Les misérables (1998)

Director:

Bille August

Writers (WGA):

Victor Hugo (novel)
Rafael Yglesias (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 May 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

The legend comes to life.

Plot:

Jean Valjean, a Frenchman imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a police officer named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives...

Plot Keywords:

France | Revolution | Police | Police Harassment | Nun

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Christopher Adamson	...	Bertin
Tim Barlow	...	Lafitte
Timothy Bateson	...	Banker
Veronika Bendová	...	Azelma
David Birkin	...	Courfeyrac
Reine Brynolfsson	...	Captain Beauvais
Patsy Byrne	...	Toussaint
Kathleen Byron	...	Mother Superior
Václav Chalupa	...	André
Ian Cregg	...	Feuilly
Ben Crompton	...	Grantier
Claire Danes	...	Cosette
Zdenek David	...	Peasant (as Zdenék David)
Paola Dionisotti	...	Forewoman
Edna Doré	...	Old Woman (as Edna Dore)

Also Known As:

Les misérables (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, and for some sexual content.

Runtime:

134 min | Argentina:132 min

Country:

UK | Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Krizeneckeho namesti, Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Mandalay Entertainment

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 Marius hands over his love-letter to Cosette it switches from his right hand to the left as the camera angle changes.

Quotes:

Judge: Monsieur le maire, I know you to be a kind man, but this...
Jean Valjean: A kind? A kind man? When I was in prison I was as ignorant and mean and devious as these men here, but not kind. And I wish I could keep my mouth shut and let this poor wretch suffer for me, but... continue with your investigation, monsieur, you will find further proof that I am Valjean.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Showbiz Today: (1998-06-07)" (1998)

From the eyes of an innocent.

I've never read the book. I've never seen any other versions. I never knew a thing about, not even how to properly pronounce the title, until I watched this movie. And even then I learnt the pronunciation elsewhere.

So I watched this movie expecting nothing but to finally learn what the often mentioned Les Miserables was all about. I have to say I love this movie, oh how I love this movie. The first time I watched it I was on the verge of tears almost from the start. Halfway through I had to stop the video to have a good cry :P for being reminded what a lowly creature I was and how shamefully I've lead my short life. Whoops, am I getting too personal? Sorry.

I work at a video store and I've lost count of how many times people have looked at the cover of Les Mis, made a face and turned away. How many times I've sadly shaken my head at that... Oh, how much they miss.

With no knowledge of the original story I watched this movie and thought it was absolutely wonderful, beautiful. And after reading the other comments made here I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the book. It sounds like it's so much better than the movie and my mind reels from the idea of that.

Good film. Damn, I would have hated it if it didn't have a happy ending :)