Far and away the best version of the Victor Hugo classic I know of, and way, way better than that ridiculous musical I'd be happy to pretend never existed, this 5-hour epic (over three individual films) is deep and detailed, immaculately and imaginatively photographed, and there are many moments - in the first film, particularly - that it would be hard to imagine being shown in any American film of the same time: harrowing scenes of deprivation, cruelty and pain, corruption and injustice.
Harry Baur, as the transformed ex-convict Jean Valjean, and Charles Vanel as the merciless police inspector hounding his every step for decades are both perfect for the most part, both adding so much subtle shading to their roles even in the scenes they are called upon to do very little on the screen.
There are weaknesses: the French revolution scenes in the final film are a little drawn out and overblown, with too much grandstanding and flagwaving, which threatens to eclipse the human story we've been following for so long. There's a few moments in the middle film that are needlessly prolonged to build tension that don't seem to make sense or ring true either, and the ending, when it comes at last, is unsatisfying, flopping over the finish line with a prolonged whimper rather than a bang. If not for these flaws, the film would be very close to perfect, and it's still hard to imagine it being improved upon as a whole by anyone else.
Harry Baur, as the transformed ex-convict Jean Valjean, and Charles Vanel as the merciless police inspector hounding his every step for decades are both perfect for the most part, both adding so much subtle shading to their roles even in the scenes they are called upon to do very little on the screen.
There are weaknesses: the French revolution scenes in the final film are a little drawn out and overblown, with too much grandstanding and flagwaving, which threatens to eclipse the human story we've been following for so long. There's a few moments in the middle film that are needlessly prolonged to build tension that don't seem to make sense or ring true either, and the ending, when it comes at last, is unsatisfying, flopping over the finish line with a prolonged whimper rather than a bang. If not for these flaws, the film would be very close to perfect, and it's still hard to imagine it being improved upon as a whole by anyone else.