Eclipse Series 4: Raymond Bernard (Wooden Crosses / Les Miserables) (The Criterion Collection)
by Raymond Bernard
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Charles Vanel, Geo Laby, Jean Galland, Pierre Blanchar, Pierre LabryDirector: Raymond Bernard
Brand: Image Entertainment
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); French (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Box set, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 394 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-07-17
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Eclipse from Criterion
Movie Reviews of Eclipse Series 4: Raymond Bernard (Wooden Crosses / Les Miserables) (The Criterion Collection)
Movie Review: Raymond Bernard's LES MISERABLES is definitive version!
Summary: 5 Stars
As of this writing I have seen six different film versions of Victor Hugo's classic novel. Not until viewing Raymond Bernard's version had I felt like I had seen the definitive filming of LES MISERABLES.
Don't let the year it was made (1934) scare you away. Yes - filmmaking had only been around for a few years and you may think that the later versions would be more technically advanced and capable of re-creating the novel in a more fully realized fashion. Nothing could be further from the truth. After viewing the 1934 version, I question why anyone chose to remake the film to begin with?
From the opening shot of the contorted, gnarled, grimacing figure carved into stone being held up by a similar human figure literally carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders to the final shot of the two candlesticks slowly extinguishing simultaneously with Jean Valjean's last breath. The candlesticks representing so many aspects of Jean Valjean's life - oppression, thievery, poverty, wealth, light and finally death. Jules Kruger's brilliant cinematography utilizes not only the German expressionistic style that was popular then (shadows, light, angles, etc...), but the occasional handheld camera work was years ahead of it's time.
What I was most impressed with, along with the cinematography, was the caliber of acting from the lead players. When viewing films of that era it seems that much melodrama goes into the performances. But from the first moment you witness the subtlety, sincerity and honesty of Harry Baur's performance as Jean Valjean, you are mesmerized. He encompassed all that made Jean Valjean such a noble, dignified, compassionate and tragic figure in the novel. I will always picture Jean Valjean as portrayed by the brilliant Harry Baur. All the other performers totally give of themselves to make the characters come to life. They bring you along with them on their journey. You truly experience their pains and joys and at each tragic turn you feel like you have lost a true friend.
I was entertained and transported for nearly 5 hours. The quality of the film, the storytelling, the acting and the care that went into this production stayed with me long after the candles burned out. I hope you too, will discover this long, lost treasure of foreign cinema.
More Eclipse Series 4: Raymond Bernard (Wooden Crosses / Les Miserables) (The Criterion Collection) reviews:
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Summary of Eclipse Series 4: Raymond Bernard (Wooden Crosses / Les Miserables) (The Criterion Collection)
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