Les Miserables

Rennie's Valjean is a stormy Biblical prophet (in the chiselled cinematic manner), while Robert Newton's Javert is a puffed-up turkeycock always, it seems, about to burst his buttons. Neither the escaped convict nor the 'imprisoned' policeman holds back. In the end, however, the honours go to Newton. He knows when to lay aside the bluster and movingly touch in the details which make his character pitiable. This lavish and very carefully mounted version of Hugo's novel was scripted by Richard Murphy for Fox; it's well acted by a roster of star secondary players, all of whom rise to the dignity of the proceedings, and was shot in rich, chiaroscuro b/w by Joseph LaShelle. Notable finale in the Paris sewers; but, regrettably, somewhat lacking in passionate conviction.