Les Misérables

1978 "A classic tale of one man's search for freedom and another's quest for revenge."
7.3| 2h30m| en| More Info
Released: 27 December 1978 Released
Producted By: ITC Entertainment
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

In 19th century France, Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a relentless policeman 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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Reviews

TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film
Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.
Freaktana A Major Disappointment
Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Claudio Carvalho In the Eighteenth Century in France, the unemployed woodman Jean Valjean (Richard Jordan) is arrested for stealing a bread to feed his family and sentenced to five years in prison in Toulon. He tries to escape from prison due to the mistreatment of cruel Javert (Anthony Perkins), increasing his sentence. Nineteen years later he succeeds to escape and is helped by the kind Bishop Myriel (Claude Dauphin) that feeds and shelters him. However he steals his silverware in the dawn but he is arrested by two policemen and brought back to the bishop. The bishop tells that the silver objects were a gift and gives two additional candlesticks to Valjean. When the policemen leave the place, the bishop tells that he has bought his soul and now he should live an honest life. Jean Valjean becomes a well-succeeded businessman with the alias Madeleine bringing prosperity to a small town producing black beads that he had learnt in the prison and then the becomes the major. His life changes when Javert is assigned the chief of police of his town. Javert arrests the beggar Fantine (Angela Pleasence) accused of prostitution but Madeleine asks him to release her and brings her home. He learns that she sends money to a couple to raise her daughter Cosette. Meanwhile Javert travels to Paris to denounce Madeleine, but he learns that Jean Valjean is arrested. But Madeleine confesses the truth to the court and releases the man. Now Javert will take him back to Toulon. What will Jean Valjean do? "Les Miserables" is one of the saddest stories of injustice and obsession ever. The Victor Hugo's novel is a touching extensive novel and should be mandatory its reading for teenagers. This excellent film omits many details but it is very faithful to the novel as a whole. Maybe it is the best version ever made. Anthony Perkins is fantastic in the role of Javert and Richard Jordan has a great performance in the lead role of Jean Valjean. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Os Miseráveis" "The Miserables")
ParanoiaPoliticianDiva77 This is a very good adaption of Les Miserables, but only as a stand alone. I have both read the novel and am a great fan of the Schonberg stage musical. And while watching this I could not help but search for the missing Thenardiers, who appear for one measly minute, the tragic Eponine, the evil and yet wonderful Patron-Minette, the story of Monsieur Tholomyes and Fantine. All of this was left out and though this was fabulous by itself, I could not help but notice the absence. However, Perkins' Javert was truly amazing; he embodied the character and his principles perfectly, the way you could sense his feeling of duty but the scrupulous way he watched Valjean/Madeline and noted the similarities between prisoner and mayor. You could sense his utter confusion after running off in the sewers, and you knew what he was thinking though he did not say another word, throwing himself into the Seine. You understood his character perfectly without him having to necessarily voice his thoughts; his ideal that he was put on earth to serve the law was characterised perfectly. Valjean was portrayed well by Richard Jordan, but the character simply wasn't likable, you sympathised with him in prison, you smiled at his triumphs as Mayor, you understood the various predicaments he faces, but you couldn't bring yourself to like him. The character of Fantine, originally a character of pure tragedy, a symbol of the les Miserables, was reduced significantly. You knew nothing of her past life, her former beauty, her former purity, all you knew was the basics about her and Cosette. This simply was not enough. Marius and Cosette were quite true to the book, their meeting different but with the same meaning behind it. Marius was not explained enough, probably why I liked him (the Original Novel Marius needs to be killed with spoons) and Cosette was sweet enough. The merely was too much of Valjean and Javert (there was more detail of their past than Hugo included-that is truly saying something) and not enough of the rest of Hugo's masterpiece. As a stand alone? 9/10. But in comparison to the original novel? 5/10. So I'll go 50/50 and give it a 7 cause I'm nice.
glenxxvi i first saw this in about 1999 and i thought i was brilliant. i have never read the novel and i haven't seen any other film adaptations but this one is good enough for me. i might watch some other film versions of this in the future just to see how they compare but i think this is really good.FIRST - it doesn't rush into things. it takes it's time to explain why valjean was placed in prison and leads us up to the events to follow TWO - all of the actors are very good, especially the leads, Richard Jordan is superb as Valjean and Anthony Perkins is excellent as Inspector Javert, a very tenacious character who has nothing on his mind but the apprehension of Vajean, so much so he even argues with officers above him to stay on his case.THREE - it's a good chase movie. Every now and then through the film Valjean's freedom is threatened and the viewer has the sense that he may be captured at any time. this effect tends to wear off on repeat viewings but when you see this for the first time it is very suspenseful. this film may be nearly two and a half hours but it isn't boring at all.FOUR - very realistic. i like the way this handles the time periods, not only can you watch the main story and enjoy it but you can get a sense of how things were in the late 18th and early 19th century. in today's terms there was nothing, no cars, no TV or radio, no computers and you get a sense that if you were living in that time period it would be very boring indeed.FIVE - this is so good you don't want it to end. this may sound weird to some but the first time i watched it and i saw the credits coming up i thought, 'is that it?' i didn't realise that it's two hour and 17 minute running time was up, i was so engrossed with it, i realise that javert was dead and so valjean's apprehension was no longer imminent, however, i just feel that it could have gone on a few more years and have him into a few other adventures, perhaps until his death almost.if you haven't seen this, then do so. this gets 10/10
mikebull This is my favorite version of all the movies. Very good! Anthony Perkins is wonderful as the obsessed policeman and Richard Jordan seems as thought this part were written just for him. This version focuses more on Jean Valjean than his daughter which I personally liked. This version covers most of what the musical just blows through. The Version with Liam Nieson focuses more on the relationship with Jean Valjean and his daughter Cosette. This is a movie worth watching over and over again, however, you need to give it your full attention or you won't like it. It is sad in parts but shows what can happen to a person who is determined to succeed. A great rags to riches story.