Eclipse Series 4: Raymond Bernard (Wooden Crosses / Les Miserables) (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

Les MiserablesSome consider this the best on-screen rendition of Les Miserables. For many years, it had no competition for this honor. But there are now many filmed versions of Hugo’s story. The shorter ones necessarily made major cuts from the novel. Of these, the 1935 (Fredric March) movie is perhaps the best. The versions of 1952 (Michael Rennie), 1978 (Richard Jordan), and 1989 (Liam Neeson) make major alterations in Hugo’s story. The 2012 production is a screen presentation of the musical, with its strengths and limitations. Good full length versions were produced in 1958 (John Gabin), 1982 (Lino Ventura), and 2018 (Dominic West). The 2000 (Gerard Depardieu) film makes curious changes in the story. Choices among these will depend on viewer preferences.As Raymond Bernard’s classic movie opens, we see its hero, Jean Valjean, as a prisoner in Toulon, where he has been incarcerated for stealing a loaf of bread. As in Hugo’s novel, Valjean demonstrates his strength by lifting one of the caryatids supporting the balcony of the Toulon City Hall. When freed from prison, Valjean faces discriminatory treatment as an ex-convict. He finally finds food and shelter with a bishop. But he repays this hospitality by stealing the bishop’s silver ware. When local police capture him and bring him back to the bishop with the silver ware, the bishop exonerates him, gives him two silver candlesticks, and tells him to become an honest man. Valjean assumes a new identity as M. Madeleine, an entrepreneur and Mayor of Montreuil.Fantine, an innocent young woman, engages in an abortive affair with a man and the result of their dalliance is a daughter, Cosette, whom she leaves with the Thenardier family, while she works in Valjean’s factory. But she is fired when the supervisor discovers that she is an unwed mother. Without a job, she resorts to desperate measures—selling her hair, her teeth, and finally her body—to raise money for Cosette. She is arrested after getting into a very physical fight with a man who has abused her, and faces a prison sentence. But Valjean saves her, and promises to care for her and Cosette.One day, a man is caught under a large cart, and Valjean releases him by raising the cart. When police inspector Javert, who knew Valjean at Toulon, witnesses this amazing display of strength, he begins to suspect that Mayor Madeleine is actually Valjean. Javert’s suspicions are put to rest when an innocent man, Champmathieu, is mistaken for Valjean. Following a long scene in which he anguishes over the fate of Champmathieu and the custody of Cosette, Valjean testifies in court to save Champmathieu, then visits the Thenardiers and rescues Cosette.There is a gap in the movie at this point. When the story resumes, the action has moved to Paris. Cosette, still living with Valjean, has developed a love interest in a law student, Marius, but has yet to tell Valjean. Marius asks his grandfather, M. Gillenormand, for financial support so he can marry Cosette; but Gillenormand says, “Never.” When the Thenardiers plan to ambush Valjean, Marius overhears their plan, and unsuccessfully tries to warn him, then warns Javert. The Thenardiers carry out their plan, but Valjean is saved by the arrival of the police.In the 1934 movie, unlike others, Cosette persuades Valjean not to go to England. He even plans to speak to M. Gillenormand on behalf of Marius and Cosette. However, this film tells us little about Eponine’s feelings for Marius. In the novel, but not in the film, she tells Marius that it would be inappropriate for a “fine young man” like him to be seen with a woman like her. She knows that she can’t have a romantic relationship with Marius, but she takes an almost maternal interest in his life, agreeing to find Cosette’s house, diverting her father’s gang from attacking the house, leading Marius to it, risking her life to protect Cosette and Valjean from the gang, and later warning Valjean of a possible further attack. But Bernard’s film doesn’t show us any of this. From Hugo’s narrative up to this point, we might expect Marius to go to the barricade, not because of anything Eponine does, but because his previous decision to be poor prevents him from marrying Cosette or following her to England. He has sworn to kill himself if he cannot be with her. Now he is going to the barricade to fulfill that promise, and Eponine, carrying Cosette’s note, follows him, and reflexively grabs the barrel of a gun aimed at him. This would be a logical denouement for Eponine’s story. But, perhaps feeling that Eponine has become too admirable, Hugo instead pens a hasty and dubious narrative in which Eponine, driven by jealousy, plots to lure Marius to the barricade so he and she can die together there. When a soldier aims his weapon at Marius, Eponine grabs its muzzle and directs it at herself. Dying, she gives Marius Cosette’s note, and says it was she who lured him to the barricade where she wanted to die with him.In the novel, Eponine does not steal Cosette’s note to Marius; Cosette hands it to Eponine (then disguised as a boy). Eponine does not read it or destroy it. What will she do with it other than deliver it to Marius? But in this film, Cosette sends her note to Marius’ room, and Eponine finds it, reads it, and removes it, replacing it with another note telling Marius to join his friends at the barricade. In Hugo’s novel, Cosette’s note includes her new address, and warns Marius that her father intends to be in England within a week. But in the film, her note reads, “I spoke to my father. He gives his consent. Forget his anger. He’s expecting you. Come back quickly.” Marius reads the note and says, “It’s too late.” Just then, Valjean appears and tells Marius, “Come. She sent me.” But Marius says, “I can’t.” Valjean responds, “It will kill her.”When the battle seems inevitably lost, the insurrectionists blow up their barricade. Two of them die before an impromptu firing squad. Valjrean carries wounded Marius through the sewers to the river, where he is intercepted by the police; and Javert, who has softened considerably, provides a carriage for Valjean to take Marius to Gillenormand’s mansion. Then Javert allows Valjean to make a brief visit to his own house. While Valjean is inside, Javert walks off, wondering out loud why he is not arresting Valjean.In this film, Gillenormand speaks with Vajlean, who has just brought Marius home to his mansion. Presumably, Marius and Cosette learn of Valjean’s heroism from Gillenormand, thus this film lacks a dramatic scene in which Marius and Cosette discover the identity of Marius’ rescuer. And there is no drama associated with Javert’s suicide. All we see of his death are bubbles rising to the surface of the river. Back at headquarters, two police officers discuss his suicide, and one remarks that Javert was “a little blinkered.” Meanwhile, Marius and Cosette are married and feted at a large celebration. Valjean avoids the wedding and watches the celebration from outside. On the following day, he reveals his true identity to Marius, and almost immediately succumbs to his final illness. He gives the two candlesticks to Cosette, and says, “I hope he that gave them to me is satisfied with me. I did the best I could.” He provides an obiter dictum for the entire story: “God is just. It is man who sometimes is unjust.” Asked by Cosette if he wants a priest, he remembers the bishop and tells her, “I have one.”Roughly 30 minutes of the original film have been lost, so current copies cannot be regarded as complete. We do know that much is missing on the Criterion film—all the approximately eight years from the time Valjean rescued Cosette from the Thenardiers until Cosette’s 16th birthday. During these years, Valjean takes Cosette to Paris, where they are driven out of the Gorbeau House by a police raid, escaping to a convent, where Cosette spends the rest of her childhood. Also missing are their move from the convent to Rue Plumet, Cosette’s initial meeting with Marius, the activities of Eponine in locating Cosette, guiding Marius to her, and thwarting Thenardier’s attempt to rob Valjean and Cosette. Perhaps the missing film would explain how Marius knows Javert, how Cosette knows Marius’ address, and how Valjean and Cosette know Eponine.The cast is admirable. Harry Baur gives a dominant performance as Valjean. Baur, who looks like a man who has done hard time and suffered constant fear of discovery, gives a powerful emotional performance, not only as Valjean, but also as the slow witted Champmathieu. He may be the best of those who have played this role, and deserves the respect he is generally accorded. Charles Vanel, with bushy sideburns like Hugo’s Javert, effectively portrays the French police inspector as unemotional, gruff, unsympathetic, and driven by the law—even when it is directed at him. His suicide is not pictured in this movie, so Vanel is denied that dramatic scene. As Fantine, Florelle has one of the most challenging roles in the movie, and delivers some of its most emotional moments. Unlike many actors who have played Thenardier, Charles Dullin fully captures his shifty and sinister nature in one of the best portrayals of this character. Whereas Hugo’s Eponine was thin and tall, Orane Demazis is short and stocky, but her elfish performance seems to fit this character. As noted, her role is limited because the movie omits many of her activities described in the book. Josseline Gael and Jean Servais are effective as Cosette and Marius. Emile Genevois, who was 15 during the filming, but looks younger, has a large and important role as Gavroche. He went on to a long film career. Gaby Triquet did not, but she is convincing here as young Cosette.Subsequent years were unfortunate for two members of the cast. When his wife, suspected of espionage, was arrested in Berlin in 1941, Harry Baur sought her release. The Germans arrested Baur and tortured him. He died mysteriously shortly after his release in 1943. During the war years, Gael broke up with her husband, actor Jules Berry, and kept company with Antonin Saunier, who worked with the French Gestapo. After France was liberated, both Saunier and Gael were arrested. He was convicted and executed. Gael, evidently thanks to the pleas of Berry (who was more loyal to her than she was to him), was fined and barred from French citizenship.The 1934 movie is noteworthy for its length, its scale, its acting, and its cinematography. Most of the filming was done in specially constructed sets near Nice; these sets are impressive, but they don’t look lived in. On the other hand, the Luxembourg Gardens scenes were actually shot in the Luxembourg Gardens. Bernard’s film still contains vestiges of earlier years in which many of these actors had honed their skills on the stage or in silent films. Thus they occasionally overact, exaggerate physical gestures, and register surprise with wide open eyes. Despite these shortcomings, many still regard this movie as the best screen presentation of Les Miserables.Wooden CrossesThe initial scenes in Wooden Crosses--soldiers marching in formation and myriad wooden crosses on a field--convey a sense of foreboding. Then we see enthusiastic crowds welcoming the coming of the war, cheering as troops march by, and waving happily at soldiers on a train heading for combat. Large crowds of eager men surge toward a recruiting station. Thereafter, the movie follows the soldiers in one unit of the French 39th Infantry Regiment. At first, they are in a jovial mood. Thinking the fighting is over, they indulge in wine and celebratory dancing. But soon they are marched off to the front, singing confidently. From their bunker at the front, a night patrol is sent to inspect the German positions. They hear a German soldier singing. There is a German attack, and Vairon, a member of the patrol, is killed. Later, a letter addressed to Vairon arrives, and Gilbert Debachy (a law student and a principal character in the story), who is from Vairon's home town, takes the letter and tears it in pieces which he places on Vairon's grave.Even before they have much experience of combat, the men hear the sounds of German sappers digging under their bunker. They conclude that the Germans are about to lay explosives that will destroy the bunker and its inhabitants. One soldier nearly has a nervous breakdown. A relief group arrives and this unit moves out, minutes before the German explosives go off. In a church, we hear a man singing Ave Maria, as the camera cuts to a hospital where seriously wounded men are being treated. A soldier offers a simple prayer: Let us live. There follows a ten-day battle, as French soldiers go over the top facing machine gun and artillery fire. Two soldiers use the body of a deceased comrade as a parapet. The film of these scenes, with gun and artillery fire under a dark and overcast sky, is remarkably like actual wartime footage. It is after this battle that a soldier sings, "Oh yes, you'll get your cross. If not the Croix de Guerre, then a wooden cross." Later, as the soldiers put on a military parade, we see ghostly images of soldiers crossing the sky.In the ensuing battle, Demachy, who was about to go on leave, is wounded in no man's land. In great pain, he calls for a medic. But a responding medic is hit by an artillery shell. Other soldiers are also calling for medics. Demachy tries to stay conscious, hoping a medic will come after dark. A double exposed image reflects his recollections of happier times--singing marching songs, and dancing at home. But the medics never reach him.Although the various soldiers were from different social classes, they were not important as individuals. They all were simply components in a military machine. All the actors had seen combat in the war. Pierre Blanchar, who plays Gilbert Demachy, had been gassed at Verdun. It is not clear if the film depicts actual battles. Early in the war, there were two major battles in the area where it was filmed. In their initial attack, the Germans made their encircling movement too soon, and thus suffered a major defeat when the French attacked their exposed right flank at the First Battle of the Marne. It is evidently at this time that Demachy joins the unit, along with other reinforcements, expecting combat. The other soldiers laugh at him and tell him that the fighting is over. They are quickly disabused of this notion, and marched off to the front to engage in what was apparently the First Battle of Champagne, which lasted from late 1914 to early 1915, with the French seeking to break through the German lines and cut the railroad which brought their supplies. This attack failed, but the French attempted the same tactic a year later in the Second Battle of Champagne. The Germans detected French preparations, called up reserves and established a second defensive line (the first in this war). The French broke through the first line, and were slaughtered by the second, which had not been affected by the initial French attack. This battle seems to be the second one portrayed in Wooden Crosses.Wooden Crosses follows the story and the dialog in the novel by Roland Dorgelès, who fought in the war. Filmed in the Champagne region of France, the film is noteworthy for its innovative cinematography and powerful sound effects. The filming took place on World War I battlefields, and explosives intentionally set off for the film occasionally triggered unexploded shells buried in the area. The film had a great impact when it was released. Significantly, it was first screened for delegates at the Geneva Disarmament Conference. It was next shown to veterans of the 39th Infantry Regiment, and then to the public "at a gala performance" attended by the President of France. After viewing the film, one veteran asked,"will any one dare, after this, dupe us and abuse us with falsely heroic daubings intended to depict the war?"

This is a review for the LES MISERABLES movie by Raymond Bernard. To cut to the chase, if you are a fan of LES MIS then you simply must see this version - as I said in the title of this review, it is a MASTERPIECE for its time (1934) or any other. To me it is the definitive version of the book because of all the movies I have seen it is the closest - by that I mean the following...1) this movie holds true to the spirit of the book and doesn't change V Hugo's intentions (for example later films have Valjean and Fantine as love interest (wrong), or that Valjean was in love with Cosette other than as a father figure (wrong), or they omit the Thenardiers (wrong), etc, etc). This film holds true to the story2) this movie includes so much of the book that is missing in other versions. In here you'll find tons of little scenes which are well done, such as... a) an extended scene with Valjean, the bishop, his sister, and M Magliore....Valjean's theft of the little savoryard b) The downfall and sickness of Fantine (even her missing front teeth are included which is oft overlooked) c) The Thenardiers haggling over Cosette, their acting as the poor Jondrettes and their plot with the gang of ruffians, even something as small as their picture of Waterloo in included. (Although I do lament that Thenardier in the sewer was mysteriously absent and we didn't see them again after their arrest in the Jondrette affair) d) You'll see Cosette and Marius in the garden and at the Luxemborg - 2 things you usually don't get. e) Gavroche is included as is his due and even if death is depicted accurately with his singing taunts of the army as he searches the dead for ammo. In addition, EPONINE is spot on -- her assistance to Marius, her love for Marius, her part in Jondrette affair, etc are all there. AND her death scene is tragic enough to bring a tear to your eye (if only Marius's actor could have stepped up in that scene too!) f) M Gillenormand (Marius' Grandfather) is absolutely awesome! He steals every scene he is in and he's in more in this movie than any other I've seen. Just fabulous! g) You see the students plotting in a hidden room of the ABC Cafe...General Lamarq's funeral march and the resulting riot are also included....the governments plans for dealing with the riots (of which Enjolras and Marius's is only 1 of many) h) The scenes at the barricade are amazing. Nearly everything you want is included - the old man's bravery in planting the flag atop the barricade, building the barricades, 3 rounds of fighting, front and rear barricades, gavroche going for more ammo, Javert's capture, etc, etc Of course Eponine's heroism in saving Marius and also Valjean's feats - including letting go of Javert and saving Marius i) A great job in the sewers - I kept thinking surely they will tone it down but believe me they did not - Valjean and Marius were IN the sewers up to their faces and it was about as lifelike as you can get - yuck! (Again my only complaint was Thenardier's absence) j) Cosette and Marius's wedding is well done k) Valjean's confession to Marius and Cosette although slightly different than in the book was still well done and his death scene was another heartfelt moment. x) Other tidbits that come to mind: Valjean saving Fauchelevent under the cart, Valjean's race to the court at Arras to save Champmatheiu, the whole court scene was fantastic and so true to the book, and so much more z) WHAT's MISSING: obviously no movie is going to include everything, here's what I found missing: not much about Valjean in prison, no backstory of Bishop, very little of Fantine's quartet and her romance with Tholomys, Fantine's meeting with Thenardier's to give them Cosette, nothing of Valjean and Cosette in Convent, and probably more but all in all this movie had more little tidbits than any other I've seen so far. It should be noted that in this edition there is a nice insert that tells the story of this version and all that the director had to go through to get it released - remember this came out BEFORE WWII and that had a big part in it being lost to history for while. The story goes that even this version at 5 hours is not the complete version because some of the film has been lost forever - that said, what's here is great.3) The acting was right on for me. I understand that nowadays some may think there was a bit of overacting (mainly among the actress who played Fantine) but it didn't bother me. I must say that Harry Baur played a simply perfect Valjean (exactly as I pictured him from the book) -- AND he even played Champmatheiu at court to a tee. I say again you will not find a better Valjean than Baur - period. As for Javert, he was right on from beginning to end -- Duty was his driver (as it should be, not love of power or brutality as in later versions). The Thenardier's also played a good part and as I said above M Gillenormand was absolutely brilliant. I also appreciated the students and their desire for revolution - it was really well done4) What else do you need to know? it is in Black and White. The dialogue is in FRENCH with english subtitles. There are 2 discs and 3 movies that make up the story - 281 minutes. It's long but honestly it flies by. I don't know that you can find this 'new' simply because it's so old - mine was used but it was in perfect condition. It is a film I will treasure - I hope you can find it too.Here's the bottom line - as I said in the beginning, if you are a fan of Les Mis - especially if you have read the book and are aching to see the book on film in a version that does honor by respecting the book and including so much of it then do yourself a favor and BUY THIS ASAP.

nice

They are great for those who are learning French. The actors spoke very clearly. I use these to improve my oral comprehension.

A good copy of the old thirties Les Miserables trilogy. The casting is good it is a true epic. The other film the wooden cross shows its age. Apparently a big hit when originally released, it has aged badly. The battle scenes and the conditions shown certainly give the feeling of how it must have been for the generation who fought the first world war. The sentiments at the end seem a bit over the top. A good worth while collection.

love to see the poor backgrounds of the films which represent more of the true story in rapport of the book fromVictor Hugo.Newer versions of the films according to the story by Victor Hugo, the sceneries, actors etc.do not depict theway people lived in that century.

Délai d'acheminement:4 jours pour un colis venant des USA,bravo.Qualité de l'image impeccable.Sans parler de la qualité artistique de ces 2 films et en particulier les Misérables qui est absolument parfait.Le plus proche du roman de Victor Hugo.Cordialement.Robert Molinaro