The Count of Monte Cristo (1934)

After greedy men have Edmound Dantes unjustly imprisoned for 20 years for innocently delivering a letter entrusted to him, he escapes to get his revenge on them.

Director:

Rowland V. Lee

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas (novel), Philip Dunne (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Louis Calhern

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Donat	...	Edmond Dantes
Elissa Landi	...	Mercedes
Louis Calhern	...	De Villefort Jr.
Sidney Blackmer	...	Mondego
Raymond Walburn	...	Danglars
O.P. Heggie	...	Abbe Faria
Irene Hervey	...	Valentine
Georgia Caine	...	Mme. De Rosas
Walter Walker	...	Morrel
Lawrence Grant	...	De Villefort Sr.
Luis Alberni	...	Jacopo
Douglas Walton	...	Albert
Juliette Compton	...	Clothilde
Clarence Wilson	...	Fouquet
Eleanor Phelps	...	Haydee

Storyline

Edmond Dantes is imprisoned in the Chateau d'If without trial, for carrying a message from Napoleon in exile on Elba. After being told that he died in prison, his fiancé Mercedes is forced to marry his rival Count Mondego. Twenty years later, Dantes escapes with the help of the Abbe Faria, who leaves him the treasure of Monte Cristo. Dantes, now called the Count of Monte Cristo, plans his revenge on the three who framed him.

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Plot Keywords:

escape from prison | sword fight | revenge | prison | dungeon | 

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Taglines:

20 YEARS OF LOVE...kept alive by hate! Who can ever forget Alexandre Dumas' immortal classic! (Print Ad- Philadelphia Inquirer, ((Philadelphia, Penna.)) 14 September 1934)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Donat made his only trip to Hollywood during the production of this film. Due mainly to his poor health, he was unable to travel to Hollywood again to film any of his other roles.

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Goofs

During the fencing duel between Dantes and Mondego, in one brief shot near the end Sidney Blackmer holds his sword in his left hand instead of his right, which he does in the rest of the scene. This was obviously a shown in reverse as is often done to add footage.

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Quotes

Edmond Dantes: [referring to the now-insane Danglars] A mental suicide, doctor.
Doctor: Mental suicide?
Edmond Dantes: Yes. He destroyed his mind with an overdose of two deadly poisons.
Doctor: Poisons!
Edmond Dantes: Avarice and Greed

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer-colorized version.

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Connections

Version of The Count of Monte Cristo (1956)

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Soundtracks

Ave Maria
(uncredited)
From 'The Lady of the Lake' by Franz Schubert

User Reviews

Never surpassed

I was lucky enough to obtain a video copy of an excellent black & white print of this movie, as I believe the colourisation of current copies falsifies the viewing experience. The photography and lighting are so exquisite, only the 1930's movie-making artists - it was an art form then - could accomplish it and it has to be appreciated like an antique: old, but immensely valuable for that.

They truly don't make them like this any more, and after having seen some of the subsequent screen versions, I still don't believe this one has ever been surpassed. I have also read Dumas' novel and would say that except for some minor alterations to the plot, the movie is largely true to the book.

Robert Donat is a dashing Dantes, whose ageing in body and spirit during the course of the movie is utterly believable (but he even improved on his ability to portray a physical and mental journey a few years later, when he made "Goodbye Mr. Chips"). Elissa Landi is a sweet and witty heroine, and the villains are so beautifully characterised (notably Sidney Blackmer's Mondego) that it becomes all the more satisfying when Dantes deals with them according to their own villainous traits.

I particularly enjoyed the intelligent flashes of irony with which the grim story is suffused, such as Dantes' double-speak as he flatters his enemies, at the same time telling them truth which they choose to misunderstand. The script is fantastic, the acting luminous. I feel sorry for those who hesitate to watch black & white classics like this one - they miss out on the very essence of what the art of movie-making and acting really used to be about.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 September 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Count of Monte Cristo

Filming Locations:

RKO-Pathé Studios - 9336 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,270,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reliance Rroductions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1