Les Misérables (1952 film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
For other uses, see Les Misérables (disambiguation).
Les Misérables

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Lewis Milestone
Produced by Fred Kohlmar
Written by Novel
Victor Hugo
Screenplay
Richard Murphy
Starring Michael Rennie
Debra Paget
Robert Newton
Edmund Gwenn
Music by Alex North
Cinematography Joseph LaShelle
Editing by Hugh S. Fowler
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) August 14, 1952
Running time 105 min.
Country United States
Language English

Les Misérables is a 1952 film adaptation of the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. It was directed by Lewis Milestone, and featured Michael Rennie as Jean Valjean, Robert Newton as Javert, Sylvia Sidney as Fantine, Debra Paget as Cosette, Edmund Gwenn as the bishop, Cameron Mitchell as Marius, Elsa Lanchester as Madame Magloire and James Robertson Justice as Robert (Fauchelevent).

[edit] Cast

[edit] Differences from the novel

The film greatly differs from the novel:
(Note: This list takes only the largest differences into account; in smaller details there are even more.)

  • Valjean gets sentenced to ten years (instead of five) and tries to escape only once (instead of four times).
  • Valjean serves his time on an actual galley. At that time, the french prisons, the bagnios were still nicknamed "galleys", since that was their origin, but galleys have not been used since the mid 18th century.
  • On leaving the bishop's house, Valjean kneels on a fallen rose. This rose becomes for him the signal of the bishop's forgiveness (it leads him to putting back some objects he intends to steal from a goldsmith) rather than the candlesticks.
  • Valjean does not lift the cart but merely stops it.
  • Valjean chooses the name of Madeleine by chance. Though it is never said in the book, the "true" reason is clearly Mary of Magdala (Marie Madeleine in French), the repentent sinner.[original research?]
  • Javert's behavior at the Champmathieu trial makes it clear that he knew Champmathieu wasn't Valjean all along and told the mayor about the trial to set it up as a trap. This implies that Javert already understood Valjean well enough to know that he wouldn't stand aside and watch an innocent man being condemned in his place.
  • Cosette sees her mother Fantine before Fantine died.
  • Valjean knocks Javert out before fleeing from the hospital. In the book, he accepts arrest and escapes from the city jail.
  • The Thénardiers, most importantly their daughter Éponine, are completely cut from the storyline.
  • Enjolras was cut from the film, making Marius the only leader of the (unnamed) rebellious group.
  • It is hinted that Valjean might be in love with Cosette.
  • Gavroche's part was much smaller, and his death was cut.[clarification needed]
  • Javert follows Valjean through the sewers, where in the book he stands near the only other exit of the sewer patiently.
  • Javert is only with Valjean when he confronts him before agreeing to let Marius live.
  • Valjean witnesses Javert's suicide.
  • The story ends with Javert's suicide and as a result no evidence is provided that Valjean died and that Marius and Cosette wed.[clarification needed]
  • A couple of new characters were invented for this movie. Valjean's friend Robert, who is the foreman of his factory, plays a rather large role, being the only one who knows about Valjean's past and practically convincing Javert to let Valjean go at the end, but a few minor characters were invented as well, for example René, Valjean's secretary, or Genflou, another inmate from the galleys.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Characters
Film adaptations
Other adaptations
Songs
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_(1952_film)"
Languages