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Les Misérables

Director: Raymond Bernard
Year: 1934
Run-time: 4 hr 49 min
Source: Criterion Channel Streaming

- This is frequently cited as the best adaptation of Hugo's novel, but even at nearly five hours, it's surprising how much is omitted.  It has a good Valjean, although his thoughts are occasionally brought out in this, whereas in the book he is almost a complete cipher.  Marius and Cosette seem a little more vapid, and Javert has no redeeming qualities.  I miss the omission of the convent scenes, although I understand they bear no relation on the larger plot (except for the reappearance of the cart driver).

- It's quite fitting that Bernard would be the Frenchman to adapt this, as The Chess Player had established him as a master of the blockbuster epic, particularly in balancing character and plot.

- A recent ad email from Criterion Channel revealed that Wes Anderson is a big Bernard fan, including Les Mis.  It's an interesting comparison - obviously Bernard doesn't have the same attention to detail, but the sets were very good - the blockade scene is perfect to the way I had imagined it.
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