Movie Monday - Les Miserables

Shhh... I know it's really Thursday, sorry.

Maybe I was watching something different?  I could have sworn I had seen Les Miserables - a black and white film about a drab court case in old timey France over a stolen loaf of bread.  It could have been something else, I fell asleep.  I have no idea what I'm confusing this with.  And this is why I keep a detailed spreadsheet.

Then the 1934 version of Les Miserables appeared on TCM.  Robert Osborn gave an introduction before the movie rolled and he explained this was actually THREE movies, accounting for the four hours.  And it was in French with subtitles.  Mon Dieu!

So let's quickly summarize the 900 reasons I was going to hate this movie:
    1. I had "seen" a later version and hated the story
    2. 1930's version - movies before 1940 are typically difficult for me to enjoy with over-the-top, gushy acting.
    3. Subtitles
    4. LONG ASS MOVIE
    5.  Did I mention subtitles?

Ready to snuggle down to a snooze-inducing event, I resigned myself to finally watch this movie.

And damn, if I didn't absolutely love it.

It did take several days to make my way through the four hours... remember I spare the men in the house from enduring my Oscar movie indulgence by watching my movies in the morning before I leave for work.  The Teenager just walked through the livingroom asking why I watch so many Barbara Streisand movies (I'm currently watching Hello Dolly)?  Purely by accident, I assured him.  Although I am impressed that he knows Barbara when he sees her.

Back to Les Mis, I haven't seen the stage production.  I never understood the hype.  Like I said, I thought I had already seen the movie.  It did take four hours to showcase a man released from prison, change his thieving ways, and be constantly pursued by a cop determined to put this criminal (once a criminal, always a criminal) back behind bars.  Meanwhile, the havoc wrecked by another swindling man who destroys everyone in his path.  Who is the real criminal?

I hopped over to Wikipedia to ensure I had a few facts correct about this movie and I realize that what I watched was the 1934 longass version, not the 1935 Oscar nominee.  You know what?  I don't regret it.  As Wikipedia explains, this 1934 version is the most true adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel.  Since I didn't read the novel, having seen the truest film adaptation is a good thing.  Now I feel I will better appreciate any of the other versions, and evidently there are several?  And to be honest, I'm sort of excited to see the latest version now hitting the screen.  Of course I won't see it in the theater - yeah good luck pulling The Husband in for that!

Yes, look this up and watch it.  It's a really good story, well told.  If you hate subtitles like I do, they're a minor inconvenience.  Or learn French.