User Reviews

There aren't enough superlatives to express my thoughts of this sixties' serialisation of Dumas' classic novel. It is one of my vivid memories of my teenage years having been one of BBC TV's superb Sunday teatime serials which were a staple television diet at that time - along with the "Dr Who" serials on a Saturday. With the superb Alan Badel as the ultimate 'Count', subsequent portrayals have been pale in comparison - even Gerard Depardieu in the recent French language adaptation. My only wish is that someone, somewhere, would seek out this production and give it a well-deserved rerun - all thirteen half-hour episodes, which omitted little from the novel. A truly superb and memorable production. 'They don't make 'em like this anymore' ;-((

We watched this adaptation on BBC Television when the serial version was shown in 1964. It was our first contact with both Alan Badel and The Count Of Monte Cristo. The impact of both the story and the adaptation was spellbinding. I can still hear Dantes saying "Hi-eee-day". There has never been another adaptation to match it. I have since read the book several times and, irrespective of whoever may have appeared in subsequent versions, my vision of Dantes is always Alan Badel. Why is the BBC serial version not available? The world at large deserves to be able to see this treasure. The fact that it was transmitted in Black and White is no bar to its worldwide acceptability. Even if large parts have been destroyed, whatever remains will be acceptable to the viewing public. Please! Please! Anyone who knows where it is, do come forward. It is one of the media world's great treasures.

***BEING RELEASED ON DVD 26 MAY 2014 - AMAZON***

This adaptation is simply wonderful.

It follows the text very faithfully, and reproduces the marvelous tale almost as exactly as Dumas wrote it. No other production of 'The Count of MonteCristo' achieved this, before or since. In these more enlightened times, when Classics are re-created, characters are added, some removed, the time line re-arranged, and of course the dialog 'improved', it is perhaps old fashioned to so accurately translate a book to the screen, however this production recreates closely the book's magnificent tale of adventure, love, misery, charm and revenge.

The BBC filmed the Series two years before it announced it was going to start transmitting in colour, so it was a B&W production. This was not a deliberate decision, just an accident of time. Each episode would have been awash with spectacular colour.

To fit the whole of the book into 5 hours would have been impossible, so some changes were made, but not many. This production is the closest adaptation made to date, much closer than later attempts.

I hope that somewhere in the vaults of the BBC a recording exists so that those of you who never saw this production some day have the chance to do so. Once seen, I guarantee when you re-read the book, you will always see and hear the characters as they were portrayed in this TV masterpiece. The story, the sets, the direction, the costumes, and each and every actor's performance are superb. Very, very occasionally everything comes together, and in this production it really does. Each and every person who had a hand in making this series has my sincere respect, and admiration. You created a classic from a Classic, very few have come close to achieving that.

Originally IMDb only showed Alan Badel in the cast list. After a lot of research I managed to put together and almost complete cast list which I submitted to IMDb and which was eventually included. For some reason some of the cast were still omitted. There is an 'open' Facebook group entitled 'Alan Badel Is The Count of Monte Cristo' which contains the complete cast list and other interesting material.

If anyone out there reads this and has 'influence' with the BBC, use it to bring this production back into the public domain.

I have just started re-reading 'The Count of Monte Cristo for the first time for more than 30 years, and find, as I read, sharp reminders of the wonderful BBC Sunday Serial from 1964. In fact, Alan Badel's charismatic performance as the Count still remains my foremost image of the character. As I recall, even as a child, performance values were excellent, with fine period detail, dialogue which didn't sound like a novelette, a real ability to tell the story and wonderful performances from some great actors. I found the IMDb site by searching the Internet for a possible copy of the serial, and reiterate with other contributors, that if anyone can trace such a copy, it should be made available to a new audience. In passing, the BBC serialisation of 'The Three Musketeers', from roughly the same time, also had a similar blend of fine acting, period detail and story telling, with Jeremy Brett the ultimate D'Artagnan. Another classic that would be well worth re-issuing.

I've trawled the internet looking for this, with no success. Elsewhere, it has been said that the BBC has all of the episodes in its archives. The problem of making these available to the public is, presumably, one of finance. In 2003, Greg Dykes, BBC Director General, said at the Edinburgh International TV Festival :

"For many years we have had an obligation to make our archive available to the public, it was even in the terms of the last charter. But what have we done about it?

Well,you all know the problem.

Up until now, this huge resource has remained locked up, inaccessible to the public because there hasn't been an effective mechanism for distribution.

But the digital revolution and broadband are changing all that. For the first time, there is an easy and affordable way of making this treasure trove of BBC content available to all.We intend to allow parts of our programmes, where we own the rights, to be available to anyone in the UK to download so long as they don't use them for commercial purposes.

Under a simple licensing system, we will allow users to adapt BBC content for their own use.

We are calling this the BBC Creative Archive.

When complete, the BBC will have taken a massive step forward in opening our content to all - be they young or old, rich or poor."

How far this has advanced, I don't know. Whether the Count of Monte Cristo would be high up the list of programmes to be digitised, who knows? We, here, all obviously agree on its merits!

November 2008 and nothing has changed; I wonder whether we will ever see this fantastic series ever again. I can still hear Alan Badel's voice in my head: this was what made it special for me. I had a small portable tape recorder at the time, 15 minutes per side, and I listened to the tapes over and over again. I still keep hoping.

March 2009 If Midnight_Voice is prepared to start a FaceBook campaign, I'm all for it!

I agree with all the reviews of this excellent adaptation. I can still hear the trumpet solo in the opening bars of Roberto Grehrd's wonderfully atmospheric and dramatic music.

I will never forget the way Alan Badel (surely the most perfect Dantes)whispered "Mercedes!", and who could forget his entrance when he appeared in silhouette in the doorway on the stroke of nine o'clock - pure drama.

Can anyone who has connections with the BBC please try and find out if some or all episodes could be made available? I believe that another series (that incidentally contained music by Roberto Gerhard) is available on tape - "War in the Air", broadcast in the 50s, so maybe there is hope.

I couldn't agree more with Fudge-4's comments. I watched this BBC Sunday teatime serialisation of The Count of Monte Cristo back in my childhood and was completely enthralled. The casting was perfect and when I later read the book and listened to a BBC radio version I always pictured the actors from the TV version.

I can still recall the striking theme music which opened each eagerly awaited episode. Alan Badel as the count was a commanding presence, even when viewed on the small black and white TV screens of that era, and I also recall the presence of the late Sandor Eles (not mentioned in the cast list above), playing the wonderfully handsome son of the count's principal enemy, Mondego.

Let's hope that this superb dramatisation was not wiped when the BBC culled its videotape archive.

This is a very affectionate adaptation of the novel, extremely faithful to the spirit and the detail of the book. It was a high-spot in TV adaptation of the Classics, beautiful to look at, and splendidly acted. Alan Badel's performance as Edmond Dantes was really memorable.

I have been trying to get a copy of this wonderful series, after following it on the Beeb many years ago, but without success. I sympathize with the person who said that they had missed some of the episodes. This version was so true to the book and its complicated plot that it would have been difficult to follow unless one watched it in its entirety. Having seen serialized versions and movies, even the French one with Gerard Depardieu, I feel that none of them compare with this old BBC version. Many of them are not true to the original story, and certainly none of the actors have the charisma of Alan Badel. He had an amazing voice and a magnetism that was so perfectly suited to the role of Edmund Dantes.

It's without frills. It's black and white. It's on TV. Set mostly on a stage. You know the story by heart. You know what each character must say and do. And yet... I could not tear myself away. The extra time allows for so much more dialog, so much more verbal sparring. So much more innuendo. The acting is superb. I'm sure there are faults. But the series was so skillfully written and acted, that I could not focus on the faults, nor remember any, if there were.

Like the BBC 1971 version of Last of the Mohicans which wsas the best made version of that story this Count of Monte Cristo is fantastic.Its a bit of a shame they keep the murder plot out of it but apart from that its excellent.If it had been a movie it would deserve an Oscar.The BBC should see this again and learn from it.Nowadays their historical series are busier with being political correct and not with historical correctness.The acting here is suerb the costumes are beautiful.Maybe they should do it again in color now but that would be the only change i would advise.No costume changes no script-changes.

I was a teenager when I saw Alan Badel playing the Count of Monte Christo in the TV series. In those days I remember Sundays as virtually wasted days and my family avidly watched whatever BBC serial was on at the time. The Count of Monte Christo was something special though. Having seen it I read the book from cover to cover. As thorough as it was the series left out some of the detail from the book or it would have run more than its 13 weeks (which I believe was how long it ran.) Apart from that it was so true to the spirit of the novel that I saw the series in my head as I read the book. And Alan Badel simply WAS the character of Monte Christo. No-one else will ever do it as well. It was the best TV series I ever saw and would pay big money to have a copy of it now. I would love my sons to see it, and I have wanted to see it again for the last 30 years. Please BBC, release the series on DVD, it is a national treasure.

After all these years, the comments of many of the others echo precisely what I was going to say. I remember the TV serial so well and I was also glued to the set with my parents every week. How many episode were there? Were they 30 minutes or 1 hour?

I've just started listening to the audio book on my iPod going to and from work. I'd like to have re-read the book but time is a precious commodity these days.

Yes, and the way Badel said "Mair-ced-ez" so as not confuse her with a car was another vivid memory.

However, I fear that if we saw it again we might be disappointed...but I'd still like the opportunity.

How about a FaceBook group? If there's not one, I might start one.

Alan Badel will ever be to me The Count of Monte Cristo. I read the book & I hear his beautiful voice & see his handsome face. Why, with so many people remembering after all these years this quite incredible series, are the BBC so obdurate about bringing it out on DVD. I just will not believe that it has disappeared. It's never been bettered, other productions just pale in comparison. I did email the BBC a few years ago, begging them to bring it out on DVD, but needless to say, I received no reply. When I watched this I was in my nurses training & had to ask the theatre sister to let me have my tea at the time it was on, & I would rush over to the nurses home where luckily I would be on my own. I, like so many people, never forgot it, & have such a longing to see it again. I think I will have another go at contacting the BBC & asking them to PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, bring us back the ONLY Count of Monte Cristo worth watching.

Alan Badel is excellent as the Count. The whole Series is magical. Each episode is so well put together. The story itself is a masterpiece. If I remember correctly it is black and white. I would recommend any of the versions of this epic book. This is one of the best.

Just reading the novel again for the umpteenth time and still have the images of this cast in my mind. Not only is it acting (and casting) at its very best but the script wasn't trivialised in any way as happens with modern adaptations. Come on BBC - don't tell us this was destroyed long with so many other classics of that time!

In the last few years several other Forums on the Net have started threads about this definitive 'The Count Of Monte Cristo' series.

This is a good sign. Hopefully one day someone at the BBC will get the message that not only are there still a lot of devoted fans who were lucky enough to see it originally who want to see it again, but also realise there may be some 'mileage' in releasing it because of the thousands of Monte Cristo fans who would definitely want to see this production, acclaimed as it is as simply unrivaled.

The BBC have produced some wonderful series, but I wonder how many BBC Drama productions are still being praised, remembered and wanted on DVD 45 years after their screening?

Have a look at the Discussion postings about this production too. It contains more information and useful comments about this wonderful series.

To date, all the user reviews of this series give it 10/10, so could I do less? So how is the overall rating only 8.3? I don't get it. However, to chime into the overall praise, this is a cracking good drama which is remarkably true to the novel by Alexandre Dumas. In comparison with other versions, it provides a clear exposition of the major threads of the story. I saw it in my teens and recently had the pleasure of reprising it after an interval of more than 50 years. I had never forgotten the closing lines of dialogue and was pleased to find that my recollection was accurate. Considering the series as a whole, it starts off quite well and the first 6 or so episodes are workmanlike, given the low budget. The seafaring and prison scenes are handled quite competently given the challenges involved with a small B&W screen, but things get easier with the move to Paris. However the real magic of the series is the depiction of the enigmatic and Machiavellian figure of the Count. Charismatic Alan Badel is quite simply magnificent, with the profile of an eagle, and the clear and musical articulation of his lines. Apart from his mesmerising performance, there is time to admire the depth of acting talent right through the cast. They may fluff their lines occasionally, but they are fully in command of the characters they portray. Both cast and crew richly deserve plaudits, and this series stands as a tribute to the talent which the BBC could marshal in the 1960s.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, BBC, for not only releasing this quite excellent TV adaptation from the 1960s but adding English subtitles in a readable font size. I remember watching this series in England on Sunday afternoons on the TV in our sitting room.

Alan Badel was superb in the role of the Count.

To come across it again is truly a treat. I am now in my 70s and almost deaf so the subtitles make it possible for me to enjoy it to the full all once more.

The cast is filled with several other old friends besides Badel. Not least is an early performance by Philip Madoc who went on to distinguish himself as Magwa in an excellent TV production of The Last of the Mohicans and as the U Boat commander in a memorable episode of Dad's Army.

..... Alan Badel excels and engages so well in character of The Count of Monte Cristo that we believe him to be the only actor who can rightfully portray the Count in this screen version from the BBC? I think we might agree....

....Although there may be some age-old doubts as to the BBC production of years ago, in my opinion this is finest version to date.... The words are spoken directly from the very book by Alexandre Dumas: Alan Badel is fluent in French, and therefore he naturally articulates in French pronunciation when the spoken word demands. He commands a performance that is both convincing and enigmatic in power of destiny of revenge - it is chilling and remarkable! The BBC had televised this outstanding production in black & white before colour transmission followed -and now we can reminisce or discover and judge for ourselves whether this is the best version which is available in DVD?

It was a long time ago that the BBC adaption was shown in a series on television....in 1964 only....and it is wonderful now to have a copy in DVD format! There have, of course, been several feature films - usually disappointing though, with romanticized melodrama and over simplification of the wonderful plots....though I did like the French version with Gerald Depardieu which runs for 360 minutes. Gerald Depardieu is colourful and flamboyant in character of the Count, and it is a lavish production...but this version could be a little annoying or confusing if you are expecting to follow the familiar plot details? In this version, for example, The Count has a French mistress in Paris, and the story romanticizes with a different ending to the original.

Although the BBC drama is 300 minutes in total running time on television, it is quite acceptable that there are many plot details missing in the adventure of this story....for example, there is an absence of Gaspard Canderousse who is to be reintroduced again, later in the story ( along with Benedetto/Andrea Cavalcanti in Paris. ) .... but having said that, though- full credit must be given to the BBC script writer who has kept to the quality of the original story in regard to the connections that enhanced a mystery in a charm to intrigue....and it is the very finest in British drama with acting performances to match the quality.

The BBC drama is not dated in my opinion, and indeed, the complete series has held me spellbound in mystique ever since I had watched it.....so happy to watch again, but a little sad as well, as to the revengeful manner of how the Count lived his life....

I highly recommend to watch the completed series in DVD, and to read the book -and hats-off to a gentleman reviewer who reads the book every year.... I personally love the book, but would recommend an edition with slightly larger print from the standard issue?

.