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Les Misérables (1934 film)
Encyclopedia
Les Misérables is a 1934
film adaptation
of Victor Hugo
's novel of the same name
. It was written and directed by Raymond Bernard
and stars Harry Baur
as Jean Valjean
and Charles Vanel
as Javert
. The 4.5 hour film is considered by critics to be the greatest ever adaptation of the novel, due to its in-depth development of the themes and characters, and its more faithful take on the book, unlike most (shorter) adaptations.
It consists of three films released separately over a period of three weeks.
is an ex-convict struggling to redeem himself, but his attempts are continually ruined by the intrusion of Javert
into his life. Javert is a cruel, ruthless police inspector who has dedicated his life to pursuing Valjean, whose only crime was stealing a loaf of bread, and later, breaking parole.
The film, like the novel, features numerous other characters and plots, such as Fantine
, a woman forced into prostitution to help pay two cruel innkeepers, the Thénardiers
, who are looking after her daughter Cosette
, and the story of the revolutionaries, including Marius, a young man who falls in love later on in the film with the now-adult Cosette.
Raymond Bernard's version of Les Misérables was chosen by curator Robert Herbert as one of a number of films to support an exhibition of French drawings held in 2010 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. The Exhibition was entitled David to Cézanne: master drawings from the Prat Collection, Paris. It ran from 22 September until 5 December 2010. The film was screened 30 October, 3 November and 7 November in the Gallery's Domain Theatre.
released Les Misérables under the Eclipse
label, along with Bernard's Wooden Crosses
(1932) in the Raymond Bernard DVD collection on July 17, 2007.
This version runs around twenty minutes shorter than the original release, although it is entirely possible that the five hour and five minute running time may be inaccurate, or counts intermissions from the original release that are not included in the Criterion release. The liner notes for the DVD describe how the film was reissued at varying lengths over the following decades and was only restored to approximately its original length shortly before Raymond Bernard's death, minus some scenes that could not be recovered.
1934 in film
-Events:*January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000.*February 19 - Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade...
film adaptation
Film adaptation
Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work.A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis of a feature film, but film adaptation includes the use of non-fiction , autobiography, comic book, scripture, plays, and even...
of Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
's novel of the same name
Les Misérables
Les Misérables , translated variously from the French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims), is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century...
. It was written and directed by Raymond Bernard
Raymond Bernard
Raymond Bernard was a French filmmaker and related to French playwright father Tristan Bernard and brother to Jean-Jacques Bernard...
and stars Harry Baur
Harry Baur
Harry Baur was a French actor. Baur was Jewish and tortured to death by the Gestapo during World War II....
as Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean is the protagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables...
and Charles Vanel
Charles Vanel
Charles-Marie Vanel, known as Charles Vanel was a French director and actor. He made his screen debut in 1912, in Robert Péguy's Jim Crow...
as Javert
Javert
Javert is a fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. He is a prison guard, and later policeman, who devotes his life to the law. He is always referred to just simply as "Javert" or "Inspector Javert" by the narrator and other characters throughout the novel; his first name...
. The 4.5 hour film is considered by critics to be the greatest ever adaptation of the novel, due to its in-depth development of the themes and characters, and its more faithful take on the book, unlike most (shorter) adaptations.
It consists of three films released separately over a period of three weeks.
- Part One: Une tempête sous un crâne (Tempest in a Skull)
- Part Two: Les Thénardier (The Thenardiers)
- Part Three: Liberté, liberté chérie (Freedom, dear Freedom)
Plot
Jean ValjeanJean Valjean
Jean Valjean is the protagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables...
is an ex-convict struggling to redeem himself, but his attempts are continually ruined by the intrusion of Javert
Javert
Javert is a fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. He is a prison guard, and later policeman, who devotes his life to the law. He is always referred to just simply as "Javert" or "Inspector Javert" by the narrator and other characters throughout the novel; his first name...
into his life. Javert is a cruel, ruthless police inspector who has dedicated his life to pursuing Valjean, whose only crime was stealing a loaf of bread, and later, breaking parole.
The film, like the novel, features numerous other characters and plots, such as Fantine
Fantine
Fantine is a character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables.- Backstory :"Fantine was one of those beings which are brought forth from the heart of the people... She was called Fantine because she had never been known by any other name...""All four were ravishingly beautiful. As to Fantine,...
, a woman forced into prostitution to help pay two cruel innkeepers, the Thénardiers
Thénardiers
The Thénardiers, commonly known as Thénardier and Madame Thénardier , are two of the primary villains in Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables and the stage musical of the same name...
, who are looking after her daughter Cosette
Cosette
Euphrasie "Cosette" Fauchelevant is a fictional character in the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.- Cosette in the novel :...
, and the story of the revolutionaries, including Marius, a young man who falls in love later on in the film with the now-adult Cosette.
Cast
- Harry BaurHarry BaurHarry Baur was a French actor. Baur was Jewish and tortured to death by the Gestapo during World War II....
as Jean Valjean & Champmathieu - Charles VanelCharles VanelCharles-Marie Vanel, known as Charles Vanel was a French director and actor. He made his screen debut in 1912, in Robert Péguy's Jim Crow...
as Javert - FlorelleFlorelleFlorelle , was a French actress. She appeared in 54 films between 1912 and 1956.She was born in Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendée and died in La Roche-sur-Yon, Vendée.-Selected filmography:...
as Fantine - Josseline Gaël as Cosette
- Jean ServaisJean ServaisJean Servais was a Belgian actor trained at the Brussels Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, where he won the Second Prize....
as Marius - Orane Demazis as Éponine
- Charles DullinCharles DullinCharles Dullin was a French actor, theater manager and director.-Life:Dullin was a student of Jacques Copeau...
as M. Thénardier - Marguerite Moreno as Mme. Thénardier
- Émile Genevois as Gavroche
- Robert Vidalin as Enjolras
- Gaby Triquet as Cosette (child)
- Henry Krauss as Monseigneur Myriel
Differences from the novel
The film is, for the most part, faithful to the original novel, however, there are some differences:- Javert is presented as considerably less sympathetic than in the book, largely portraying him as the pinnacle of the cruelty in 19th century France.
- Valjean is released after having saved a house from caving in, not because his time is served.
- Not Fantine's last, but her first evening with Tholomyès is shown.
- Valjean's re-arrest after his escape from Montreuil's prison and escape from the "Orion" are left out.
- Valjean and Cosette's stay at the Gorbeau House, their dodging of Javert and their arrival at the Petit-Picpus convent is entirely left out. After they leave the Thénardiers, the film jumps to Cosette's sixteenth birthday.
- Cosette and Marius are already lovers before the attack on Valjean in the Gorbeau House.
- Marius is already acquainted with Éponine and Gavroche before the attack at Gorbeau House.
- When Marius notifies Javert of the Thénardiers' plans, he is also able to give Javert Valjean's address, at least one of them. Javert comes to this address after the robbery and recognises Valjean there. Valjean has to flee to his other house, where he finds Marius and Cosette. After Marius reveals what he has done, expecting gratitude, Valjean sends him away. Only Cosette's pleas make him change his mind, but only after Marius left.
- Valjean does not meet Thénardier in the sewers.
- Valjean presents himself to Gillenormand when taking Marius home. Gillenormand, Marius and Cosette have therefore always known the identity of Marius' saviour.
- Valjean dies shortly after his confession to Marius, the day after the wedding, due to a wound which appeared to have become infected (probably due to the sewer water).
Critical reaction
The film has been referred to as "the most complete and well rounded adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel".Raymond Bernard's version of Les Misérables was chosen by curator Robert Herbert as one of a number of films to support an exhibition of French drawings held in 2010 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. The Exhibition was entitled David to Cézanne: master drawings from the Prat Collection, Paris. It ran from 22 September until 5 December 2010. The film was screened 30 October, 3 November and 7 November in the Gallery's Domain Theatre.
Home video
The Criterion CollectionThe Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection is a video-distribution company selling "important classic and contemporary films" to film aficionados. The Criterion series is noted for helping to standardize the letterbox format for home video, bonus features, and special editions...
released Les Misérables under the Eclipse
Eclipse (DVD)
Eclipse from the Criterion Collection is a brand for a line of DVD film series released by the Criterion Collection. It debuted on March 27, 2007....
label, along with Bernard's Wooden Crosses
Wooden Crosses
Wooden Crosses is a 1932 French war film by Raymond Bernard, based upon a novel by Roland Dorgelès.-Cast :*Pierre Blanchar as Adjudant Gilbert Demachy*Gabriel Gabrio as Sulphart*Charles Vanel as Caporal Breval...
(1932) in the Raymond Bernard DVD collection on July 17, 2007.
This version runs around twenty minutes shorter than the original release, although it is entirely possible that the five hour and five minute running time may be inaccurate, or counts intermissions from the original release that are not included in the Criterion release. The liner notes for the DVD describe how the film was reissued at varying lengths over the following decades and was only restored to approximately its original length shortly before Raymond Bernard's death, minus some scenes that could not be recovered.