Les Misérables is a 1935 American drama film starring Fredric March and Charles Laughton based upon the 1862 Victor Hugo novel of the same name. The movie was adapted by W. P. Lipscomb and directed by Richard Boleslawski. This was the last film for Twentieth Century Pictures before it merged with Fox Film Corporation to form 20th Century-Fox. The plot of the film mostly follows Hugo's novel Les Misérables, but there are many differences.
The film was nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture, the Academy Award for Best Assistant Director, the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. The National Board of Review named the film the sixth best of 1935.
Contents
Plot
Jean Valjean is sentenced to ten years in the galleys for stealing bread to feed his sister’s starving family. After his release, he is rejected everywhere because of his yellow passport until a bishop gives him food and shelter. When Valjean steals the bishop’s silver, the bishop saves him from arrest by claiming the silver was a gift and adds two candlesticks, urging him to choose a life of giving rather than taking.
Years later, Valjean lives under the name Monsieur Madeleine and becomes a successful factory owner and mayor. Inspector Javert, devoted completely to the law, grows suspicious of him. Meanwhile, Fantine is dismissed from the factory after gossip about her child, falls into misery, and is rescued by Madeleine, who promises to bring her daughter Cosette back from the inn where she is being mistreated.
When Javert learns that another man has been arrested as Jean Valjean, Madeleine goes to court and reveals his true identity to save the innocent prisoner. He returns too late to save Fantine after Javert comes to arrest him, but he escapes and takes Cosette away with him.
Valjean and Cosette find refuge in a convent, where Cosette grows up. Years later they live quietly in Paris, where Cosette falls in love with Marius, a young law student connected to reformist students. Javert discovers their whereabouts, and Valjean prepares to flee with Cosette.
After learning that Marius is trapped at the barricades, Valjean goes to help him. There he gains control of Javert but spares his life instead of killing him. Valjean then carries the wounded Marius to safety and returns to Cosette.
Knowing the law is closing in on him, Valjean says farewell to Cosette and entrusts her future to Marius, telling them to love each other. He keeps the bishop’s candlesticks as a reminder that life is meant for giving. Unable to reconcile Valjean’s mercy with his rigid beliefs, Javert throws himself into the water and dies.
Cast
Fredric March as Jean Valjean/Champmathieu
Charles Laughton as Inspector Émile Javert
Cedric Hardwicke as Bishop Myriel
Rochelle Hudson as Cosette
Marilyn Knowlden as Young Cosette
Florence Eldridge as Fantine
John Beal as Marius
Frances Drake as Éponine
Ferdinand Gottschalk and Jane Kerr as the Thénardiers
Vernon Downing as Brissac
Leonid Kinskey as Genflou
Ian Maclaren as Head Gardener
John Carradine as Enjolras
Heinie Conklin as Drunk at Inn (uncredited)
Harry Cording as Beam Warder (uncredited)
Olaf Hytten as Pierre (uncredited)
Differences from the novel
This adaptation made a lot of changes, many of which can also be found in later adaptations:
Valjean's trial, life as a convict and release are presented chronologically, whereas in the novel, his previous life is presented in flashback. In addition, the novel begins by introducing the bishop, while in the film, he does not appear until Valjean arrives at his door.
The film begins with Valjean being sentenced in 1800, for ten years, rather than in 1796, for five years.
While the word "galleys" was still used until the late 19th century to designate the French Bagnios, the actual penalty of sending someone to the galleys was abolished in mid-18th century. The galleys portrayed in this film are an anachronism.
In the film, Javert is shown being assigned to the galleys and seeing Valjean's display of strength at the beginning. In the novel, he is not introduced until after Valjean has become mayor.
Javert's first name is given as Émile, while in the novel, it is never given.
In the film, Valjean's prison number is 2906, while in the novel it is 24601.
In the novel, Javert is described as a tall man, with a small head, sunken eyes, large sideburns and long hair hanging over his eyes, which differs greatly from Charles Laughton's appearance, and his version of Javert in the film wears different clothes than in the novel.
Valjean is released after the 10-year sentence, despite mention of an escape attempt. In the novel he spends 19 years in prison, having been given extra time for trying to escape. He still receives a yellow passport, branding him a violent man for his attempts, however.