I miserabili

I have seen numerous film adaptations of Les Miserables. This 1957 French version (directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois) is the best one I have ever seen. I watched the version that was produced by The Bridgestone Group in 1992 with English audio (ISBN# 1-56371-044-7). It aligns closely with the plot of the novel, and the cinematography is outstanding.

This version of the famous novel of Victor Hugo I found very suitable in general, with good acting and a narration, which give a real idea of the book. As I said several times several films never coincide with their original written versions, but this time the director Jean-Paul Le Chanois made a good effort in having a material as much similar to the book. Jean Gabin, for me the best all-time French actor, plays a good role as Jean Valjean seconded efficiently by Bernard Blier as Javert and several other French and Italian actors/actresses. I am sure that not all should agree with the opinion given here by me, but it depends how you feel about Hugo wrote. Misery is shown not only materially but spiritually as a sign of decaying society.

The worst of the four versions I have seen. Gabin is dull, uninspired--and look at the director, Le Chanois, no more than a journeyman when an artist is required for one of the great classic novels. Bourvil is excellent as the supreme hypocrite Thenardier, while Delorme has some touching moments as the unlucky Fantine. You can pass this one up, watch Fredric March and Charles Laughton instead; Laughton gives another of his superb performances as Javert.

the best version of a book like Les Miserable is an impossible mission. because this is the fate of a great novel. this adaptation has the gift to be correct. and memorable. and impressive. and each of this are more than precious virtues. because it is Les Miserable of Jean Gabin, Bourvil and Bernarb Blivier. because the atmosphere, the music and the respect for novel are admirable. because the spirit of one of the French literature masterpiece is preserved and presented in inspired manner. and this does the film more useful for the readers of the book of Victor Hugo because Jean Gabin gives a magnificent Jean Valjean. not only at the level of image but as wise exploration of the gestures, fundamental change and generosity. and Bourvil is Thenardier more than you imagine. a film who use the lines of text as impeccable clothes. so, not ignore it !

In the middle 1950s two film versions of Hugo's best remembered novels appeared and disappeared very quickly in movie houses. This French version of "Les Miserables" was one. The other was a French/Italian version of "Notre-Dame De Paris/The Hunchback of Notre-Dame". That one starred Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo and Gina Lollabrigida as Esmarelda. Both films were actually quite good, and were the best straight versions of the novels to try to get most of the stories onto the screen. However, both were too long for most audiences, especially this version of Les Miserables. This ran over three hours. As pointed out in the other review that I wrote about the 1935 version of Les Miserables, that film version is the best normal screen length film version. But the performance of Jean Gabin as Jean Valjean in this film is superior to the performance of Fredric March in the same role. I would also note that the performance of Bourvil as Thenardier is the best I've seen (even better than Ian Holm's in the 1978 version). Thenardier is an even slimier villain than Javert is, but Javert's single minded pursuit of Valjean in the novel makes the antics of Thenardier look secondary, and they are usually dismissed in the filmed versions (though not in the musical version). Check out the scene where Thenardier and his goons kidnap Valjean for ransom, and the latter demonstrates how tough he is effectively thwarting the plan. It does not appear in the 1935 version.