Les Misérables(1934 film)

Les Misérables
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Raymond Bernard
Written by	Raymond Bernard André Lang
Based on	Les Misérables 1862 novel byVictor Hugo
Produced by	Raymond Borderie Bernard Natan
Starring	Harry Baur Charles Vanel Josseline Gaël
Cinematography	Jules Kruger
Music by	Arthur Honegger
Production company	Pathé-Natan
Distributed by	Pathé-Natan
Release date	9 February 1934(1934-02-09)
Running time	281 minutes
Country	France
Language	French

Les Misérablesis a1934Frenchfilm adaptationofVictor Hugo's 1862novel of the same name.Scripted and directed byRaymond Bernard,it starsHarry BaurasJean Valjean,Charles VanelasJavert,andJosseline GaëlasFantine.Initially released as three films that premiered over three consecutive weeks,Une tempête sous un crâne(Tempest in a Skull),Les Thénardier(The Thenardiers), andLiberté, liberté chérie(Freedom, dear Freedom), the full, unedited film clocks in at 281 minutes.

It is considered by critics to be the greatest adaptation of the novel, due to its in-depth development of the themes and characters, in comparison with most shorter adaptations.Although produced byPathé,filming took place on a specially constructed set inBiot, Alpes-Maritimesas well as the nearbyVictorine StudiosinNice,as opposed to the company'sJoinville StudiosinParis.Sets were designed byLucien Carréand Jean Perrier, with music by eminent Swiss composerArthur Honegger.

Plot

Jean Valjeanis an ex-convict struggling to redeem himself, but his attempts are continually ruined by the intrusion ofJavert.Javert is a cruel, ruthless police inspector who has dedicated his life to pursuing Valjean, whose only crime was stealing a loaf of bread, for which he received 5 years in jail. He serves an additional 14 years for escape attempts.

The film, like the novel, features numerous other characters and subplots, such asFantine,a woman forced into prostitution to pay two cruel innkeepers, theThénardiers,for looking after her daughterCosette,and the story of the revolutionaries, includingMarius Pontmercy,a young man who falls in love later on in the film with the now-adult Cosette.

Cast

• Harry BaurasJean Valjean&Champmathieu
• Charles VanelasJavert
• FlorelleasFantine
• Josseline GaëlasCosette
• Gaby Triquet as Cosette (child)
• Jean ServaisasMarius
• Orane DemazisasÉponine
• Gilberte Savary as Éponine (child)
• Lucien Natas Montparnasse
• Charles DullinasThénardier
• Marguerite MorenoasMadame Thénardier
• Émile GenevoisasGavroche
• Robert Vidalin asEnjolras
• Henry KraussasMonseigneur Myriel
• Denise Mellot asAzelma
• Jacqueline Fermez as Azelma (child)
• Cailloux asMabeuf
• Ginette d'Yd asSister Simplice
• Pierre Piérade asBamatabois
• Charlotte Barbier-Krauss asToussaint
• Roland ArmontelasFélix Tholomyès

Differences from the novel

The film is, for the most part, faithful to the original novel, however, there are some differences:

• Javert is presented as considerably less sympathetic than in the book, largely portraying him as the pinnacle of the cruelty in 19th century France.
• Valjean is released after having saved a house from caving in, not because his time is served.
• Not Fantine's last, but her first evening with Tholomyès is shown.
• Valjean's re-arrest after his escape from Montreuil's prison and escape from the "Orion" are omitted.
• Valjean and Cosette's stay at the Gorbeau House, their dodging of Javert and their arrival at the Petit-Picpus convent are omitted. After they leave the Thénardiers, the film jumps to Cosette's sixteenth birthday.
• Cosette and Marius are already lovers before the attack on Valjean in the Gorbeau House.
• Marius is already acquainted with Éponine and Gavroche before the attack at Gorbeau House.
• When Marius notifies Javert of the Thénardiers' plans, he is also able to give Javert Valjean's address, at least one of them. Javert comes to this address after the robbery and recognises Valjean there. Valjean has to flee to his other house, where he finds Marius and Cosette. After Marius reveals what he has done, expecting gratitude, Valjean sends him away. Only Cosette's pleas make him change his mind, but only after Marius left.
• Valjean does not meet Thénardier in the sewers.
• Valjean presents himself to Gillenormand when taking Marius home. Gillenormand, Marius and Cosette have therefore always known the identity of Marius' saviour.
• Valjean dies shortly after his confession to Marius, the day after the wedding, due to a wound which appeared to have become infected (probably due to the sewer water). He does not describe Fantine to Cosette.

Critical reaction

The film has been referred to as "the most complete and well rounded adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel".

A contemporary review inThe Spectatorwas exceptionally positive, calling the film "the best French picture seen here for many months." In particular, it praised Harry Baur's "remarkable performance" and lauded the film for managing to distill such a lengthy novel into its key components without coming across as disjointed.

Raymond Bernard's version ofLes Misérables,along with various other films about 18th and 19th century France, supported an exhibition of French drawings held in 2010 at theArt Gallery of New South Walesin Sydney, Australia. The exhibition was entitledDavid to Cézanne: master drawings from the Prat Collection, Parisand ran from 22 September until 5 December 2010.The film was screened 30 October,3 November and 7 November in the Gallery's Domain Theatre.

Restoration and home video

The Criterion Collectionreleased a restored version ofLes Misérablesin theirEclipseDVD line. Its three parts appeared alongside Bernard'sWooden Crosses(1932) in the Eclipse Series 4: Raymond Bernard collection (2007). This version, totalling 281 minutes (109:52, 85:21 and 86:36), is shorter than the reported 305 minute total runtime of the original release, though it is possible that time may be inaccurate, or includes brief intermissions no longer present.Criterion's DVD liner notes describe how the film was reissued at varying lengths over the following decades and was only restored to its approximate original length shortly before Bernard's death, minus some scenes that could not be recovered.

In 2013,Pathécarried out a brand new restoration of the film, totalling 289 minutes (115:39, 85:45 and 87:23), and released it on Blu-ray and DVD. Eureka Entertainment also released this version on Blu-ray and DVD in 2014, as part of theirMasters of Cinemaline.

See also

• Adaptations ofLes Misérables
• List of longest films by running time

External links

• Les MisérablesatIMDb
• Les MisérablesatAllMovie
• Les Misérablesat theTCM Movie Database