Friday, January 15, 2016

Les Misérables (1935)


Academy Awards, USA 1936

Nominated
Oscar
Best Picture
Best Cinematography
Gregg Toland
Best Film Editing
Barbara McLean
Best Assistant Director
Eric Stacey

United Artists
Directed by Richard Boleslawski
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Fox)

Arrested and sent to prison for 10 years for stealing food, Jean Valjean (Fredric March) is released only to be burdened by a parole rule that forces him to walk hundreds of miles on foot to register. He changes his identity and becomes a successful factory owner. He befriends an employee and her young daughter, becoming the child's de facto father when she dies. Valjean's identity is eventually uncovered by the unflappable Inspector Javert, but his capture is complicated by a student revolution in which his daughter has become involved. Well-acted with high production values for its time, but subsequent films have somewhat diminished its power today.

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