
The most thorough of all film adaptations of Victor Hugo's immortal novel, Les misérables [The Wretched] was a triumph for director Raymond Bernard, one of the more overlooked filmmakers of the early French cinema.
Originally released in quick succession as three separate features in 1934, Bernard's film recounts the story of the ex-convict Jean Valjean (Harry Baur) harried by the wicked Inspector Javert (Charles Vanel); of the virtuous Fantine (Florelle, née Odette Rousseau) who sells herself into prostitution for the welfare of her daughter Cosette (Gaby Triquet as the young girl Cosette, and Josseline Gaël as the young woman); and of intersections of these threads and more in an impressive rendering of Hugo's stately tapestry.
Newly restored in 4K at its original length by Pathé, Les misérables is a major accomplishment on the level of storytelling, and a major component in the history of French film. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Raymond Bernard's magnum opus for the first time on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK.
Special Features:
- New presentation of the film in its complete length from the new Pathé 4K digital restoration
- 40-PAGE BOOKLET with new and vintage writing, rare archival material, and more!
- A host of additional extras to be announced
French
English
Customer Reviews
Top Customer Reviews
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This is possibly the best adaptation ever of Victor Hugo's classic novel, Les Misérables, with Harry Baur in the lead-role of Jean Valjean. One of the oldest (initial release in 1934) and one of the longest (ca. 4½ hours) version, it captures fully the spirit of what has become a universal story of redemption. The black and white movie has been wonderfully restaured for this blu-ray edition with French audio (LPCM Mono - 48kHz, 24-bit) and optional English subtitles.