The Count of Monte Cristo

We watched this adaptation on BBC Television when the serial version was shown in 1964. It was our first contact with both Alan Badel and The Count Of Monte Cristo. The impact of both the story and the adaptation was spellbinding. I can still hear Dantes saying "Hi-eee-day". There has never been another adaptation to match it. I have since read the book several times and, irrespective of whoever may have appeared in subsequent versions, my vision of Dantes is always Alan Badel. Why is the BBC serial version not available? The world at large deserves to be able to see this treasure. The fact that it was transmitted in Black and White is no bar to its worldwide acceptability. Even if large parts have been destroyed, whatever remains will be acceptable to the viewing public. Please! Please! Anyone who knows where it is, do come forward. It is one of the media world's great treasures.

I have been trying to get a copy of this wonderful series, after following it on the Beeb many years ago, but without success. I sympathize with the person who said that they had missed some of the episodes. This version was so true to the book and its complicated plot that it would have been difficult to follow unless one watched it in its entirety. Having seen serialized versions and movies, even the French one with Gerard Depardieu, I feel that none of them compare with this old BBC version. Many of them are not true to the original story, and certainly none of the actors have the charisma of Alan Badel. He had an amazing voice and a magnetism that was so perfectly suited to the role of Edmund Dantes.

It's without frills. It's black and white. It's on TV. Set mostly on a stage. You know the story by heart. You know what each character must say and do. And yet... I could not tear myself away. The extra time allows for so much more dialog, so much more verbal sparring. So much more innuendo. The acting is superb. I'm sure there are faults. But the series was so skillfully written and acted, that I could not focus on the faults, nor remember any, if there were.

This is a very affectionate adaptation of the novel, extremely faithful to the spirit and the detail of the book. It was a high-spot in TV adaptation of the Classics, beautiful to look at, and splendidly acted. Alan Badel's performance as Edmond Dantes was really memorable.

I agree with all the reviews of this excellent adaptation. I can still hear the trumpet solo in the opening bars of Roberto Grehrd's wonderfully atmospheric and dramatic music.

I will never forget the way Alan Badel (surely the most perfect Dantes)whispered "Mercedes!", and who could forget his entrance when he appeared in silhouette in the doorway on the stroke of nine o'clock - pure drama.

Can anyone who has connections with the BBC please try and find out if some or all episodes could be made available? I believe that another series (that incidentally contained music by Roberto Gerhard) is available on tape - "War in the Air", broadcast in the 50s, so maybe there is hope.