Les Misérables (1998)

Jean Valjean, a Frenchman imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a police officer named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives, and soon Valjean finds himself in the midst of the ... See full summary »

Director:

Bille August

Writers:

Victor Hugo (novel), Rafael Yglesias (screenplay)

Stars:

Christopher Adamson, Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

Jean Valjean, a Frenchman imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a police officer named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives, and soon Valjean finds himself in the midst of the student revolutions in France.

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Plot Keywords:

revolution | police | france | dead boy | nun | 

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Taglines:

The legend comes to life.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Sony (DVD release)

Country:

UK Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les misérables

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£118,564 (UK) (20 November 1998)

Gross:

£243,307 (UK) (27 November 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandalay Entertainment, TriStar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The town in which Jean Valjean becomes mayor is never named in the book. In the movie the town is called Vigo, a name made up of the first two and last two letters of Victor Hugo, the name of the author of Les Misérables.

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Goofs

When Inspector Javert is at the home of Cosette and Jean ValJean, he writes a letter and asks Cosette for an envelope which she produces for him. The type of pre folded, flap envelope that Cosette gives him would not have been invented or for commercial use in 1832, the time period of Les Miserables. Rather, correspondence would have been folded inside another sheet of paper and sealed with a wax seal and brass sealing ring or tied with a string or ribbon.

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Quotes

Landlord: Am I a charity? You haven't paid me in four months.
Fantine: [shivering with cold] I paid you...
Landlord: I have bills too and I can't spread my legs. Besides, it's not good business to rent to a whore.

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to the people of Kutná Hora and Mairie De Paris.

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Connections

Referenced in Daze of the Dead (2012)

User Reviews

Lord, Have Mercy!!

Wow, pinch me.....I must be dreaming.

This is a Grade A exhibit of how you can still make a terrific movie today without profanity, tons of violence and-or sex.....AND how you can make a picture which carries a good, moral message. This is one of truly rare modern-day films that actually espouses mercy and forgiveness instead of revenge.

This is simply a solid film with a very satisfying ending....satisfying to people who aren't in love with edgy, nasty endings.....such as almost all your professional movie critics. So, if your favorite critic didn't give this film a good review - and most did not - please ignore it.

In addition to the involving storyline and excellent acting by Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman and Claire Danes, the viewer is treated to some beautiful European countryside scenery. My only complaint of this film is the shoddy treatment it received on DVD. No extras and so-so sharpness. Like the movie itself, it deserves more respect.