Les Misérables Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Les Misérables Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 14, 2014

Raymond Bernard's "Les Miserables" (1934) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label Pathe. The supplemental features on the release include restored trailer for the film; archival interview with Raymond Bernard conducted by editor and filmmaker Roger Ikhlef; new video interview with writer and researcher Claudine Cohen; new video interview with French cinema expert Raymond Chirat; deleted scenes; archival screen tests; promotional materials; and more. The release also arrives with a 50-page illustrated booklet featuring archival content, writings on the film, and notes on the new restoration of "Les Miserables". In French, with optional English and French SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

On the barricades

Arguably the most complete adaptation of Victor Hugo’s famous novel, Raymond Bernard’s Les Miserables is broken into three parts: Une tempête sous un crane a.k.a. Tempest in a Skull, Les Thénardier a.k.a. The Tenardiers, and Liberté, liberte cherie a.k.a Liberty, Sweet Liberty.

Each part – which on Pathe’s new release of Les Miserables is identified as a separate film – introduces different characters whose stories eventually become closely intertwined. The foundation of the film, however, is built upon two massive transformations - the gradual character transformation of the ex-convict Jean Valjean (Harry Baur, A Man and His Woman, Moon Over Morocco) and the violent transformation of 19th century France.

In Tempest in a Skull the focus of attention is almost exclusively on Jean Valjean as he begins to question his beliefs after a casual encounter with an elderly bishop. As the film progresses, the viewer is also introduced to the beautiful Fantine (Florelle, Gervaise), the greedy and abusive Thenardiers (Charles Dullin and Marguerite Moreno), the young Cosette (Gaby Triquet), and the strict and ambitious Inspector Javert (Charles Vanel, The Wages of Fear, Les diaboliques). Different events then link these characters while Jean Valjean attempts to rebuild his life.

The narrative is expanded significantly in The Tenardiers. While Jean Valjean remains the central character, a large portion of the film is now dedicated to Cosette’s (Josselyne Gael, René Sti's Le bossu) maturation. In the first half of The Tenardiers the atmosphere is also drastically different. Here the set designs, the unique use of light and shadow, and the camera movement give the film a distinctly Gothic flavor.

Liberty, Sweet Liberty is the most ambitious of the three films. It chronicles the Paris uprising of 1832 while at the same time it manages to unite all of the important characters introduced in Tempest in a Skull and The Tenardiers. In addition to Jean Valjean and Cosette, Bernard’s camera also spends a good amount of time following the handsome Marius (Jean Servais, Rififi), Cosette’s lover and a passionate revolutionary, and the young beggar Gavroche (Emile Genevois, Casque d'Or), who becomes a surprising leader during the clashes.

Despite some minor omissions and adjustments, Raymond Bernard and co-screenwriter Andre Lang’s adaption of Victor Hugo’s legendary novel is unquestionably the most complete and most accurate ever done. Indeed, it covers an enormous amount of material but never loses its focus. As it moves through the years, the film also maintains excellent balance between the different characterizations when actors are replaced or simply asked to 'grow older' (Harry Baur and Charles Vanel’s performances are clearly the two most impressive ones).

Considering the fact that Les Miserables was completed in 1934, the visuals are also nothing short of extraordinary. Brilliantly lensed by the legendary cinematographer Jules Kruger (Abel Gance’s Napoléon, Marcel L'Herbier’s L' Argent, Julien Duvivier’s Pépé Le Moko), the big parade and many of the street clashes in Liberty, Sweet Liberty, for example, feature hundreds of supporting actors whose movement has to be seen to be believed.

The film’s famous soundtrack was created by the great Arthur Honegger (Raymond Bernard’s Cavalcade of Love, Marcel Pagnol’s Harvest), one of the founding members of the legendary Les Six (whose other members were Francis Poulenc, Germaine Tailleferre, Louis Durey, Darius Milhaud, and Georges Auric).

Les Misérables Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Raymond Bernard's Les Miserables arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label Pathe.

Please be careful when removing the discs from the book pockets. Because the two pockets are very tight and are attached to the book/case, it is probably best to keep the Blu-ray discs in nylon or paper sleeves.

The high-definition transfer uses as a foundation Pathe's 4K restoration and reconstruction of Les Miserables which was completed at L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna, Italy, in 2012. Generally speaking, the film now looks a lot healthier. Various stabilization improvements have also been performed and as a result there are virtually no transition issues. Depth and clarity are pleasing, with the daylight footage, in particular, frequently looking appropriately sharp and vibrant. Contrast levels are also stable, though some insignificant inherited fluctuations remain. Furthermore, some minor denoising corrections have been applied, but grain is retained and for the most part appears well resolved. Unsurprisingly, the film has a pleasing organic look. There are no traces of compromising sharpening adjustments. Scratches, debris, stains, damage marks, and cuts have been removed as best as possible. The encoding and compression are managed well -- the first two installments of Les Miserables are placed on Disc One, while the third installment and all the supplemental features are placed on Disc Two. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Les Misérables Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. For the record, Pathe have provided optional English and French SDH subtitles for the main feature.

Clarity and depth are very good. Understandably, the range of nuanced dynamics is rather limited, but this should not be surprising considering the age of the film. The best news is that various stabilizations have been performed and as a result there are no sudden spikes or drops in terms of dynamic intensity. This beings said, some extremely light background hiss remains. For the record, there are no pops, cracks, or distortions to report in this review. The English translation is excellent.

Les Misérables Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Victor Hugo au Cinema - in this new featurette, writer and researcher Claudine Cohen discusses Raymond Bernard's Les Miserables, its production history, and other adaptations of Victor Hugo's legendary novel (Albert Capellani's 1912 film as well as Henri Fescourt's 1935 film). Short clips from Raymond Bernard, Albert Capellani, and Henri Fescourt's films are included in the featurette. In French, not subtitled. (23 min).

• Raymond Bernard, un grand cineaste francais - in this archival interview from 1979, editor and filmmaker Roger Ikhlef discusses Les Miserables with director Raymond Bernard. In French, not subtitled. (11 min).

• La distribution des Miserables de Raymond Bernard - in this new video interview, French cinema expert Raymond Chirat discusses Raymond Bernard's Les Miserables. Mr. Chirat is the creator and former director of Bibliotheque Raymond Chirat at the Institut Lumiere in Lyon, France. In French, not subtitled. (19 min).

• Les essais de Gavroche - Gaumont Pathe Archives - archival screen tests with young Parisian actors auditioning for the role of Gavroche. Footage courtesy of Pathe (Gaumont Pathe archives). In French, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Scenes coupees - a collection of deleted scenes. In French, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Actualites Pathe - in French, not subtitled.
  
  1. La grande nuit du cinema - Gaumont Pathe Archives - archival footage from a public introduction of the cast members of Les Miserables. The event was organized by Opera de Paris Garnier on February 21, 1933.
  
  2. Les petits lits blanc - Gaumont Pathe Archives - Victor Hugo's poem recited by Gaby Triquet (Cosette/child). (2 min).

• Le Chemineau d'Albert Capellani (1905) - Albert Capellani's short film "The Vagabond" (1905). Albert Capellani directed the 1912 silent version of Les Miserables. Silent. (4 min).

• Galerie des decors - a collection of sketches. Courtesy of Cinematheque francaise. With music. (2 min).

• Galerie photos - a collection of production stills, promo stills, and archival photographs. With music. (7 min).

• Film annonce - restored trailer for Raymond Bernard's Les Miserables. In French, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Booklet - 52-page illustrated booklet featuring archival content, writings on the film, and notes on Pathe's new 4K restoration.

Les Misérables Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Pathe's 4K restoration and reconstruction of Raymond Bernard's legendary Les Miserables represents a strong upgrade in quality over the current R1 DVD release of the film. The release is Region-Free so importing it and playing it on North American players should not be a problem. The release also comes with a very strong selection of supplemental features, but unfortunately they are not subtitled in English. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.