MovieChat Forums > Les Misérables (1935) Discussion > Better than Remembered

Better than Remembered

posted 15 years ago by creightonhale
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I posted this as a response to a thread on the CFB, but thought visitors here might also want to reply.

Les Miserables is one of my favorite stories. (Interestingly though, I've never read the book.) I saw the 1935 version decades ago, have seen the Rennie version but can't remember much of it, and liked the TV version made in the 70s with Anthony Perkins as Javert. And of course, there's Les Mis the musical. I've lost count of the number of times I've gone to see it.

So I had been waiting to see this one again (my cable company no longer carries the Fox Movie Channel) and wasn't disappointed. It was better than I had remembered. I agree that March is at his best. It may even be his best from the 30s. What I found interesting is that Laughton is able to make Javert sympathetic. At the end of the film, even though he says he must arrest Valjean because it's the law, you can see on his face that he's come to realize that it more of a personal vendetta on his part that motivates him. Stiff and unmoving for most of the film, I found him much more subtle than I had previously thought.

I agree with you about the "incest." But why do we feel that way? She wasn't really his daughter. They were related in no way by blood. Maybe it's because their relationship had been so close and loving for most of her life.

I was also impressed with Boleslawski's direction. Throughout the film, he juxtaposes Valjean with religious imagery, especially Christ imagery and Javert and other legally associated persons with law imagery. I really liked the opening scene in which the scales of justice are ironically in the background as the judge speaks and the crucifix in the background during shots of Valjean as he tries to explain his deed. It's also telling that at no time does Boleslawski show them in the same shot so as to imply the gulf between them.

I had only two problems with the film: 1. the "Ave Maria" chorus during Valjean's realization of the meaning of the priest's words and actions - it was unnecessary since March makes it clear on Valjean's face. And 2. Eponine's glamorous look, and her Hollywood eyelashes were too much.

"The answers to all of life's riddles can be found in the movies."

[–] Kinokima 15 years ago

I was pretty impressed with this movie as well. Of course I went in with the notion that it would never be as good as the book (which I love to death). But ignoring the greatness of the novel it was still a pretty good film. And at less than 2 hours you had to know ahead of time stuff would have to be changed and left out. But for me the best part of the film was definitely the casting of Fredric March and Charles Laughton as Valjean and Javert. They were both perfect. I know people complain that March was too young & Laughton looks nothing like Javert; but who cares for me they really captured the essence of those characters. I also liked how the film captured the relationship of Valjean & Cosette.

The only things I wish they didn't change were the motivation of the students & Jean Valjeans' ending. The rest of the changes I could take more or less.