Les Misérables in Concert (1995) (TV)

Directors:

John Caird
Paul Kafno

Writers:

Alain Boublil (book)
Victor Hugo (novel)

Release Date:

1 May 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Plot:

The story of the fall and redemption of Jean Valjean, arrested for stealing some bread for his starving family...

Plot Keywords:

Concert | Reference To Voltaire | Paris France | TV Special | London England

Cast

Colm Wilkinson	...	Valjean
Philip Quast	...	Javert
Ruthie Henshall	...	Fantine
Jenny Galloway	...	Madame Thénardier
Alun Armstrong	...	Thénardier
Lea Salonga	...	Eponine
Michael Ball	...	Marius
Michael Maguire	...	Enjolras
Judy Kuhn	...	Cosette
Anthony Crivello	...	Grantaire
Adam Searles	...	Gavroche
Hannah Chick	...	Young Cosette
Cameron Mackintosh	...	Himself
John Cameron	...	Himself
Herbert Kretzmer	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Great Performances: Les Misérables in Concert (USA) (series title)

Runtime:

USA:160 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Sound Mix:

SDDS

Filming Locations:

Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London, England, UK

Company:

Cameron Mackintosh Ltd.

Trivia:

This was filmed live in 1995 at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate the play's 10th anniversary.

Quotes:

Gavroche: And little people know, when little people fight, we may look easy pickings but we've got some bite! So never kick a dog because he's just a pup - we'll fight like twenty armies and we won't give up. So you'd better run for cover when the pup grows up!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

Soundtrack:

A Little Fall of Rain

a superb concert record of a great show

Seeing Les Miz on stage is a breathtaking experience, as it really has the atmosphere, the heart, the energy and the songs to do justice to Victor Hugo's great French novel. So it was no surprise that the Tenth Anniversary Concert really worked - it assembled perhaps the best group of singers (Colm Wilkinson, who created the role of Valjean; Philip Quast, Javert in Australia and on the UK tour (fabulous); Ruthie Henshall as a brittle Fantine; Lea Salonga as Eponine; Michael Ball recreating his role as Marius (and few people can sing Empty Chairs and Empty Tables as well as he does); and from the US, Judy Kuhn as Cosette).

I don't feel that we have been cheated out of a full film version; and in fact I hope they don't attempt it. This semi-dramatised concert does the job and keeps this fantastic musical on record for future generations. Roll on the 20th anniversary, and long may the production run in its London home, where the giant Cosette has become a landmark for tourists getting lost on Piccadilly!