Désirée (1954)
Jean Simmons: Désirée Clary
Photos
Quotes
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Count Brahe : You will enjoy life in Sweden, madame. Stockholm is called the Venice of the north.
Desiree Clary : [Shivering] I prefer the Venice of the south!
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Napoleon Bonaparte : I want my family to be well established. Joseph, particularly. The rest must wait until the victorious culmination of my campaign in Italy.
Desiree Clary : And you think you can do with people precisely what you want? That life is as you say it is?
Napoleon Bonaparte : Have you ever heard of a thing called destiny, Désirée?
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Desiree Clary : [shouting over an icy wind as they dock in Stockholm] I hope we get indoors soon, Jean-Baptiste! I've worn all my warmest underthings and I'm still freezing!
[Her husband raises his eyebrows, a bit shocked but obviously amused]
Desiree Clary : Don't worry, no one's going to pull up my skirts and look!
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Napoleon Bonaparte : She leaves here with 700 dresses, 250 hats, 3 million francs a year. Has she been crying?
Desiree Clary : Yes.
Napoleon Bonaparte : Well. She'll cry for several days, and have a facial massage, and go out and order 10 new gowns.
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Desiree Clary : Did you know that one was supposed to call a marshal Milord? Even his wife?
Julie - Désirée's Sister : I never hear you do it.
Desiree Clary : Oh, I do. But only in our bedroom.
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Napoleon Bonaparte : And you do not believe in destiny?
Desiree Clary : No one knows what's ahead.
Napoleon Bonaparte : Strange. Most people say that. I know what's ahead. I'm one of the men who make history.
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Desiree Clary : I can't bear generals. None of you.
Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte : Well, there are generals and generals.
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Desiree Clary : I threw champagne at her dress on purpose. Champagne leaves spots.
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Desiree Clary : They play the Marseillaise every night in the park. It's always the last number.
Napoleon Bonaparte : Today that song is played throughout France. Tomorrow it will be played throughout Europe.
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Desiree Clary : I'm nothing but a memory to him.
Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte : Yes. A memory he'd undoubtedly like to refresh.
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Desiree Clary : In the life of every woman, there is only one great love.
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Napoleon Bonaparte : Tell me, how is that fine fellow, your brother?
Desiree Clary : He's been living here for some time. There is now a Paris branch of Clary & Son.
Napoleon Bonaparte : Oh yes, Clary & Son. I remember you wanted me to go to work for him. Selling ribbons, I believe.
Desiree Clary : Yes, Your Majesty.
Napoleon Bonaparte : Well, we are quite different people now, aren't we. Or are we the same?
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Desiree Clary : Her Majesty sent for me.
Napoleon Bonaparte : Oh. For consolation, I suppose. How very inventive of her to choose you. I always envied Josephine her sense of theater.
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Napoleon Bonaparte : I heard that Your Royal Highness returned to France some time ago. May I ask what caused you to leave your own country?
Desiree Clary : The cold, sire.
Napoleon Bonaparte : So, the cold. Members of visiting royal houses usually request an audience when they visit my capital. Court courtesy.
Desiree Clary : I did not think Your Majesty overly concerned himself with matters of courtesy.
Napoleon Bonaparte : You err, madame. Since you are no longer a citizen, you remain in France because of my courtesy.
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Queen Hedwig : A crown princess does not wander through the streets alone, inspecting the silk stores.
Desiree Clary : And why not? I used to be in the business.
Queen Hedwig : I must insist that you forget what you used to be.
Desiree Clary : I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I forget nothing and nobody.
Queen Hedwig : You will have to in the future. Your behavior is already one burden to the Swedish people. Do not permit your origin to become another.
Desiree Clary : If I may leave now...
Queen Hedwig : No, my daughter, you may not.
Desiree Clary : I am leaving, Your Majesty. I am leaving Sweden.
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Napoleon Bonaparte : You would do well to take me seriously.
Desiree Clary : You forget. I was the first person who ever took you seriously.
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Desiree Clary : I came to tell you that I'm leaving. I'm going home.
Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte : You are home.
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Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte : The royal family has suggested a few tutors.
Desiree Clary : Tutors, Jean? I haven't been able to learn anything since I was 10.
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Napoleon Bonaparte : I wonder what my destiny would have been, had I married you.
Desiree Clary : The same, I think.
Napoleon Bonaparte : Perhaps. But the history of empires often depends on such trifles.
Desiree Clary : So does the history of people.
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Napoleon Bonaparte : Do you remember when we first met?
Desiree Clary : That was the night you told me you knew your destiny.
Napoleon Bonaparte : That was the first night I kissed you.
Desiree Clary : You were thinking about my dowry, General.
Napoleon Bonaparte : No, not entirely. Truly not entirely.
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Napoleon Bonaparte : I made war in order to secure peace. Not for a year, but for a dozen centuries. I dreamed of a United States of Europe. Frenchmen, Italians, Germans, Poles, Russians, and all the others. One law, one coinage, one people. Was that so rash a dream?
Desiree Clary : No. Only the way you dreamed it.
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Napoleon Bonaparte : I can still mobilize 100,000.
Desiree Clary : And how many of them will die? How many more men will lie in their graves because of you? How many more French mothers will hate you? How many more children will grow up cursing your name because they have no fathers?
Napoleon Bonaparte : I have had to shed blood, but only where it was indicated.
Desiree Clary : What indicates it to you now? Your destiny?
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Napoleon Bonaparte : You always enjoyed playing the role of the courageous lady.
Desiree Clary : I am not at all courageous. Just the opposite. But when there's a great deal at stake, I can make the effort.