The lives of numerous people over the course of 20 years in 19th century france, weaved together by the story of an exconvict named jean valjean on the run from an obsessive police inspector, who pursues him for only a minor offense. The american version of the musical, with lyrics by boubil, herbert kretzmer, jeanmarc natel. As the cast sings, we are all les miserables,or in english were just sad. Director was jeanpaul le chanois and star was jean. Les miserables is a 1935 american drama film starring fredric march and charles laughton based upon the 1862 victor hugo novel of the same name. Jan 03, 20 here are my two cures for those suffering from absorption in les mis. Dec 14, 2016 les miserables 1982 french les miserables 1982 french les miserables 1982 french. Les miserables is a hard novel to adapt into a film.
Patrick crean played the role of the convict jean valjean. Les miserables this was the fifth version of victor hugos novel versions by fox film co. In fact, at the recent golden globes, the movie walked away with three top honors. A parolee convicted of stealing a loaf of bread is relentlessly hounded for 20 years by a french police inspector in the early 19th century. Michael rennie and robert newton are superb in their contrasting roles, and the support cast is excellent. Short on detail and lacking in grit, this is a fairly blinkered if wellintentioned version, concentrating on legal injustice and the plight of released convicts. Theres still hope for people who love les mis the new. With harry baur, charles vanel, paul azais, max dearly. I quite liked richard boleslawskis 1935 movie of les miserables starring charles laughton as javert and frederic march as jean valjean. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and tv news.
Directed by lewis milestone and richard boleslawski. This les miserables version is not a musical, it is not a scaled down version, it is not a hollywoodish for lack of a better term version. Les miserables original title not rated 4h 41min drama 27 october 1936 usa the lives of numerous people over the course of 20 years in 19th century france, weaved together by the story of an exconvict named jean valjean on the run from an obsessive police inspector, who pursues him for only a minor offense. Les miserables 1935 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Director tom shankland didnt want his les miserables to be anything like the stagemusical version of victor hugos sweeping historical novel, nor like the 2012 tom hooper featurefilm. This 1935 version of les miserables in widely considered an inspired classic. It aligns closely with the plot of the novel, and the cinematography is outstanding. My friend says the acting was amazing but the musical performance was lacking and averagemediocre. In 1935 hollywood produced its own version of les miserables, featuring two stars of the era, the rather stolid fredric march and the great scenestealer charles laughton as a javert in a performance not notable for its restraint. The memoirs of jean valjean a limited run play performed by the south devon players during septnov. A story of grace, highlighting the religious aspect of the novel. The les miserables schools edition was launched in.
Les miserables this one is french, so its got that extra soupcon of authenticity. But the guy who plays javert is also the guy who played norman bates in psycho, so thats pretty cool. Unfortunately, i dont remember 35 or 98 all that well, just that ive seen them. The 2012 film version features some of the most notable actors in hollywood, led by hugh jackman. I can feel you electrifying ive watched this movie probably 20 times over the years on vhs and now its been several years and i found this i cant thank you enough for posting such a nice clean print of it, ill bookmark and watch again. Tom hoopers les miserables movie 2012 and its movie. Like the 1978 version it focuses heavily on valjean vs. Pradon was not part of the original london cast, but i liked him so much as judas in jesus christ superstar that i couldnt resist this. Les miserables 1935 and 1998 by duke mantee on apr 19, 20 from spoilers. For example, the opening weekend in the uk was million. But you get just enough of the other characters like the students and even the bishop to make them seem real.
Apr 18, 2019 director tom shankland didnt want his les miserables to be anything like the stagemusical version of victor hugos sweeping historical novel, nor like the 2012 tom hooper featurefilm. Dec 30, 2012 fantine sings, i sing one song and then i diebut i come back for the finale. The mark of a great actor is to be able to portray a real s. How many movie versions are there of les miserable answers. The 1935 film is a powerful version, centering on the antagonism between valjean and javert though the filmmakers had to jettison much of victor hugos pages to set up this dynamic. Director and stars of movie changed for many times. From what i recall of 98, i would say it butchered the narrative pretty thoroughly, opting for an outofnowhere confrontation between javert and cosette of all people in the climax. Rent les miserables 1935 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. I have seen 3 versions since, including the excellent french version with gerard depardieu and john malkovich, but none has the same sheer storytelling power of the 1952 version.
So long as there exists in this world that we call civilized, a system whereby men and women, even after they have paid the penalty of the law and expiated their offenses in full, are hounded and persecuted wherever they gothis. Screen legends fredric march and charles laughton star in this beloved classic based on victor hugos novel as an exconvict and the police inspector who relentlessly pursues him. We understand that les miserables has been interpreted for the silver screen and television ten times including the 1934 french film version considered by many as one of the triumphs of french filmmaking. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 48 hours to finish once started. Les miserables is an uplifting, heartbreaking, sentimental 1,500page assault on. Anne hathaway played this role in the 2012 version of les miserable, which has been made into a movie many times before and was originally written as. Seems like the movie is not as popular in france as it is worldwide. It was also the first les miserables movie made so many change in the script of original novel. After first films success, works for a new les miserables movie is continued for nearly 20 years. Les miserables 1978 tv movie yup, its a madefortv movie. This was the last film for twentieth century pictures before it merged with fox film corporation to form 20th century fox.
Les miserables tv miniseries, 2019, starring dominic west, david oyelowo and lily collins. Les miserables on dvd 024543425793 from 20th century fox. Jan 16, 20 les miserables the film version the 2012 film version features some of the most notable actors in hollywood, led by hugh jackman. Les miserables cinema classics collection 1935 1952. I have seen numerous film adaptations of les miserables.
Les miserables 1935 probably the best known of the cinematic adaptations, with fredric march as valjean and charles laughton as javert, this is nonetheless a somewhat sanitised and flawed version. There are over 20 filmed versions, including filmed versions of the broadway. Jean valjean stole the candlesticks in victor hugos les miserables. The main flaw of this movie lies in its heavyhanded omission of key sections of the books plot and several of its important characters as well. March and laughton both turn in exceptionally fine performances in what has been long considered the best adaptation of victor hugos 0 page novel, which by its nature must be highly abridged to appear on film. The 1935 production starring iconic actors fredric march as jean valjean and charles laughton who played javert. Dec 04, 2017 as for les miserables, ive seen several versions, the more recent non musical version with liam neeson with geoffrey rush as javert, who does very well in that role, but back in the 70sif memory serves there was a tv production of it with richard jordan as valjean and anthony perkins as a very excellent javert. Theres still hope for people who love les mis the new yorker.
Bishop bienvenue sir cedric hardwicke makes a big deposit in the karma bank, telling the cops that the plates valjean fredric march stole were in fact a gift, in the 1935 fox production of victor hugos les miserables. Those who did not like the acting probably would not like any classic era picture. And thats where, for me, it fell so woefully short. Les miserables of all the film versions, this is probably the oldest one youll find. That moment right near the end, when hes saying javert, i know youre there i can feel you electrifying ive watched this movie probably 20 times over the years on vhs and now its been several years and i found this i cant thank you enough for posting such a nice clean print of it, ill bookmark and watch again. Note that les miserables film, 1995, directed by claude lelouch and les miserables film, 2019, directed by ladj ly are not adaptations, although their titles being the same as the novel is not a coincidence. After the opening credits, the film includes the following quote from victor hugo.
With fredric march, charles laughton, cedric hardwicke, rochelle hudson. Its available to watch on amazons streaming service but apparently out of print on dvd. The 1935 fredrick march, charles laughton version is the quintessential les miserables and quite simply the best ever made. This was the first version of les miserables that i saw. Never heard of charles laughton likely never heard of woodrow wilson, either. Les miserables 1935 approved 1h 48min drama, history, romance 20 april 1935 usa in early 19th century france an exconvict who failed to report to parole is relentlessly pursued over a 20 year period by an obsessive policeman. This is by far the best version of les miserables ever made in my opinion and the critics. Nobody sings master of the house in the new french film les miserables. Les miserables is an historical drama movie made in 1934, directed by richard boleslawski and starring frederic march and charles laughton. It is a shame that version is seldom shown on tv but it is a master piece. Les miserables 1982 french les miserables 1982 french les miserables 1982 french. From what i recall of 98, i would say it butchered the narrative pretty thoroughly, opting for an outofnowhere confrontation between. This 1957 french version directed by jeanpaul le chanois is the best one i have ever seen.
In the opening credits, this film is introduced as victor hugos les misrables. One of my favourite musical films is the 1956 the king and i, with the late yul brynner and late deborah kerr in the lead roles. The grumpiness of a few critics, including this one, wont stop tom hoopers screen version of the 1985 west end musical from cleaning up at the box office and earning oscar. Based on an incident from the novel with leif erickson as jean valjean. Do not be put off by the fact that it is a black and white movie, this only adds to the atmosphere. While in 1952 director lewis milestone all quiet on the western front. Les miserables 1935 still the best version general. He shifts the setting from france in the first half of the 19th century to france during the first half of the 20th century. Les miserables 1935 this acclaimed version of the classic victor hugo tale follows the life of jean valjean fredric march, a former convict who was imprisoned for stealing bread for his sister. Short on detail and lacking in grit, this is a fairly blinkered if wellintentioned version, concentrating on legal injustice and the plight of.
Based mainly on the book, with some scenes included that werent well known. We are all les miserables,but the musics not half bad. Les miserables 1935 cast and crew this acclaimed version of the classic victor hugo tale follows the life of jean valjean fredric march, a former convict who was imprisoned for stealing bread. Rent les miserables 1935 starring fredric march and charles laughton on dvd and bluray. Les miserables is the third longest running show in broadway history after phantom of the opera and cats. As for les miserables, ive seen several versions, the more recent non musical version with liam neeson with geoffrey rush as javert, who does very well in that role, but back in the 70sif memory serves there was a tv production of it with richard jordan as valjean and anthony perkins as a very excellent javert. Staring rhys williams, michael rennie, florence bates and debra paget. Now, id say perkins gave laughton a good run for the money as. In early 19th century france an exconvict who failed to report to parole is relentlessly pursued over a 20 year period by an obsessive policeman. Here are my two cures for those suffering from absorption in les mis. It is a reference standard of the novel that will leave a permanent impression in your heart and mind. Based on the popular novel of the same name by victor hugo, first published in 1862, the movie received two oscar nominations, including best picture. This the best version of the movie i have ever seen and fredric march and charles laughton are dynamite together.