Les Misérables (1934 film): Difference between revisions
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| released = [[3 February]] [[1934]] |
| released = [[3 February]] [[1934]] |
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| runtime = 305 min |
| runtime = 305 min (1934 release) |
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279 min (2007 DVD) |
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| country = {{flagicon|France}} [[France]] |
| country = {{flagicon|France}} [[France]] |
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| language = [[French language|French]] |
| language = [[French language|French]] |
Revision as of 08:26, 8 July 2007
Les Misérables | |
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Directed by | Raymond Bernard |
Written by | Raymond Bernard |
Produced by | Unknown, possibly Raymond Bernard |
Starring | Harry Baur Charles Vanel |
Music by | Arthur Honegger |
Release date | 3 February 1934 |
Running time | 305 min (1934 release) 279 min (2007 DVD) |
Country | France |
Language | French |
Les Misérables is a 1934 Drama film based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. written and directed by Raymond Bernard and starred Harry Baur as Jean Valjean and Charles Vanel as Javert. The score was written by Arthur Honegger. It is an epic film which runs nearly five hours. It is considered by many to be one of the most underrated films of all time. The film is also considered by the few fans of the novel who have seen the film (the film is rarely seen in its full version outside of France) to be the greatest ever adaptation of the novel.
Plot Summary
Jean Valjean is an ex-convict struggling to redeem himself, but his attempts are continually ruined by the intrusion of Javert into his life. Javert is a cruel, ruthless police inspector who has dedicated his life to pursuing Valjean, whose only crime was stealing a loaf of bread, and later, breaking parole.
The film, like the novel, features numerous other characters and plots, such as Fantine, a woman forced into prostitution to help pay two cruel innkeepers, the Thenardier husband and wife, who are looking after her daughter, Cosette, the story of the revolutionaries, including Marius a young man whom falls in love later on in the film with the now-adult Cosette.
Critical reaction
The film has been referred to as "the most complete and well rounded adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel".
Differences from the novel
The film is, for the most part, extremley faithful to the original novel, however, there are some differences:
Jean Valjean has served only fifteen years, in the book he served nineteen.
Javert is presented as considerably less sympathetic than in the book, largely portraying him as the pinnacle of the cruelty in 19th century France.
DVD Release
The Criterion Collection has announced that Les Misérables will be released on under the Eclipse label, along with Bernard's Wooden Crosses. The two films are scheduled for a July release.[1]
References
- ^ "Eclipse from the Criterion Collection" (HTML). Series 4: Raymond Bernard. The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2007-05-23.