Les Misérables

Robert Hossein offered the public a great version of Victor Hugo's novel. I read the book many times and I only regret that the movie (and even the TV version more complete) has to cut some of the action, or the film would have to be at least 6 hours long.

The actors are all well chosen. from the always perfect Michel Bouquet to Jean Carmet and Candice Patou, very moving, and Christine Jean, very beautiful. But most of all there is Lino Ventura. He is Jean Valjean, he doesn't only play the part. I guess in his real life, he was a kind of Valjean himself, having a difficult life in his youth. This movie has been made 20 years ago and it's now a classic. No one could tell it's already such an old movie, the message is still the same since Victor Hugo's time. The story is out of time and this movie version is too.

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Bouquet are wonderful, some others among the supporting characters too, but Hossein's directing style is so terribly outdated and grandiloquent (and why on earth is it raining so much throughout the movie?).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.

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........

(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.

Generally, while none really(apart from the truly outstanding 1934 film, not just the best version but one of the best films of the 30s) are as good as the book Les Miserables is well served, with only the 1998(actually started off really well but the second half really lets things down) and 1952 versions left wanting. This Les Miserables is one of the best versions, nothing is particularly wrong here actually but for personal tastes Enjolras could have been better developed and while entrancingly beautiful Christine Jean was a little too bland and cold for Cosette. It is one of the most faithful adaptations, the darkness and emotions in the story are intact as is the ever-resonating message. And this is not just in the details, which are there and recognisably and developed well, but also in spirit. Of scenes that are done particularly well, the standouts would have to be are the cleverly shot and affecting barricade scenes that are second only to the 1934 film in excitement and the final scene which you cannot fail to be moved by. The film is incredibly well made, with very authentic costumes and sets(with the sole exception of Marius' hair), as well as atmospherically scored and beautifully directed. The script is intelligent and brusque, very like Victor Hugo's own writing itself, and it takes its time to develop its characters in a tense but tragic way. Valjean and Javert are still the most interesting characters but plus points also have to go to one of the best depictions of the Thernadiers of any Les Miserables adaptation and also the genuinely moving one of Eponine, one of the characters that holds the story together. The acting is very good, especially from the noble and charismatic Valjean of Lino Ventura, a menacing, strong-principled but conflicted Javert of Michel Bouquet, Candice Patou as an Eponine that we feel pity for and the oily but never too sadistic or too buffoonish Thernadier of Jean Carmet. One shouldn't forget Evelyne Bouix's moving Fantine and Françoise Seigner that is pretty but every bit as oily as Mrs Thernadier, and Frank David is not creepy or bland and doesn't come across as a pretty boy as Marius. In conclusion, excellent film and adaptation. 9/10 Bethany Cox