Les Misérables (1934)
((Part 1: Une tempête sous un crâne, Part 2: Les Thénardier, Part 3: Liberté, liberté chérie))
Country: FR
Technical: bw 281m
Director: Raymond Bernard
Cast: Harry Baur, Charles Vanel, Jean Servais, Josseline Gaël
Synopsis:
Released from penal servitude at Toulon, Jean Valjean tears up his passport and starts over, with the help of the bishop he has robbed. His struggle for freedom will be harried by the persecution of the implacable Javert, and echoed in the Paris revolt of 1832.
Review:
Only the French really attempted to do justice to the excessive length of Hugo's text in their film adaptations, and this one followed two silent versions and preceded Le Chanois's 1958 colour version. It is undoubtedly the greatest straight adaptation committed to screen, notable for its monumental construction around the key movements of the work, Harry Baur's dignified and moving portrayal, Arthur Honegger's music and a mise en scène that boasts resplendent expressionist lighting camerawork, Dutch angles aplenty, and spectacular sets of old Paris to rival those of Les enfants du paradis.
((Part 1: Une tempête sous un crâne, Part 2: Les Thénardier, Part 3: Liberté, liberté chérie))
Country: FR
Technical: bw 281m
Director: Raymond Bernard
Cast: Harry Baur, Charles Vanel, Jean Servais, Josseline Gaël
Synopsis:
Released from penal servitude at Toulon, Jean Valjean tears up his passport and starts over, with the help of the bishop he has robbed. His struggle for freedom will be harried by the persecution of the implacable Javert, and echoed in the Paris revolt of 1832.
Review:
Only the French really attempted to do justice to the excessive length of Hugo's text in their film adaptations, and this one followed two silent versions and preceded Le Chanois's 1958 colour version. It is undoubtedly the greatest straight adaptation committed to screen, notable for its monumental construction around the key movements of the work, Harry Baur's dignified and moving portrayal, Arthur Honegger's music and a mise en scène that boasts resplendent expressionist lighting camerawork, Dutch angles aplenty, and spectacular sets of old Paris to rival those of Les enfants du paradis.
((Part 1: Une tempête sous un crâne, Part 2: Les Thénardier, Part 3: Liberté, liberté chérie))
Country: FR
Technical: bw 281m
Director: Raymond Bernard
Cast: Harry Baur, Charles Vanel, Jean Servais, Josseline Gaël
Synopsis:
Released from penal servitude at Toulon, Jean Valjean tears up his passport and starts over, with the help of the bishop he has robbed. His struggle for freedom will be harried by the persecution of the implacable Javert, and echoed in the Paris revolt of 1832.
Review:
Only the French really attempted to do justice to the excessive length of Hugo's text in their film adaptations, and this one followed two silent versions and preceded Le Chanois's 1958 colour version. It is undoubtedly the greatest straight adaptation committed to screen, notable for its monumental construction around the key movements of the work, Harry Baur's dignified and moving portrayal, Arthur Honegger's music and a mise en scène that boasts resplendent expressionist lighting camerawork, Dutch angles aplenty, and spectacular sets of old Paris to rival those of Les enfants du paradis.