Every time this films plot came to a point where i remembered a beautiful heartwrenching song, i felt a little cheated. In the middle 1950s two film versions of hugos best remembered novels appeared and disappeared very quickly in movie houses. Dec 05, 2012 les miserables is crowes first fullscale musical feature film. In this video essay, i compare some of the major english and french film adaptations of victor hugos novel les miserables 1862.
For les mizophiles and les mizanthropes alike, heres one mans countdown of some of the worthiest versions movies, stage shows, concerts, tv and radio adaptations and a few youtube parodies. In 19thcentury france, jean valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman javert after breaking parole, agrees to care for a factory workers daughter. The earlier movie versions of the hugo story exploited its epic sweep, and that should be the central advantage a film of the musical has over its stage incarnation. Briefly, les miserables follows the adult life of jean valjean hugh jackman, beginning with his release from prison in early 19 th century france. Its nominated in oscars for two categories as academy award for film editing and academy award for best picture. Les miserables is a 2012 epic historical period musical film directed by tom hooper and scripted by william nicholson, alain boublil, who wrote the original french lyrics, claudemichel schonberg, who wrote the music, and herbert kretzmer, who wrote the english lyrics, based on the 1862 french novel of the same name by victor hugo, which also inspired a 1980 musical by boublil and schonberg. If you enjoyed the film, youd probably like the musical. There have been many film versions since, both english and french productions. Now that the les mis film has finally been released, i have more material to write about than i ever dreamed i would. How many movie versions are there of les miserable answers.
My friend says the acting was amazing but the musical performance was lacking and averagemediocre. A new version of les miserables has less singing, more misery. In 19thcentury france, jean valjean, who for decades. Feb 07, 2018 there are literally hundreds of differences between les mis le book, les mis le musical and les mis le movie, some of them small, some of them major, but if i was to point out every single one as i, in fact, have the capacity and desire to do, wed be here all day, so im going to point out five that struck me the most. In 2014, disney made a movie version of into the woods. There are literally hundreds of differences between les mis le book, les mis le musical and les mis le movie, some of them small, some of them major, but if i was to point out every single one as i, in fact, have the capacity and desire to do, wed be here all day, so im going to point out five that struck me the most. With liam neeson, geoffrey rush, uma thurman, christopher adamson. The 1935 film is a powerful version, centering on the antagonism between valjean and javert though the filmmakers had to jettison much of victor hugos pages to set up this dynamic.
Television adaptation of victor hugos classic novel, which follows jean valjean as he evades capture by the unyielding inspector javert. Click the link for more information on the show, to buy tickets and much much more. Apr 21, 1989 the 1957 french production of les miserables available in a dubbed version only certainly equals these film classics in one regard. But when hooper pulls back for the big view, his camera style switches from mesmerized single takes to catchascatchcan choppiness.
He explores the universal themes of the book and the pertinence of hugos message to our history, here applying them to the french experience of nazi occupation during the second world war. French les miserables is a 1934 film adaptation of victor hugo s 1862 novel of the same name. The 1935 production starring iconic actors fredric march as jean valjean and charles laughton who played javert. Tom hoopers film is a colossal effort after 158 minutes, you really have experienced something. Dont look now, because its coming our way and, like the last film, it will feature more celebs. Its a good condensed adaptation of the novel and holds up really well. All the major beats are played out well by the cast. Depending on audience reaction, it might be his last. The new movie les miserables the one with all the singing and. He falls in love with cosette and marries her at the end of the bookmusical. Hugh jackman, russell crowe, and anne hathaway star in the gritty, oftenheartbreaking tale.
The 1957 french production of les miserables available in a dubbed version only certainly equals these film classics in one regard. However, unlike the film musical version of les mis that won anne hathaway her oscar in 20. Jan 25, 2015 les miserables is an uplifting, heartbreaking, sentimental 1,500page assault on oppression, exploitation and cruelty in which the exconvict jean valjean, the christlike victim eternally. That one starred anthony quinn as quasimodo and gina lollabrigida as esmarelda. In early 19th century france an exconvict who failed to report to parole is relentlessly pursued over a 20 year period by an obsessive policeman. The dream cast in concert is available to purchase on dvd. I got my first glimpse of the 1934 version while watching the 1995 adaptation with. In the opening credits, this film is introduced as victor hugos les misrables. So long as there exists in this world that we call civilized, a system whereby men and women, even after they have paid the penalty of the law and expiated their offenses in full, are hounded and persecuted wherever they gothis. Returning to gillains work helps account for why and how les miserables is so much more than just another banlieu social realist film. In 1935, american audiences were treated to two simultaneously released versions of les miserables, one made in hollywood, the other in france. Les miserables by victor hugo, has been adapted numerous times for stage and screen.
Its most famous incarnation is the 1980 london premiered musical version, made into a successful film in 2012, but many other successful adaptations bear mention as well. Les miserables 1998 liam neeson, geoffrey rush, uma thurman. The definitive list of the best les miserables cover versions ever. The official 2012 movie trailer for les miserables the movie starring hugh jackman, russell crowe, anne hathaway, amanda seyfried, eddie redmayne, aaron tveit, samantha barks, with helena bonham. The june rebellion of 1832 was an uprising in paris. This famous musical has been produced in 40 countries and been interpreted into 21 different languages. He is one of the few characters who survives to see the end of the novel. With richard jordan, anthony perkins, cyril cusack, claude dauphin. Dec 30, 2012 for les mizophiles and les mizanthropes alike, heres one mans countdown of some of the worthiest versions movies, stage shows, concerts, tv and radio adaptations and a few youtube parodies.
The following 23 pages are in this category, out of 23 total. The film is extant and available on several dvd releases. Set against the backdrop of 19thcentury france, les miserables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemptiona timeless testament to the. The first thing to know about this les miserables is that this creation of claudemichel. While in 1952 director lewis milestone all quiet on the western front. A new version of les miserables has less singing, more. It was also the first les miserables movie made so many change in the script of original novel. I remember buying victor hugos les miserables to read after watching the musical for the first time in 1994. Issas mother in les miserables appears, like mme doinel, in 400 blows, uninterested in her son. Les miserables official movie trailer 2012 hd youtube. It was written and directed by raymond bernard and stars harry baur as jean valjean and charles vanel as javert. Parents need to know that this allstar version of les miserables is an adaptation of the worldfamous stage musical, which itself is based on victor hugos classic 1862 novel. The vagabond, a fiveminute short directed by albert capellani. After first films success, works for a new les miserables movie is continued for nearly 20 years.
If a film is an adaptation, i always like to go back to the original material to see what the differences are between the two. After its great success, hollywood has now decided to take on the difficult task to bring this beloved play to the big screen. With countless film and television versions of les miserables out there why choose this one. If i understood the dialogue correctly, when the cops call at the flat, she doesnt know where he is. While there is no actual claim that the television seriest the fugitive, itself adapted to film, is a modern adaptation of les miserables, there are parallels to and elements of the novel in the series.
Jan 10, 20 tom hooper has made one good decision in adapting the stage musical les miserables, which itself has been adapted from victor hugos immense novel. And thats where, for me, it fell so woefully short. I have no idea why the french one is over twice as long, though. Jun 01, 2012 the official 2012 movie trailer for les miserables the movie starring hugh jackman, russell crowe, anne hathaway, amanda seyfried, eddie redmayne, aaron tveit, samantha barks, with helena bonham. Anne hathaway played this role in the 2012 version of les miserable, which has been made into a movie many times before and was originally written as. With fredric march, charles laughton, cedric hardwicke, rochelle hudson. One of my favourite musical films is the 1956 the king and i, with the late yul brynner and late deborah kerr in the lead roles.
Georges pontmercy and madame pontmercy, the younger of the two daughters of monsieur gillnormand. Claude lelouchs 1995 film is more an adaptation of hugos tale, rather than a filmed version of it. Taika waititi to direct and cowrite new star wars feature. What a great discovery, i hadnt seen this version before and truly enjoyed it. Valjean, a former criminal, has atoned for his past and now finds himself in the midst of the french revolution, avoiding a lawobsessed policeman hellbent on capturing him. After the opening credits, the film includes the following quote from victor hugo. Les miserables and other broadway productions and specials. Apr 12, 2019 lily collins there are parts of each characters story line in les miserables that doesnt get into film versions or the musical, because there just isnt time. While the earlier placement may be more effective onstage, theres no denying the impact on film of the creators original intent. It was selected to compete for the palme dor at the 2019 cannes film festival.
Jean valjean richard jordan, convicted of stealing bread, is hounded for several decades by the relentless and cruel policeman javert anthony perkins. Set against a backdrop of postnapoleonic france as unrest begins to grip the city of paris once more. Overall i think he would have liked all the film versions of les miserables going all the way back to the earliest known silent version released by the fox film co in 1919. Only when the show was revised for london was it moved. Jan 25, 20 for more than 25 years, les miserables has swept the world with its tear jerking songs and heartbreaking story. It is not possible to make a movie out of this marathon victor hugo novel the original version i borrowed from library got around thousand pages and i had to settle. English les miserables is a 1935 american drama film starring fredric march and charles laughton based upon the 1862 victor hugo novel of the same name. Les miserables 2019 film les miserables is a 2019 french drama film directed and cowritten by ladj ly, based on his short film of the same name. About 60 big and smallscreen versions have been made throughout the. Les miserables is the latest musical adaptation to hit the theaters, but it is hardly the first. Hugh jackman, russell crowe, and anne hathaway star in the gritty, oftenheartbreaking tale of justice, duty, love, and revolution. Originally released as a single film, les miserables was usually offered as a two parter outside of france. The third american bigscreen rendition of victor hugos classic novel, bille augusts les miserables is without a doubt the most emotionally powerful and handsomely mounted production of the. All of the songs were recorded live on set rather than in.
New bbc movie les miserables starring lily collins 2019. For more than 25 years, les miserables has swept the world with its tear jerking songs and heartbreaking story. With hugh jackman, russell crowe, anne hathaway, amanda seyfried. The terms of his release require him to report for. Les miserables is a novel of great enough length that there are several different plot lines happening throughout the story following different characters. Ever since i first read the essay whats the difference. Les miserables with eddie redmayne and amanda seyfried. Taika waititi to direct and cowrite new star wars feature film for theatrical release. Feb 17, 20 the latest les miserables film has its roots in victor hugos 1862 novel of the same title, but, primarily is a version of the 1980s musical adaptation of hugos work. Dec 11, 2012 the earlier movie versions of the hugo story exploited its epic sweep, and that should be the central advantage a film of the musical has over its stage incarnation. The original french version of the musical in 1980 placed fantines iconic solo at this point, after her turn to prostitution.