Les Misérables (1952 film)

Plot

The film greatly differs from the novel. Entire episodes and many characters are dropped, including the Thénardiers and Enjolras. The character of Robert is entirely new.

Valjean serves his time on an actual galley. On leaving the bishop's house, Valjean kneels on a fallen rose. This rose becomes for him the symbol of the bishop's forgiveness (it leads him to putting back some objects he intends to steal from a goldsmith).

When rescuing one of his townspeople as Mayor Madelaine, Valjean does not lift the cart but merely stops it. Javert sets up the trial of an innocent man accused of being the escaped convict Valjean to trick Valjean into revealing himself.

Cosette sees her mother Fantine before Fantine dies. Valjean knocks out Javert before fleeing from the hospital. In the book, he accepts arrest and escapes from the city jail.

Marius and Cosette first meet at the convent when Marius is being chased by the police. Javert follows Valjean through the sewers. Valjean witnesses Javert's suicide, which ends the film.

Cast

Michael Rennie as Jean Valjean

Debra Paget as Cosette

Patsy Weil as Cosette (age 7)

Robert Newton as Javert

Edmund Gwenn as Bishop Myriel

Sylvia Sidney as Fantine

Cameron Mitchell as Marius

Elsa Lanchester as Madame Magloire

June Hillman as Mother Superior

Bobby Hyatt as Gavroche

James Robertson Justice as Robert (Fauchelevent)

Joseph Wiseman as Genflou

Rhys Williams as Brevet

Florence Bates as Madame Bonnet

Merry Anders as Cicely

John Rogers as Bonnet

Charles Keane as Corporal

John Dierkes as Bosun

Lewis Russell as Waiter

Radio adaptation

Les Misérables was presented on Lux Radio Theatre December 22, 1952. The one-hour adaptation starred Ronald Colman, with Paget and Newton repeating their roles from the film.