Die Legion der Verdammten

(Version seen of 3h in its 'theater' version) The movie in itself is a good adaptation of Hugo classic of the classics "Les misérables". Keeping true to the book story, Hossein shows that dark age quite well. It tries some artistic parts, I was not personnally driven by it, but I see that others were so why not. The only criticism I can make is that, by trying to stay as close of the book as possible, it is somehow losing a bit of epic, and a bit of the depiction of human condition of the unfortunates made by Hugo, that was a clear denouncement.

The cast regroups some of the French great actors of that time, with Lino Ventura, Michel Bouquet or Jean Carmet. I was quite surprised to see that Lino Ventura will play Jean Valjean but he puts a very solid performance. Feminine roles are only supporting characters.

A compelling version of the Victor Hugo novel that should be sought out and viewed by fans of other versions and the novel. This theatrical release is not as complete as the longer television version broadcast in 1985, but nonetheless gets you hooked. Hossein is as faithful to the novel as possible. Film features a wonderful and human portrayal by Ventura as Valjean and does not betray the ending of the novel the way American and British versions have.

I have collected about a dozen versions of Les Miserables on film, and this is by far the best. The production is brilliant, the entire atmosphere created is totally faithful to the book, the characters perfect. And then there is the score - overwhelmingly emotional when called for. I wish a copy of Magnes soundtrack was available, I have to rely on the audio I have taken from my DVD which I had created from video. Can't praise this film highly enough. It's leagues above the next best - the Charles Laughton version. I won't even stop to mention some of the terrible American versions that have appeared in recent years. They are in my collection because I can't stop collecting but that is about the only reason! It took me five years to put myself through the Musical version of Les Miserables, but I was pleasantly surprised - it's good. But compared to re-reading the book or watching this film version it is pale........

Lino Ventura and Michel Bouquet are wonderful, some others among the supporting characters too, but Hossein's directing style is so terribly outdated and grandiloquent (and why on earth is it raining so much throughout the movie?). The use of the music is so tasteless, see the barricade scene.

The Robert Hossein's version of Les Miserables is undoubtedly the most faithful adaptation to Victor Hugo's novel. Lino Ventura is great as Jean Valjean as well as Michel Bouquet as Javert and Jean Carmet as Thernardier. All the actors are well characterized and the darkness of the film gives the story the right atmosphere of misery and sadness. The whole story is squeezed into the three hours film, so the events happened quickly, but remaining faithful to the original story. If the film had been two hours longer, it would have been perfect. Other adaptations that I consider good are the 1934 starring Harry Baur, the 1958 starring Jean Gabin and the 2000 version starring Gerard Depardieu.I consider regular the British adaptation starring Richard Jordan and Anthony Perkins. I consider as bad adaptations the 1998 version starring Liam Neeson and the 1935, starring Federich March.