Les Miserables (1952)A parole violator in early 19th Century France is relentlessly pursued and persecuted by an obsessive policeman. Director:Lewis Milestone |
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Les Miserables (1952)A parole violator in early 19th Century France is relentlessly pursued and persecuted by an obsessive policeman. Director:Lewis Milestone |
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| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Michael Rennie | ... | ||
| Debra Paget | ... | ||
| Robert Newton | ... | ||
| Edmund Gwenn | ... | ||
| Sylvia Sidney | ... | ||
| Cameron Mitchell | ... | ||
| Elsa Lanchester | ... | ||
| James Robertson Justice | ... |
Robert
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| Joseph Wiseman | ... | ||
| Rhys Williams | ... | ||
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Florence Bates | ... |
Madame Bonnet
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After stealing a loaf a bread to feed a starving family, Jean Valjean is sentenced to ten years at hard labor as a galley slave. There he is taught to read and write by another prisoner and meets Javert, an obsessive policeman who was himself born to convict parents aboard a prison ship. After his release, Valjean is treated as a pariah but finally finds shelter in the home of a kindly bishop. Valjean repays the clergyman's generosity by stealing his silver plate. He is apprehended by the authorities and returned to the bishop but is amazed when the kindly old priest tells them that the valuable plates were a gift. This becomes a transforming experience for the ex-convict, who establishes himself under an assumed name in a small country village as factory manager and ultimately mayor. Unfortunately the newly-promoted Javert is assigned there as chief inspector. Although he doesn't recognize his old nemesis at first, the two clash over Javert's overzealous prosecution of the letter of ... Written by Gabe Taverney (duke1029@aol.com)
i liked this version of Victor Hugo's classic novel,Starring Michael Rennie as Jean Valjean and Robert Newton as Javert.however i prefer the 1935 version starring Frederic March as Valjean and Charles Laughton as Javert.this may just be personal preference but i think March and Laughton were more suited for their roles than Rennie and Newton were.i found this version a bit slower,and not quite as compelling,though it still has its moments.the theme of redemption is of course front and centre,but it is not as well developed or explored here,and has less of an impact.the ending though similar to the 1935 version is not as powerful.still,a very good film.for me,Les miserables (1952)is an 8/10