(0 votes, average: 0.00/10)- Country: France
- Genres: Drama, Short
- Release: 1911-02-11
- Director: N/A
- Writers: N/A
- Language: French
- Stars: N/A
- Runtime: min
- Awards: N/A
- AKA: Napoleon in 1814 (France, French Republic) , Napoleon in 1814
- Plot: The opening scene to this realistic war drama is laid at the Lapiere homestead in the little village of Tonnere, France. Pere Lapiere, the surviving son of a war victim and the only support of his mother, is drafted into the army of the French. On January 6, 1814, we witness the sad leave-taking of Pere from his heart-broken mother for the recruiting camp of Napoleon. In the battle of Fere Champenoise, we encounter Pere wounded and unable to accompany his comrades in their retreat before the advancing German forces. Napoleon on his forced marches to aid Generals Mortier and Marmont in the defense of Paris, passes through Tonnere and takes possession of the Lapiere home for a much needed rest. This offers Mme. Lapiere the opportunity she seeks to avenge herself upon the man she believes responsible for the death of her son, one of whose comrades having previously advised her of the fate met by him. Taking a large knife, she is about to attack the sleeping Emperor but fortunately is intercepted by the awakened guard and hastily overpowered. The commotion rouses Napoleon and when he realizes the woman was about to attack him, he orders her liberated and confronting her bids her to step forward and execute the deed she contemplated. The woman's passion roused, her thirst for revenge unsatisfied, she rushes forward with upraised arm, the gleaming steel blade in her hand, to strike the fatal blow, but the majesty of Napoleon, his strength of character, his look of compassion and sympathy, drives conviction to her very soul that she is wrong. A moment of hesitancy follows, the knife falls to the floor, the arm drops limp to her side and she shamefacedly bows and on her bended knees implores his majesty's pardon. At this juncture, Pere, whose wounds do not prove fatal and who has slowly picked his way home, enters the room. He can see his mother only and the two fall into each other's arms entirely oblivious of their surroundings. When Pere realizes that he is in the presence of the Emperor, he salutes and is at once attention, in the parlance of the military. Ordered to step forward, he receives admonishment for having returned home without leave of absence, but Napoleon, viewing with compassion the mother and son, orders Pere Lapiere honorably discharged. Reverting to the interests of his country, which after all encompass the individual welfare of every one of his fellow countrymen, Napoleon dismissed the unfortunate experience of the night of March 30, 1814, as being prompted by the sufferings of mind tormented and perverted by anguish of the soul and draws the curtain upon mother and son happy with one another in the enjoyment of a favorable turn of fate.
- IMDB:tt5224006
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