|
Les Miserables: Cinema Classics Collection
|
|
|
|
Official Synopsis:
Les Miserables (1935)
Victor Hugo's most acclaimed novel comes brilliantly to life in this impeccably performed, magnificently filmed screen adaptation. Frederic March stars as Valjean, the ex-convict who rises against all odds from galley slave to mayor. Charles Laughton is Javert, the fanatical police inspector who dedicates his life to recapturing Valjean. A vivid depiction of the appalling poverty and social strife of 19th-century France, this version of Les Miserables does splendid justice to the original novel.
Les Miserables (1952)
Michael Rennie, fresh from his success in the sci-fi classic The Day The Earth Stood Still cuts a very handsome figure as Jean Valjean, and Debra Paget, who would later reteam with Rennie in four more films, makes for a stunning Cosette in this powerful retelling of the classic epic. Costars include Robert Newton (Treasure Island), Edmund Gwenn (Miracle On 34th Street), Cameron Mitchell (How To Marry A Millionaire), Sylvia Sidney (Mars Attack!) and Elsa Lanchester (The Bride Of Frankenstein).
Our Take:
I will start off by saying that any interest in Les Miserables: Cinema Classics Collection should be primarily due to the fact that this two-film set contains the excellent 1935 film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel. Les Miserables (1935) is far superior to the 1952 re-make and thus my review will deal primarily with the earlier and better film. Victor Hugo’s immortal tale of Jean Valjean’s incredible life from the galleys to mayor, while always hunted by the law, has spawned many films, one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all-time, and has influenced numerous other works of art. Yet I embarrassingly have never read the novel, so as is my policy regarding literary film adaptations, I will certainly not be comparing the film to the novel.
Les Miserables (1935) features two excellent talents among a cast and crew of merely adequate people: Charles Laughton as the villainous Inspector Javert and Gregg Toland as cinematographer. Laughton splendidly gives his Inspector Javert incredible depth even if the character himself lives by the strictest of codes: “Right or wrong, the law is the law and it must be obeyed to the letter.” Yet, even while his character lives in this world of black and white simplicity, Laughton allows the audience to see the inner workings of the man’s mind as he shows us him at times desperate, conflicted, and unflinching. Meanwhile, on the set, Gregg Toland worked his magic as always, lighting every scene to perfection and clearly doing his best to raise the quality level of the standard-fare work of director, Richard Boleslawski.
The 1952 remake is not a bad film by any stretch of the imagination, but had these two films been released separately, I would have gone with the 1935 version and passed on the remake. However, it is much to 20th Century Fox’s credit that we do not have to make such a decision. The inclusion of both films on one double-sided disc is a nice idea, although it does not leave much room for extras. The extra features are as follows:
1935 Version:
* Restoration Comparison.
* Still Gallery.
* Four Lobby Cards in the DVD case (3 from this version and 1 from the 1952 film).
1952 Version:
* The Fugitive and the Pursuer: Vidocq Featurette (19 minutes).
* Restoration Comparison.
* Still Gallery.
Overall, Les Miserables is a nice package, especially for classic literature or Victor Hugo fans.
Overall Picture:
Movie:
1935 Version: B
1952 Version: B-
DVD: B
- Matthew Orlando
Staff Writer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
