Les Misérables *** (1948, Gino Cervi, Valentina Cortese, Hans Hinrich ) – Classic Movie Review 3150

Gino Cervi is very solid as the hounded hero Jean Valjean in director Riccardo Freda’s lesser, but still well made and enjoyable 1948 Italian reworking of the Victor Hugo tale of social injustice and despair.

German actor Hans Hinrich (then billed for obvious reasons as Giovanni Hinrich) also stars as Javert, the policeman who relentlessly hunts down the hero for a minor crime as he breaks parole and tries to create a life for himself and for his adopted daughter Cosette in the tempestuous French revolutionary struggles.

It also stars Valentina Cortesa as Fantina, Massimo Pianforini as the bishop, Monsignor Myriel, and Luigi Pavese as Thenardier.

It was originally released in two parts: Caccia all’uomo and Tempesta su Parigi (1948).

The 1935 American version is probably still the best.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 3150

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