Miserables, Les

Miserables, Les

About

Probably the best Hollywood version of Victor Hugo's story, this has March as the honourable and strong Jean Valjean, reduced to stealing food in his impoverished youth. Laughton is his uncompromising nemesis Inspector Javert, driven by a committed belief in the law as opposed to justice, who hounds Valjean as he struggles to gain respectability. The seductive period detail and comforting sentimentality frame fine performances, particularly from Laughton.

Cast & Connections

Actor: Charles Laughton, Fredric March, John Beal, Rochelle Hudson, Frances Drake, Cedric Hardwicke
Director: Richard Boleslawski
Writer: WP Lipscomb
Producer: Darryl F Zanuck
Photographer: Gregg Toland

In a nutshell

His character is a haunted man, infused with tics and quirks, and too embittered to accept that forgiveness is an option.

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