PBS/BBC Les Miserables

Dave28282 Profile Photo
Dave28282
#1PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/7/19 at 8:23am

I think it's wonderful. The production value is great, scenes are well acted. Sets look amazing and the spoken language fits the literal style.

If only the musical film version had this kind of production quality or understanding of the chosen language. I did miss the music from Boublil and Schönberg now and then, but if they would have used it, it should have been used in scenes as a voice over, instrumental, in creative ways to respect the spoken, literal style of the film. The other choice could have been: fully embracing the language of sung thoughts, using pre-recorded tracks to create a better than life reality, which is essential for this non-literal language on screen, more like an emotional videoclip. Both versions could work really well.

But at least we now have one recent version of les Mis on screen that is watchable and feels sincere.
 

Updated On: 4/18/19 at 08:23 AM

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henrikegerman
#2PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/11/19 at 11:30pm

Dave, since the advent of film there have been countless adaptations of Hugo's novel.  Some of them are quite fine.

Including the 1935 Richard Boleslawsky film with Fredric March and Charles Laughton
And Raymond Bernard's magnificent 1934 version starring the great Harry Baur.

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henrikegerman
#3PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/11/19 at 11:30pm

Dave, since the advent of film there have been countless adaptations of Hugo's novel.  Some of them are quite fine.

Including the 1935 Richard Boleslawsky film with Fredric March and Charles Laughton
And Raymond Bernard's magnificent 1934 version starring the great Harry Baur.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptations_of_Les_Mis%C3%A9rables#Film

Dave28282 Profile Photo
Dave28282
#4PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/12/19 at 6:05am

Thanks! Yes, I should have said "recent version".

But indeed, there are various versions out there. I should take a look at some of those older ones you mention.

Updated On: 4/12/19 at 06:05 AM

Roscoe
#5PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/15/19 at 9:34am

I can strongly recommend the French version by Raymond Bernard.  It just can't be beat.


"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/

Valentina c
#6PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/17/19 at 10:05pm

Les miz is my favorite musical of ALL time! I’ve read the book, seen the musical, and the movie and I’ve been thinking about starting the series, and based on these reviews I definitely will now!!

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dramamama611
#7PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/22/19 at 12:30am

Watched the first episode and thought it was really well done!


If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

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South Florida
#8PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/22/19 at 5:04pm

I was not impressed with the first two episodes.


Stephanatic

henrikegerman Profile Photo
henrikegerman
#9PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/22/19 at 10:35pm

duplicate posat

Updated On: 4/28/19 at 10:35 PM

henrikegerman Profile Photo
henrikegerman
#10PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/22/19 at 10:35pm

I'm over the moon about the first two episodes.  Strong lead performances from Oyelowo and West.  David Bradley and Henry Lloyd Hughes are both excellent and Lily Collins is breaking my heart.  All this and Derek Jacoby too.  Davies aces the adaptation and it's a lavish, beautiful production.

Updated On: 4/22/19 at 10:35 PM

HarryGoofy
#11PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/23/19 at 3:23pm

Nice! Hoping to see this myself.

By the way, my cousin George has a dog kennel for sale. If anyone's interested, feel free to PM me.

Updated On: 4/29/19 at 03:23 PM

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themysteriousgrowl
#12PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/24/19 at 12:32pm

 

I haven't caught any of the new series yet, but count me in as a fan of the '34 Raymond Bernard adaptation. Harry Baur is superb and simply can't be beat.


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David10086 Profile Photo
David10086
#13PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 4/28/19 at 7:05pm

I'm hooked on the BBC version which is now running on PBS. I'm ahead on a few episodes (just finished episode 4) from a streaming service, and I promise you this just gets better and better each episode.Really love this series - I think what pulls it all together is the superb acting by Dominic West. 

South Florida Profile Photo
South Florida
#14PBS/BBC Les Miserables
Posted: 5/21/19 at 5:07pm

I enjoyed the series, it makes me want to read the book again, because after so many incarnations I don't remember what follows the book.  Maybe it's a story that deserves more than 2-3 hours to tell, but then again maybe 6-7 seems to short.  


Stephanatic