This 1982 French TV adaptation of the Victor Hugo classic—the story of a paroled prisoner in 19th-century France who seeks redemption and a new life in the face of persistent threats—suffers in this U.S release, which not only deletes a half-hour from the original broadcast but is also awkwardly dubbed by American actors who seem to be cold-reading their lines. French cinema icon Lino Ventura leads the sprawling ensemble as Jean Valjean, the beleaguered yet indefatigable ex-convict who spent years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, while Michel Bouquet projects the right degree of self-righteous malevolence as Inspector Javert, Valjean's brutal persecutor. Director Robert Hossein manages to keep the action moving at a crisp pace while staying relatively faithful to Hugo's elaborate narrative (the sequence involving the storming of the barricades during a student uprising is imaginatively staged), although one could find fault with some elements of the production design (most of the ragged clothing on the poverty-stricken characters looks brand new, and carefully applied smudges of soot on the photogenic cast members' faces barely suggest a life of grime). Even with all of the drawbacks, however, this rare production—mostly unknown to American viewers—should be considered a strong optional purchase. (P. Hall)
Les Miserables
Worldwide Media, 2 discs, 181 min., not rated, DVD: $19.95 Volume 27, Issue 6
Les Miserables
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