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6.8/10
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A parole violator in early 19th Century France is relentlessly pursued and persecuted by an obsessive policeman.A parole violator in early 19th Century France is relentlessly pursued and persecuted by an obsessive policeman.A parole violator in early 19th Century France is relentlessly pursued and persecuted by an obsessive policeman.
Robert Adler
- Valjean's Coachman
- (uncredited)
Leon Alton
- Courtroom Spectator
- (uncredited)
Merry Anders
- Cicely
- (uncredited)
Roger Anderson
- Revolutionary
- (uncredited)
Charlotte Austin
- Student
- (uncredited)
Frank Baker
- Judge
- (uncredited)
George Barrows
- Gendarme
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaElsa Lanchester, who plays Madame Magloire, was married to Charles Laughton, the Etienne Javert of the 1935 version of Les Misérables (1935).
- GoofsAs part of his prison sentence, Jean Valjean and his fellow convicts are used as galley rowers aboard a ship. France discontinued this practice in 1748, more than half a century before this story takes place. The use of the term "galley" as slang for prison continued in France, hence its use in the original novel upon which this film is based, which may have led to confusion among English speakers when adapting the story.
- Quotes
Etienne Javert: I pride myself on being a good officer.
Jean Valjean: That's very good. Only I'm afraid you'll get little practice here, Inspector Javert. We're a quiet town.
Etienne Javert: I have heard this, yet there is crime everywhere, monsieur.
Jean Valjean: And filth also if one looks hard enough.
Featured review
No Love For Javert
Michael Rennie and Robert Newton have a go at playing the classic roles of Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert in another version of Les Miserables. The story was far better told on Broadway and in the 1935 film with Fredric March and Charles Laughton.
Not the fault of the actors, Michael Rennie is the restrained voice of civilized humanity in Jean Valjean, proof that a man can overcome a bad start in life and make a contribution to mankind's betterment. Holding the opposite view of course is Robert Newton as the ruthless Inspector Javert who in fact did have a bad upbringing, the child of a convict, but refuses to believe that anyone else can. His negative view of mankind doesn't bring anyone any love in their lives. This I've always felt is the key to Javert be he played by Charles Laughton or Robert Newton.
What I didn't like and was not in the March/Laughton version was the idea that the Valjean character had more than a fatherly interest in Cosette, the child of the doomed Fantine who Valjean adopts. Those are the major female roles in Les Miserables and are played here by Debra Paget and Sylvia Sidney respectively and well. I don't think it was necessary at all to have Paget's young suitor, revolutionary student Cameron Mitchell make that accusation.
It's not a bad film, but after March and Laughton this one seems like a local stock company production.
Not the fault of the actors, Michael Rennie is the restrained voice of civilized humanity in Jean Valjean, proof that a man can overcome a bad start in life and make a contribution to mankind's betterment. Holding the opposite view of course is Robert Newton as the ruthless Inspector Javert who in fact did have a bad upbringing, the child of a convict, but refuses to believe that anyone else can. His negative view of mankind doesn't bring anyone any love in their lives. This I've always felt is the key to Javert be he played by Charles Laughton or Robert Newton.
What I didn't like and was not in the March/Laughton version was the idea that the Valjean character had more than a fatherly interest in Cosette, the child of the doomed Fantine who Valjean adopts. Those are the major female roles in Les Miserables and are played here by Debra Paget and Sylvia Sidney respectively and well. I don't think it was necessary at all to have Paget's young suitor, revolutionary student Cameron Mitchell make that accusation.
It's not a bad film, but after March and Laughton this one seems like a local stock company production.
- bkoganbing
- Sep 14, 2009
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Jean Valjean
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $296,662
- Runtime1 hour 45 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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