Dump Soldier (uncredited)
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Eddie Foster | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Christian J. Frank | ... |
French Officer (uncredited)
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Rosina Galli | ... |
Bianca - Servant (uncredited)
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Jack George | ... |
Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
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| George Givot | ... |
Constant (uncredited)
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| Grace Goodall | ... |
Aristocrat at Ball (uncredited)
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| Robert Graves | ... |
Major Domo (uncredited)
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Ben Hall | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Ralf Harolde | ... |
Lejeune (uncredited)
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| Winifred Harris | ... |
Countess Augustus Walewska (uncredited)
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| Lew Harvey | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Tom Herbert | ... |
Servant (uncredited)
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Ramsay Hill | ... |
Bertrand (uncredited)
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Shep Houghton | ... |
Palace Guard (uncredited)
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| Olaf Hytten | ... |
Conspirator (uncredited)
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| Mitchell Ingraham | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Noble Johnson | ... |
Roustan (uncredited)
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Pasha Khan | ... |
Persian Interpreter (uncredited)
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| Henry Kolker | ... |
Sen. Wybitcki (uncredited)
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Adia Kuznetzoff | ... |
Cossack Lt. Vladek (uncredited)
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| Frank Lackteen | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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| Ethan Laidlaw | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Ivan Lebedeff | ... |
Cossack Captain (uncredited)
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| Mitchell Lewis | ... |
Beppo (uncredited)
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| Leota Lorraine | ... |
Ball Guest (uncredited)
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| Wilfred Lucas | ... |
Major Domo (uncredited)
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| Fred Malatesta | ... |
Waiter (uncredited)
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James A. Marcus | ... |
Polish Servant (uncredited)
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| Alphonse Martell | ... |
French Officer (uncredited)
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Francisco Marán | ... |
French Officer (uncredited)
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| Francis McDonald | ... |
Cossack (uncredited)
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| Frank McGlynn Jr. | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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| Lois Meredith | ... |
Countess Potocka (uncredited)
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| Charles Middleton | ... |
Sergeant at Elba (uncredited)
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Art Miles | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Sue Moore | ... |
Servant (uncredited)
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| Louis Natheaux | ... |
Polish Officer (uncredited)
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| Dennis O'Keefe | ... |
Jan Walewska (uncredited)
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Paul Parry | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Edward Peil Sr. | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Lee Phelps | ... |
Servant (uncredited)
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Norman Phillips Jr. | ... |
Polish Servant (uncredited)
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| John Picorri | ... |
Frazzini (uncredited)
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Lee Prather | ... |
Count Jeromanowski (uncredited)
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| Bodil Rosing | ... |
Anna - Servant (uncredited)
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| Loretta Russell | ... |
Ball Guest (uncredited)
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| Harry Semels | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Philip Sleeman | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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George Sorel | ... |
Grenadier (uncredited)
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| Larry Steers | ... |
Aristocrat at Ball (uncredited)
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Count Stefenelli | ... |
Prince Lumineska (uncredited)
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| Paul Sutton | ... |
Cossack (uncredited)
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| Ken Terrell | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Cyril Thornton | ... |
Napoleon's Secretary (uncredited)
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Laura Treadwell | ... |
Dowager (uncredited)
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Jacques Vanaire | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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| Roland Varno | ... |
Staos (uncredited)
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| Dorothy Vaughan | ... |
Innkeeper (uncredited)
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| Robert Warwick | ... |
Capt. Laroux (uncredited)
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Eric Wilton | ... |
Cambronne (uncredited)
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| Ian Wolfe | ... |
Prince Metternich (uncredited)
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| George Zucco | ... |
Sen. Malachowski (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Clarence Brown | ||
| Gustav Machatý | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Waclaw Gasiorowski | ... | (novel "Pani Walewska") |
| Zoe Akins | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| S.N. Behrman | ... | () |
| Samuel Hoffenstein | ... | () |
| Talbot Jennings | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| Helen Jerome | ... | (dramatization) |
| Salka Viertel | ... | () |
| Carey Wilson | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Bernard H. Hyman | ... | producer |
Music by
| Herbert Stothart | ||
Cinematography by
| Karl Freund | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| Tom Held | ||
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
| William A. Horning | ||
Costume Design by
| Adrian | ... | (gowns) |
Makeup Department
| Jack Dawn | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording director |
Stunts
| Ken Terrell | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| William Grimes | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Alex Akimoff | ... | instructor: Polish lyrics for chorus (uncredited) |
| Leo Arnaud | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| George Bassman | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Murray Cutter | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Paul Marquardt | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Leonid Raab | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Sergei Arabeloff | ... | dance double: Mr. Boyer (uncredited) |
| J.J. Cohn | ... | business manager (uncredited) |
| Wilma Roelof | ... | dance double: Miss Garbo (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1937) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1938) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1938) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1938) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1938) (France) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1938) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Central Motion Picture Exchange (1947) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
- Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Epoca (Argentina) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- MGM Home Entertainment (VHS package design)
- Turner Entertainment (VHS package design)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
After a brief informal meeting two months earlier when they were impressed with each other, Countess Marie Walewska formally meets Napoleon Bonaparte at a ball in Warsaw. When Napoleon notes that her husband is three times her age, and as he is taken with her charms, he unsuccessfully tries to seduce her. She ignores his frequent letters and flowers until a few grim Polish leaders led by Senator Malachowski urge her to give into his desires as a personal sacrifice in order to save Poland. She goes to him despite the humiliation of her husband, who leaves for Rome to annul their marriage. They are extremely happy for a while; Napoleon divorces childless Empress Josephine and Marie eventually becomes pregnant. She is about to tell Napoleon about her baby when he tells her he decided to marry Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria. He explains that it will be a political marriage to insure his future son could rule securely with Hapsburg blood in him. It will not affect their relationship, he says, but Marie Walewska leaves to have her baby alone without telling Napoleon she is expecting his child.
Written by Arthur Hausner |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Love Story of Marie Walewska See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $2,732,000 (estimated) |
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $1,411,000 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | This film lost more money for MGM than any other of its films during the period from 1920 to 1949. See more » |
| Goofs | Though false, it is widely believed that Napoleon started out as an enlisted man. He went to the French military academy and graduated a second lieutenant of artillery. At the Battle of Lodi, he performed the duties of a corporal despite being the French army commander and so earned the nickname 'the little corporal'. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Romance of Celluloid (1937). See more » |
| Soundtracks | 1812 Overture See more » |
| Quotes |
Countess Pelagia Walewska:
Who are you? Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte: I am Napoleon! Countess Pelagia Walewska: Napoleon? Napoleon who? Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte: Hmm? Bonaparte! Countess Pelagia Walewska: Napoleon Bonaparte? What kind of name is that? What nationality are you? Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte: Corsican by birth. French by adoption. Emperor by achievement. Countess Pelagia Walewska: So, you are an Emperor, are you? What are you Emperor of? Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte: Emperor of France, madame. Countess Pelagia Walewska: Hee, hee, hee. So you are Emperor of France. And my very good friend, His Majesty, King Louis Sixteenth abdicated in your honor, I suppose? Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte: Well, he didn't know it at the time but in a sense he did, madame. Countess Pelagia Walewska: This house is getting to be a lunatic asylum. See more » |