Thanks to the director's energetic and revolutionary direction, Roudenko offered what many critics say represents the most memorable performance given by a child actor in silent cinema in a dramatic role.
As an adult, Roudenko worked as a technician for Thompson and would not talk about his experience as an actor, which seemed forgotten by everyone.
He was born in Nice in 1909 to a family of Russian immigrants. Abandoned by his father, he had a difficult childhood marked by economic deprivation.
After "Napoleon" he appeared in two more silent films, "André Cornélis" and "Mateo Falcone".