Les Misérables (1958)

Les Misérables is a French film first released in 1958, directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois.  The film is based on a novel by Victor Hugo and stars Jean Gabin, Bernard Blier, René Fleur, Julienne Paroli and Fernand Ledoux.  Our overall rating for this film is: very good.


Jean Valjean, a convict unjustly sentenced to hard labour, escapes from his prison.  After a clergy man saves him from being arrested again, he resolves to reform and start a new life.  Years later, he is the respectable mayor of a small French town, who has adopted a young girl Cosette.  Then his arch-enemy Inspecteur Javert surfaces and, discovering the mayor’s true identity, determines to bring him to book.

Victor Hugo’s powerful classic novel of revenge and redemption is brought to life in this magnificent film adaptation, scripted by one of French cinema’s best writers, Michel Audiard.

The film stars some of France’s greatest actors, including the superlative Jean Gabin who seems an obvious choice for the lead role of Valjean.  Less obvious casting is Bourvil as the villainous landlord Thénardier and Bernard Blier as Valjean’s obsessed opponent Javert, but both offer fine performances which complement Gabin’s very well.

Although probably the most popular work of fiction in France, Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables is a substantial piece of literature, sometimes described as directionless and overly long.  The same could be said of this film which, at over three and half hours, is rather demanding for one sitting.  Much better then to watch the film in its original two-part format.

© James Travers 2000

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