Les Misérables
1925 History / Drama
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Credits
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Summary
Having served a prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean’s attempt to
start a new life is frustrated by his parole officer, Javert. Adopting an assumed
name, Valjean becomes a successful business man and mayor of a town before allowing himself
to be arrested. He escapes from prison and adopts Cosette, the young daughter of
a brutal factory worker, Thénardier. Years later, Cosette falls in love with
a revolutinary, Marius...
Review
Of the numerous film adaptations of Victor Hugo’s celebrated work, Henri Fescourt’s four
and a half hour epic is reputed to be the finest, remaining doggedly faithful to the original
novel in terms of both content and atmosphere. The film is divided into four parts:
(1) L’Évasion de Jean Valjean, (2) Fantine et Cosette, (3) Marius
, and (4) L’Épopée de la rue Saint-Denis. Visually and
dramatically, this is a work of genius, featuring a magnificent performance from Gabriel
Gabrio, arguably the best Jean Valjean in the history of cinema.
© James Travers 2002 Write a review for this film... |
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