Director: Henri Fescourt
Year: 1929
Country: France
Rating: 7.5
Alexander Dumas was never one to shortchange
his readers. The Three Musketeers went on for thousands of pages and the
Count of Monte Cristo came in at over one-thousand pages. In those days -
completed in 1844 - these works often came out in serial form. It is considered
one of the great classics of French literature and director Henri Fescourt
gave it the works that it was entitled to. It runs 3.5 hours long and was
broken into two parts that were released a few months apart. The print is
magnificent considering its age. Crisp black and white with some scenes tinted.
It was a fabulous job of restoring it from various prints and the orchestral
soundtrack is amazing - though I don't know if it was the original composition.
Made in 1929 it was one of the last great hurrahs of silent film.
When I was first watching it, I had no idea
it was so long. That was because I only had the first part but as I neared
the end without any revenge I had a feeling that I was missing something.
And sure enough but I was fortunately able to find a copy of the second half.
Which is good because the first half - or two hours - was primarily about
Edmond Dantes being framed and sent to prison for years. This part is rather
morose with much of it happening between the claustrophobic prison walls
- the real location from the book - and Dantes simmering with thoughts of
revenge and escape. The second half though when he plots his revenge is rather
magnificent. The film explodes with vibrancy and luxurious grand sets and
ornate costumes. And revenge is oh so sweet.
I expect most people are fairly familiar
with the plot - from the many other films or the Classic Illustrated Comic.
Bonus points to anyone who has actually read the book. Dantes was first mate
on a frigate that comes to shore - the captain has died and so the owner
Morrel appoints Dantes the Captain. This allows him to become engaged to
his village belle, Mercedes, and the entire village celebrates along with
them. But there is a snake in the grass. Fernand, a cousin of Mercedes has
long been in love with her and he frames Dantes as a Bonapartist. He is sent
up to the prosecutor Villefort who in order to protect his father, sends
Dante away to a prison on an island with no trial and no end to his sentence.
Fifteen years later Dantes escapes by swapping places with his dead friend
and being thrown over the castle walls. But before he died his friend told
him where an enormous treasure was, And thus he becomes the Count of Monte
Cristo with more money than Bezos. End of Part 1.
Part II picks up soon after with Dantes
- now the Count of Monte Cristo - planning his revenge against both Villefort
and Fernand. Nothing as simply killing them mind you - but first to humiliate
them, shame them, have their family turn against them. Villefort is now one
of the highest ranking officials in France and Fernand has married Mercedes
and had two children. He has to be meticulous and cruel. Numerous sub-plots
run through the film as well often dealing with young love and mercy.
The director brings out the best china and
silverware in the second half - wonderful scenes in a ballet theater and
at a reception with hundreds dancing in their fanciest apparel. The interior
decor all feels just right to the period. His use of close-ups is at times
electric and he uses superimposition in imaginative ways. There is one scene
in which a jeweler is invited to stay at an inn and murdered by the inn keeper
and his avaricious wife that is horrific and very expressionistic. There
are other scenes that are drug induced hallucinations. It is quite wonderful
but you have to get through the first part which is much slower and a bit
ponderous.
