Count of Monte Cristo (1964) (TV)

Director:

Peter Hammond

Writer:

Anthony Steven (writer)

Release Date:

4 October 1964 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot:

A TV adaptation of the classic Alexandre Dumas novel. Edmond Dantes is falsely accused by those jealous of his good fortune...

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Alan Badel	...	Edmond Dantes / Count of Monte Cristo
Natasha Parry	...	Mercedes
Anthony Newlands	...	Morrel
Michael Bilton	...	Cocles
Morris Perry	...	Danglars
Bob Raymond	...	Penelon
Philip Madoc	...	Fernand
Michael Robbins	...	Caderousse
Michael Gough	...	DeVillefort
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Madame Danglars
Anna Palk	...	Valentine
Valerie Sarruf	...	Haydee
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patricia English	...	Mme. de Villefort
Roy Stewart

Runtime:

UK:25 min (12 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Royal Crescent, Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Version of Conde de Montecristo, El (1942)

The definitive adaptation

This adaptation, attributed to Alan Badel himself, is simply wonderful. It follows the text faithfully, and reproduces the marvelous tale exactly as Dumas wrote it. No other production of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' achieved this, before or since. In these more enlightened times, when Classics are re-created, characters are added, some removed, the time line re-arranged, and of course the dialogue 'improved', it is perhaps old fashioned to accurately translate a book to the screen, however this production recreates exactly the book's magnificent tale of adventure, love, misery, charm and revenge.

I hope that somewhere in the vaults of the BBC a recording exists so that those of you who never saw this production some day have the chance to do so. Once seen, I guarantee when you re-read the book, you will always see and hear the characters as they were portrayed in this TV masterpiece. The story, the sets, the direction, the costumes, and each and every actor's performance are superb. Very, very occasionally everything comes together, and in this production it really does. Each and every person who had a hand in making this series has my sincere respect, and admiration. You created a classic from a Classic, very few have come close to achieving that.

Originally IMDb only showed Alan Badel in the cast list. After a lot of research I managed to put together and almost complete cast list which I submitted to IMDb and which was eventually included.

If anyone out there reads this and has 'influence' with the BBC, use it to bring this production back into the public domain.