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Les Misérables(1948 film)

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Les Miserables
Italian film poster for first part of the film
Directed byRiccardo Freda
Screenplay by
Based onLes Misérables
1862 novel
byVictor Hugo
Produced byCarlo Ponti[1]
Starring
CinematographyRodolfo Lombardi[1]
Edited byOtello Colangeli[1]
Music byAlessandro Cicognini[1]
Production
company
Distributed byLux Film
Release dates
  • 10 January 1948(1948-01-10)(Italy, first part)
  • 21 January 1948(1948-01-21)(Italy, second part)
Running time
178 minutes
CountryItaly[1]
LanguageItalian

Les Miserables(Italian:I miserabili) is a 1948 Italiandrama filmdirected byRiccardo Freda.It is based on theVictor Hugo's 1862 novelLes Misérablesand starsGino CerviasJean Valjean,Valentina CorteseasFantineandCosette,andHans HinrichasJavert.After the financial success of Freda's previous filmThe Black Eagle,Freda worked a deal withLux Filmand began developing an adaptation ofLes MisérableswithMario Monicelli,Vittorio Nino NovareseandStefano Vanzina.The film was shot entirely inRome.

Freda's version of the film ran for over three hours in length and was released as two separate films in Italy one week from another in January 1948. The film became the highest-grossing Italian film production of the year.

Plot

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Caccia all'uomo

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In France, Jean Valjean tries to steal a loaf of bread to feed his grandchildren, but is immediately taken by the police and sentenced to five years in prison, which becomes 18 due to his numerous attempts at escape. After his sentence is served, he is turned away by everyone, with the only positive gesture being given to the bishop of Digne, from whom he had stolen two candelabras, who convinces him to change his life. He then builds a new identity as Mr. Madeleine, and becomes a successful industrialist. During these years, however, Inspector Javert has never stopped looking for Valjean and constantly searches for him. Valjean reacts by attempting to flee, but first fulfills a promise he has made to Fantina, a young woman driven out of the factory after it is discovered she has given birth at a young age and has to take care of her daughter Cosetta. She is temporarily entrusted to Mrs. Thenardier who, despite the money received from Valjean, treats Cosetta as a slave.

Tempesta su Parigi

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Fourteen years later, all the characters meet in Paris. Valjean has built a new identity like Leblanc and protects Cosetta, keeping her away from the world and unaware of their past. The Thenardier family runs an inn where Mario, the young revolutionary, is staying, and with whom their daughter is secretly in love. Mario flees from the police and hides in the Leblanc house, where he falls in love with Cosetta. Valjean is discovered by Thenardier, who intends to take revenge but is stopped by Javert.

During the revolutionary uprisings of 1832, the fate of the various characters is fulfilled. Mario is injured and brought by Valjean to his father's home, police minister also thanks to Javert,[clarification needed]who finally understands his mistake and leaves him free, but kills himself by leaping into the Seine. Mario reconciles with his father, and he and Cosetta can fulfill their dream of a relationship. They plan to marry, which is halted when Thenardier reappears and dies after shooting Valjean.

Cast

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Production

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Due to the success ofRiccardo Freda's filmThe Black Eagle,which was the second-highest-grossing film in Italy in 1946, Freda was able to adapt one of his favourite novels,Les MisérablesbyVictor Hugo.[2]The film began thanks toRiccardo Gualino,the head of Italy's production companyLux Film.[3]An Italian critic and film historian described Lux Film as "Italy's biggest and most ambitious production company" as of 1947, and that it had a "strongly focused policy that recalled those adapted by the Hollywood Majors."[4]Freda described his relationship with Gualino positively, stating that their relationship went beyond a commercial deal, stating that the two "never talked about films, and discussed of art and literature instead. He was a very cultured person." He also said, "With Gualino, I used to sign a deal in five minutes. That is to say, he simply asked me 'Freda, what film do you want to make?' and that was that."[4]Freda originally conceived of adapting the novel when on a taxi ride with fellow directorsMario Soldati,Renato CastellaniandGuido M. Gatti.[4]The four were brainstorming to find stories to adapt to film, with Freda suggestingLes Misérables,which the others were astonished at, feeling it would be impossible to turn into a film.[5]The newspaperCorriere d'informazionespitefully commented on Freda's decision to adapt the story, stating that there was a lack of adventurousness in film makers and producers who were often adopting plays and books, with Arturo Lanocita stating, "The Bottom has been reached with director Riccardo Freda, who after thinking about it for a long time, decided to shoot the 39th version ofLes Misérable,a novel which perhaps you've heard of. "[5]

For the second time in a row, Freda worked on the film's script withStenoandMario Monicelli,and for the first timeVittorio Nino Novarese,who was an art director who had just started his work as a screenwriter.[5]The trio's script makes specific changes to the story: Marius becomes the son of the Ministry of Police and in the endJean Valjeanis killed by Tenardier.[5]Freda commented that he wanted Valjean to "be a hero, and not a character afflicted by his past. [...] I wanted a righter of wrongs, like the Black Eagle or laterCasanovaofMaciste."[5]Freda recalled that "Adapting a novel I admired so much brought up insane problems, even more because the film was made in Italy", stating that among his films he "put the most of myself [inLes Miserables] ".[6]The film was shot entirely in Rome, and involved reconstructing early 18th-century Paris entirely in the studio.[6]

Among the cast wasGino Cerviplaying Jean Valjean, which was the third time he would work with Freda.[7]Freda stated that Cervi would wear "a bourgeois dress with golden buttons. I explained to him that he should lookmiserable,since he had to steal bread to feed his nephew. But he wouldn't understand. He only thought of the female audience: he had appeared in rags, his career would have ended. "[7]Freda solved the problem by throwingtalcumover Cervi's frock during takes to make it look old and ragged.[7][8]Valentina Cortesereflected on her role in the film, stating that "Freda was a temperamental filmmaker: one day we were shooting a scene depicting the revolutionary uprisings, tomato sauce everywhere, shoots, extra running en masse, and Freda gave me a shove so as to push me into the frame under a restive horse. My God, what a scare!"[8]Also among the cast wasMarcello Mastroianniin his film debut as one of Marius' revolutionist friends.[8]

Release

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Freda's film had a running time of over three hours.[9]It was submitted to the board of censors in December 1947 as two separate films, which were released in Italy within the space of one week.[9]The first was titledCaccia all'uomo(transl. Man Hunt), which opened on 21 January 1948, and the second was titledTempesta su Parigi(transl. Storm Over Paris), which opened on 28 January.[9]The film grossed a total of 375 millionlire,making it the highest-grossing Italian film of 1948.[9]

The film was also distributed abroad, including in France where it was titledL'évadé du bagneand cut to 110 minutes without consultation with Freda.[9]The film was also released in the United States asLes Miserablesin March 1952.[9]

Reception

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In the United States, Joe Phodna of theNew York Herald Tribunereviewed an English-language dubbed version with a running time of about two hours, stating that it had "emphasis on movement rather than social significance" and that Gino Cervi's performance was solid but uninspired.[9]A review inThe New York Timesfound that Valjean and Javert became two-dimensional figures whose characters "rarely, if ever, come to life"[9]The review also commented on Freda, stating that "the director has managed to extract some of the excitement and movement inherent in the book".[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdefgCurti 2017,p. 304.
  2. ^Curti 2017,p. 50.
  3. ^Curti 2017,p. 51.
  4. ^abcCurti 2017,p. 52.
  5. ^abcdeCurti 2017,p. 53.
  6. ^abCurti 2017,p. 54.
  7. ^abcCurti 2017,p. 56.
  8. ^abcCurti 2017,p. 57.
  9. ^abcdefghiCurti 2017,p. 58.

Bibliography

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  • Curti, Roberto (2017).Riccardo Freda: The Life and Works of a Born Filmmaker.McFarland.ISBN978-1476628387.
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