Napoleon: A Screenplay

by Stanley Kubrick

The screenplay for Kubrick's never-produced film about the life of the French emperor.

155 pages, Unbound

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Stanley Kubrick was an influential American filmmaker, screenwriter and producer. He directed a number of highly acclaimed and sometimes controversial films. Kubrick was noted for the scrupulous care with which he chose his subjects, his slow method of working, the variety of genres he worked in, his technical perfectionism, and his reclusiveness about his films and personal life.

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Kubrick

Reviews

[Bram Macgregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a real shame this script was never made because it’s good,in fact it’s really good.

I like what Kubrick spawned from this (Barry Lyndon) and I’m glad it was made but I just have to wonder what it would’ve been like to see a Jack Nicholson led Napoleon film. I would’ve loved it. Supposedly Stephen Spielberg is making an HBO series based on this script and that sounds good but I don’t know if he could get this right. I’m not a big fan of Spielberg he’s made some mediocre movies and some flat out bad ones. In the words of Peter Benchley, “ Stephen is a great second assistant Director, he’s great at action scenes but the dialogue and slow scenes are not compelling.” That’s not a direct quote (I couldn’t find what he originally said) but that’s what he called Spielberg and I really agree with that. So Napoleon could be great with action scenes but poor with dialogue and slow scenes and there’s a lot of those in Kubrick’s 200+ page script.

5/5.

[Churchill Osimbo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stanley Kubrick was a great filmmaker but a competent writer at best. That's why he chose to work with writing partners or give someone else the job entirely. This screenplay, his dream project, Napoleon, is a tantalizing read. Peaked my interest on Bonaparte, his campaigns and his legacy. It gets personal at times, towards the end its all tactical with animated maps planned to be shown on screen, but without that luxury on page, it can be laborious to get through with simple text.

[Isaac Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a tease! I haven't read a screenplay in a while, but when I saw this one was available, I had to read it.

to me, many scenes echoed the feelings that Barry Lyndon gave me. (granted, it's been a long time since I've watched). what Kubrick is know for is harder to shine through in a screenplay, but it comes alive with some imagination.

the production notes give even more color to the film and Kubrick's thoughts. I wonder if the hbo miniseries will ever come to fruition.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. I could picture everything. The middle has the strongest content but I felt like the final section starting with Elba Island were really lacking and did not seem to fit with everything leading up. But the ending on St. Helena and the scene with the mother were excellent. Perhaps Stanley would have tightened the storytelling a bit if this was ever produced into a film. It definitely paints a picture of one of history’s most famous rulers.

[S D · Rating 4 out of 5]

…peace of mind can eventually be a substitute for happiness

Great script. Love to see its adapted. Maybe Mike Flanagan of Doctor Sleep fame should get a shot at this?

[Hogfather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley Kubrick’s Napoleon is a masterpiece of unmade films. This screenplay provides an enthralling look into the life of the French emperor and Kubrick’s vision of it.

[Jim Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did the story get all the facts right? That I don't know. I know this was Kubrick's dream project. I know that passion is documented by how much he researched on the subject (reportedly read 500 books) and the interviews of people describing that period of preparation. We will never see it but we want to say it truly is the greatest film never made.

I think Barry Lyndon has the closest visual reference to what it could have looked like... It's just missing the massive scope and grandeur of a figure like Napoleon. Or the
massive battles played out by real people in a time without CGI. One could only dream.

There are some conversation scenes that seemed to go on without much happening in the scene but probably it was a moment for actors to do what they want or maybe a place to breath before the rush of scenes that follow.

Spielberg plans for a mini-series based on this script that will required some expansion on the story. Would a few hours more work better than a single 3+ hr epic? I don't know.

[Emanuela Rudnicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Napoleon provides the reader with full range of sensation, from bucolic amusement (excellent scene with Madame Trillaud and Josephine) to thrill that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's well-constructed and despite I found it rather predictable, it's a real masterpiece. Utterly flawless, action-packed, full of spectacular battle sequences, Napoleon is definitely worth reading, you would enjoy it. It pulled me in for 5 hours, if Kubrick made it, it would be legendary.

[Jaybird Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's easy to "see" the movie while reading this script, but if the film had been made, cinematic history would have several striking images of the emperor and the period ...and they would be modern cinematic history. We're poorer without them.