Les Miserables

Rating:
Summary: Les Miserables: Literary Masterpieces
Review: Many versions have been made by this classic tale written by Victor Hugo, but none does justice than the 1978 version of top-rated performances by Richard Jordan & Anthony Perkins. This classic story of "one man's search for freedom and another's quest for revenge" will be enjoyed and loved by both men and women. Life's lessons on forgiveness and the giving of oneself to another, portrays a heroic adventure that few dare to endure till the very end. A great paper to write about for school; a great movie to watch as a family and to open for conversation with parents and their children afterwards. A must see by all!

Rating:
Summary: DVD is missing 30 minutes
Review: This 1978 British television production is one of the better English-language adapatations of Les Miserables. Unfortunately, the DVD release is missing 30 minutes of footage. Originally shown in two parts at a length of 150 minutes, the DVD edit has been chopped down to 120. (The VHS tape edition plays complete.)

Had I known this disc was an incomplete version I would not have purchased it. If you want to see the complete film --- and it's well worth it --- you'll need to buy the VHS tape.

Quel dommage! (What a shame!)

Rating:
Summary: A Solid Adaptation
Review: This was the first of the many film and TV adaptations of Les Miserables that I saw. Made for British TV, and originally shown in two parts, it goes into more detail than some of the theatrical versions, and does a reasonably good job of distilling Hugo's sprawling story into a dramatic presentation. Jordan as Valjean and Anthony Perkins as Javert are both rock-solid; a major improvement over the more exaggerated characterizations of Fredric March and Charles Laughton in the 30s Hollywood version. I rate this one slightly higher than the recent Liam Neeson-Geoffrey Rush production.