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IMDbPro

Les Misérables

  • 19351935
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
Charles Laughton and Fredric March in Les Misérables (1935)
  • Drama
  • History
  • Romance
In early-19th-century France, an ex-convict who failed to report to parole is relentlessly pursued over a 20-year period by an obsessive policeman.In early-19th-century France, an ex-convict who failed to report to parole is relentlessly pursued over a 20-year period by an obsessive policeman.In early-19th-century France, an ex-convict who failed to report to parole is relentlessly pursued over a 20-year period by an obsessive policeman.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Boleslawski
  • Writers
    • Victor Hugo(novel)
    • W.P. Lipscomb
  • Stars
    • Fredric March
    • Charles Laughton
    • Cedric Hardwicke
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Boleslawski
  • Writers
    • Victor Hugo(novel)
    • W.P. Lipscomb
  • Stars
    • Fredric March
    • Charles Laughton
    • Cedric Hardwicke
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 39User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 1 win & 4 nominations total

    Photos171

    Charles Laughton and Marilyn Knowlden in Les Misérables (1935)
    Marilyn Knowlden in Les Misérables (1935)
    Rochelle Hudson in Les Misérables (1935)
    Rochelle Hudson in Les Misérables (1935)
    Rochelle Hudson in Les Misérables (1935)
    Frances Drake and Fredric March in Les Misérables (1935)
    Charles Laughton in Les Misérables (1935)
    Fredric March in Les Misérables (1935)
    Charles Laughton in Les Misérables (1935)
    Fredric March in Les Misérables (1935)
    Fredric March in Les Misérables (1935)
    Les Misérables (1935)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fredric March
    Fredric March
    • Jean Valjeanas Jean Valjean…
    Charles Laughton
    Charles Laughton
    • Inspector Emile Javertas Inspector Emile Javert
    Cedric Hardwicke
    Cedric Hardwicke
    • Bishop Bienvenueas Bishop Bienvenue
    • (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
    Rochelle Hudson
    Rochelle Hudson
    • Cosetteas Cosette
    Frances Drake
    Frances Drake
    • Eponineas Eponine
    John Beal
    John Beal
    • Mariusas Marius
    Florence Eldridge
    Florence Eldridge
    • Fantineas Fantine
    Jessie Ralph
    Jessie Ralph
    • Madame Magloireas Madame Magloire
    Mary Forbes
    Mary Forbes
    • Mlle. Baptisemeas Mlle. Baptiseme
    Florence Roberts
    Florence Roberts
    • Toussaintas Toussaint
    Jane Kerr
    • Madame Thenardieras Madame Thenardier
    Ferdinand Gottschalk
    Ferdinand Gottschalk
    • Thenardieras Thenardier
    Charles Haefeli
    • Brevetas Brevet
    Marilyn Knowlden
    Marilyn Knowlden
    • Little Cosetteas Little Cosette
    • (as Marilynne Knowlden)
    John Bleifer
    • Chenildieuas Chenildieu
    Leonid Kinskey
    Leonid Kinskey
    • Genflouas Genflou
    Harry Semels
    • Cochepailleas Cochepaille
    Eily Malyon
    Eily Malyon
    • Mother Superioras Mother Superior
    • Director
      • Richard Boleslawski
    • Writers
      • Victor Hugo(novel)
      • W.P. Lipscomb
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Florence Eldridge, who plays Fantine, was Fredric March's wife in real life. They were married from 1927 until March's death in 1975.
    • Goofs
      Valjean's coat and cloak have dirt on them while he's drenching his horse at the White Sergeant, but are clean before and after that.
    • Quotes

      Jean Valjean: How do you know I won't murder you in the night?

      Bishop Bienvenu: [remains calm] Well, how do you know I won't murder you?

      Jean Valjean: Nah...

      Bishop Bienvenu: You have faith in me it seems. And I must have faith in you, musn't I? Good night.

    • Crazy credits
      Prologue: "So long as there exists in this world that we call civilized, a system whereby men and women, even after they have paid the penalty of the law and expiated their offences in full, are hounded and persecuted wherever they go - this story will not have been told in vain." Victor Hugo
    • Connections
      Featured in Minute Movie Masterpieces (1989)

    User reviews39

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    The best American film version of the novel
    Although you would not think so from reading some of the reviews here, the 1935 film version of "Les Miserables" is excellent and one of the best film versions of the novel, especially considering its 108 minute length. It is too much to ask a film that lasts a little less than two hours to pack in all the important incidents in a book that consists of more than 1,000 pages. No film has ever been able to do that, and three-hour American films, except for a couple of D.W. Griffith features, were virtually unheard of before 1936 (the year that "The Great Ziegfeld" was released).

    Fredric March gives one of his finest performances as Jean Valjean---far better than Michael Rennie's pallid one in the 1952 remake-- and his voice reminds one not of Jimmy Stewart, but of John Barrymore, an actor to whom March was often compared to in his early days. Although he seems to be on the verge of overemoting once or twice, he can also be quite subtle and sardonic (just watch him in the scenes in which he implies that Javert has no idea of how to temper justice with mercy, or his performance in the scene in which he first meets Cosette at the inn). March, now virtually forgotten by today's younger generation, was easily one of the best actors of the twentieth century, whether on stage or screen, It is a pity that he never felt inclined to act in a Shakespeare play or film, a decision he himself came to regret.

    Charles Laughton is equally as good as the vicious, single-minded, and in this version at least, neurotic Inspector Javert. Laughton's small touches, far from making his performance seem hammy, vividly illustrate the personality of a man so ashamed of his own parentage that he cannot bear to talk about it without seeming to be about to break into tears. If it had not been for his brilliant Captain Bligh in "Mutiny on the Bounty", released the same year as "Les Miserables", Laughton would almost certainly have been nominated for his performance as Javert.

    John Beal and Rochelle Hudson are adequate as the lovers, although Beal is hardly anyone's idea of a sexy, dashing young man. Hudson's performance is infinitely preferable to the awful one given by the beautiful Debra Paget (best remembered as Joshua's love interest in "The Ten Commandments") in the 1952 remake of "Les Miserables". Eponine in this version is not portrayed as a prostitute, probably because of the censorship restrictions of that time, and Gavroche is completely eliminated from this version. Cedric Hardwicke, in a very small role, is fine if a little too syrupy, as the bishop who aids Valjean after he is released from prison.

    The legendary Gregg Toland's photography is excellent, and the scenes in which Valjean serves in the galleys are frighteningly realistic for a major Hollywood film of this era (the scene in which March is beaten and begins screaming in pain is profoundly disturbing, and it recurrs later on in a nightmare).

    The 1935 "Les Miserables" easily eclipses all later versions in English, and still stands as one of the best Hollywood versions of a literary masterpiece.
    helpful•46
    2
    • critic-2
    • Jan 20, 2003

    FAQ8

    • What is 'Les Misérables' about?
    • Is 'Les Misérables' based on a book?
    • When does the story take place?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 20, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Wretched
    • Production company
      • 20th Century Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Charles Laughton and Fredric March in Les Misérables (1935)
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