The Count of Monte Cristo
by Jos?e Dayan
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Florence Darel, G?rard Depardieu, Jean Rochefort, Ornella Muti, Pierre ArditiDirector: Jos?e Dayan
Brand: Koch International
Cinematographer: Willy Stassen
Editor: Dominique Roy
Producer: Doris Kirch
Producer: Jacques Bar
Producer: Jean-Pierre Gu?rin
Writer: Alexandre Dumas p?re
Writer: Didier Decoin
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: French (Original Language); English (Subtitled)
Format: Color, Content/Copy-Protected CD, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 400 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-12-06
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Koch Lorber Films
Movie Reviews of The Count of Monte Cristo
Movie Review: Can't ANYONE get this story right?
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Count of Monte Cristo" is one of the most beloved and best-selling books of all time. It has been filmed at least ten times (at least four of those times in English). It has been abridged into I don't know how many versions of less than 400 pages, but the full 1,000 + page Dumas text is an absolute marvel, although I was limited to the English translation.
It is impossible to adequately convey the full spectrum of plot and subplot in a two hour movie, and most of the English versions are far too short. I don't mind reading subtitles, so I finally decided to take a chance at this seven hour French production starring Gerard Depardieu as the title character.
As I expected, the fleshed out running time allowed for a more detailed depiction of some of the frequently omitted sub-plots: the last hour "saving" of Morrel and Sons with the miraculous appearance of the lost at sea Pharoan, the kidnapping of Albert de Moncerf and rescue from the Bandit Vampa, the luncheon where Monte Cristo tells the true horror story of the buried alive child of two of the luncheon guests.
This version also does a better job of depicting The Count as a master of disguise as Depardieu dons an even larger nose to portray Abbe Busoni and grey sideburns as Lord Wilmore. He is also depicted as a master of poisons and potions, figuring in a pair of subplots which also involve Monte Cristo displaying a logical crime-solving technique that would make Sherlock Holmes proud.
Alas - much is bungled with no gain.
Dumas sets up the rest of the story expertly in the opening pages of the original book: Just promoted to Captain and about to marry Mercedes, the most beautiful girl in Marseilles, Edmond Dantes is instead unjustly imprisoned in France's Alcatraz - the Chateau d'If - after being falsely accused by envious conspirators. Danglars envies Edmond's job, Fernant Mondego wants Mercedes. Slimy Caderousse helps them write an anonymous letter accusing Dantes of treason, trying to help Napoleon return from exile. The letter goes to Villefort, the son of a notorious Bonapartist. Villefort imprisons Dantes rather than risk family scandal. During his eighteen years of captivity Dantes meets a kindly priest, the Abbe Faria, who gives him a first-rate education and helps him figure out the circumstances of his arrest and imprisonment.
Without knowing the world of opportunity that is opening to Edmond Dantes, and the circumstances of his unjust imprisonment, the audience member has no clue of his motivation. This film opens with Edmond in prison. (Huh?!) We find out about the dastardly deeds of the conspirators in bits and pieces, some in extremely tired flashbacks.
So - the first thirty minutes of this film are disjointed and would leave the novice Monte Cristo enthusiast with almost no understanding of the background and motivations for Edmond Dantes for the remainder of the story, and I would argue that this is mandatory information.
The middle five hours or so aren't bad, as I stated before, with better than typical versions of the Count's adventures in Italy and Paris, with a single inexplicable oversight: The character Benedetto, the illegitimate offspring of Villefort and Danglar's wife, is introduced and forgotten. (More time is given to a fictitious woman who is beheaded for performing abortions.) In the 1975 English version Louis Jordan portrays Villefort and the public unmasking is one of the most satisfying scenes of the film. It is inexplicable that the circumstances of Benedetto's birth is covered in detail, then we are introduced again to the adult criminal Benedetto, but the climactic courtroom scene is omitted.
The ending is complete Hollywood, which seems odd for a French production. No, no, no, no, NO! The Princess Haydee is introduced, and has an excellent scene denouncing Mondego, but we're told off-hand that she is pairing off with journalist Beauchamp. (I curiously thought of the journalist with the same name in Clint Eastwood's masterpiece "Unforgiven." Were both brought in as a sort of Greek chorus, to comment on the on-screen story for those who may not otherwise "get it"?) A non-Dumas character, a widower, is introduced to fall in love with the Count, only to give him up at the end so that he may reunite with his beloved.
Dumas isn't rolling over in his grave as strongly as at some of the other versions, but I daresay the definitive film version of "The Count of Monte Cristo" has yet to be produced.
Summary of The Count of Monte Cristo
Acclaimed actor G?rard Depardieu stars in the adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' classic tale of love, intrigue and revenge.The Count of Monte Cristo tells the dramatic story of Edmond Dant?s, a young French sailor who is falsely denounced as a traitor and unjustly imprisoned for eighteen years without a trial. After a daring escape, Dant?s secures a treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo bequeathed to him by a dying inmate. Using these riches, he assumes a new identity and devises a plan to seek vengeance against all those who betrayed him.
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