Abel Gance writes, directs and stars in this epic silent French drama about Napoleon Bonaparte's early career. The film follows the young Napoleon (Albert Dieudonné/Vladimir Roudenko) as he attends the elite military school Brienne College, joins the French Army, witnesses the French Revolution in 1792 and takes part in the First Italian Campaign, during which time he becomes increasingly influential in French politics and meets his future wife Joséphine (Gina Manès).