Les miserables (1978) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Glenn Jordan

Writers:

John Gay (writer)
Victor Hugo (novel)

Release Date:

27 December 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

Jean Valjean, convicted of stealing bread, is hounded for decades by the relentless and cruel policeman Javert. |

Plot Keywords:

Melodrama | Police | Fugitive | Prison | Paris

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Richard Jordan	...	Jean Valjean
Anthony Perkins	...	Javert
Cyril Cusack	...	Fauchelevent
Claude Dauphin	...	Bishop Myriel
John Gielgud	...	Gillenormand
Ian Holm	...	Thenardier
Celia Johnson	...	Sister Simplice
Joyce Redman	...	Magliore
Flora Robson	...	The Prioress
Christopher Guard	...	Marius
Caroline Langrishe	...	Cosette
Angela Pleasence	...	Fantine
David Swift	...	Troufiat
Timothy Morand	...	Enjolras
William Squire	...	Magistrate

Runtime:

USA:150 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

The musical version of 'Les Misérables' opened at the Broadway Theater on March 12, 1987 and ran for 6680 performances, making it the third longest running show on Broadway.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Valjean releases Javert from the chair he's been tied to, Javerts hands are tied to his side with the rope reaching between his legs. As soon as they are outside, his hands are tied together behind his back.

Quotes:

Gillenormand: [to Marius] Pity? You who takes sides with the scum of the streets against the government, the monarchy, against your own family? You expect to receive pity from me?

Movie Connections:

Version of El boassa (1944)

An interesting adaption

An interesting adaption of the story. The screenplay writer John Gay has added about 30 minutes worth of backstory and recounts Valjean's initial theft of the bread, trial and almost 20 years imprisonment in some detail before getting to the scene with the Bishop, which is where the 1000+ page books _starts_!

He has included notable scenes and characters from the book - such as Marius' misunderstanding with his grandfather (played by John Gielgud) and Monsieur Madeline's housekeeper who never lies, Sister Simplice. However, he has also cut many others - notably the whole subplot with Thenardier's gang in Paris, practically all of the students' interactions and the character of Eponine. Further, he has chosen to include some scenes which I certainly would never think of as essential or even substantive, such as the convoluted means of getting Valjean back into the convent where he and Cosette spend 10 years.

The effect of these interesting choices is twofold: Firstly, this movie is very much Valjean's story, with many of the other characters given short shrift. (Javert is an exception.) Secondly, the pacing is somewhat uneven - inclusion of short scenes such as those with Marius' grandfather imply a more detailed backdrop to each of the other characters, but ultimately appear tacked on. Some of the "chase" scenes also come across as gratuitous and lack tension.

The fact that this is a made-for-TV movie comes out in a limited budget and the periodic fade outs between scenes.

On the plus side, Anthony Perkins gives a wonderfully controlled performance as Javert (standout scene for me was his confrontation with Sister Simplice), and Richard Jordan is sympathetic, if somewhat babyfaced even as an old man.

Lovers of that great "kids" TV show Press Gang (highly recommended BTW) will get a kick out of spotting a young Dexter Fletcher as Gavroche.