YouHeart I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Martin Bradley This frivolous epic may be novelettish at best but it is also sumptuous and highly entertaining and with Garbo and Boyer in the leads it couldn't be anything less. He's Napoleon, (and Oscar-nominated for his performance) and she's a Polish countess called Marie Walewska, (the film's alternative title), with a husband over twice her age, (the great Henry Stephenson). Initially she just admires Napoleon but then falls in love with him, leaving her husband and risking scandal and the movie works as a likeable if trite romance greatly helped, of course, by the chemistry between its stars, both of whom are outstanding. A splendid supporting cast and the kind of art direction that only money can buy also go to making this something of a treat.

ksf-2 The 'plot summary' for this film really sums up the storyline, but there are so many other nuances going on here. CONQUEST co-stars the amazing Garbo as the MUCH younger wife of a Count ( Henry Stephenson ) and Charles Boyer. What other french-man would they have play Napoleon? He meets the countess on his way up, and cajoles her into being the mistress, which of course gives grounds for the breakup of her marriage. The awesome Ouspenskaya is in here as the batty old aunt Pelagia. Some comedy, as the crazy old aunt plays cards with Napoleon but refuses to belive an emporer could displace the king, and she insults him over and over. Ouspenskaya didn't make that many films, but in so many roles, she played the serious, heavy handed old woman with a past. The story has the Countess reluctantly "spending time" with Napoleon, purely "for the good of the country", but who knows how much of that is accurate. She did leave memoirs for her family, and some information can be found on Wikidepia . The trivia section says that this film was a HUGE money-loser for MGM, but maybe that was due to the length of the film, almost two hours. or maybe the subject matter was distaste-ful for a public that had just accepted the film production code. Napoleon's mom played by the fun Dame May Whitty. Apparently, a good chunk of this story actually occurred. For a period piece, it's not so bad. Some parts are a bit silly, but it does tell a story. Garbo only made two more after this. Near the end of her film career. Of course, she WAS nominated for the next one... Ninotchka. For those interested in when and where "Countess Marie" died, please visit the wikipedia link.

Nazi_Fighter_David "Conquest" was an attempt by all departments to secure a hit… Garbo's co-star was the romantic idol of the day, Charles Boyer; the subject was to have an epic sweep – Napoleon's retreat from his disastrous Russian campaign, through Poland and Marie Walewska, on his inevitable way to Elba… Garbo's role – as his suffering, cast-off mistress, victim of high politics – was a chance to touch the heartstrings… It all failed, for reasons clearly laid out early on in the story when Marie tells an admonitory Emperor: 'Sire. You stand in the sun.' Garbo's fans saw no point in their idol standing in the shadows… "Conquest" remains a measured, dignified, and often rather dull historical fiction, lightened by excellent performances and production

jacksflicks Some say Queen Christina was Garbo's best role. Well, she's better in this than she was in Queen Christina. So, one might assert that this is her greatest role.So, why the lousy 6.8 rating? Today's fatuous audiences deduct for things like black-and-white, "old" actors and actresses (yes, there are actors and there are actresses), technical acting, ad nauseum.Conquest admittedly has its faults, in particular the horrendous editing - some kind of studio chop job - and I'd like to see the un-cut version. The pacing is also way uneven.Against that, however, is a part for Garbo that well suits her swooning delivery and one for Charles Boyer, as Napoleon, that well suits his tortured, manipulative cad persona. There's also a nice small part here for Henry Stephenson as Garbo's Countess Walenska's aged husband.Here's a solid story about Napoleon's other-other woman, the true love of his life.