Postscripts to Les Miserables

[jo]

If you're a fan of this film adaptation and/or of 4K Blu-ray technology --

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[jo]

It is not often that we see a discussion or a glimpse of the finale scene in the film adaptation of Les Miserables .

What strikes me particularly is how beaufifully Hugh Jackman sings this plea to God as he lay dying. "Bring ME Home!" is a beautiful surrender of one's mortality to the grace of God. Hugh's throbbing and soft notes appeal to one's heart -- he rarely sings like this!

Jo

[jo]

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I came upon this twitter exchange --

🪩Montager: Meta & Media🪩
@montager7
·
11h
When we build bridges now we still brine the water at the foundation pour with rock salt.

Fresh water will rot wood. Fast. Salt water will pickle and preserve it.

Keep the bilge full enough with swabbing seawater and direct bucket pours it stays at LEAST brackish at all times.
DisasterShipBlonde @ London MCM '23



@disastershipb
·
8h
Fun fact, but when Les Miserables were filming at the historic dockyard here - the hauling scene at the beginning - they asked my dad and the rest of the dockyard staff to change the water from salt to fresh for the comfort of the actors. Some explaining was done.



🪩Montager: Meta & Media🪩
@montager7
·
5h
Thank you Ship this is indeed a fun fact I will treasure



DisasterShipBlonde @ London MCM '23
@disastershipb
They did explain why it's an issue and then they quoted eleventy million pounds to remove the salt, and the filmmakers decided Hugh Jackman would cope.

[jo]

At the Porsmouth dockyard where the opening scene was filmed --

What the above twitters did not know -- the singing (Look Down...) had to be redubbed because the water washing against the actors made the singing less audible.

Jo

[jo]

What gets me disappointed was how theatre purists ( including theatre actors themselves) were criticizing the singing voices in the movie because they were not "theatre-perfect", without them realizing the utmost difficulties that the filming of Les Miserables had to undertake to bring it to the big screen!.

For the opening scene - all those theatre actors had to do was to pretend flogging the water on stage -- and that was it...
compared to what must have been a harrowing filming scene above.

Can you recognize Hugh? I think he is in a reddish robe close to the front? On the right?

Jo

[jo]

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Rest of my replies -- please read backwards.

JoAB
@joab46466753
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24m
Replying to
@joab46466753
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@simon_nika
Maybe reading the full version of the book by VictorHugo (w/ many non-musical film versions from as an early part of 20th century)will give anyone a fuller appreciation of this musical film adaptation.HJ did earn an Oscar nomination for the role,so he did pass artistic standards!



JoAB
@joab46466753
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28m
Replying to
@joab46466753
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@simon_nika
TheConfrontation between him&RussellCrowe was excellent because instead of reprising the bland duet in the stage version, there was a real show of enmity between the antagonists. His finale Bring ME Home as he lay dying was a statement on man's immortality! Beautifully rendered!



JoAB
@joab46466753
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30m
Replying to
@joab46466753
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@simon_nika
I've seen stage musical many times( B'way/London/Paris/Asia)over the yrs. It's my favorite musical but I prefer the film adaptation as it brought out most of key elements in Hugo's book&the stage musical. Who can deliver VALJEAN's SOLILOQUY (1st epiphany)better than Hugh Jackman?



JoAB
@joab46466753
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36m
Replying to
@joab46466753
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@simon_nika
The casting committee included director THooper, producer CMackintosh, Les Miserables composers Boublil&Schonberg, WorkingTitle producers Fellner et al&Casting Director NGold. Final approval was with Universal Studios.



JoAB
@joab46466753
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38m
Replying to
@simon_nika
Film adaptation was not meant to be a singing Olympics. LesMiserables is a DRAMATIC musical,whose barebones are from the work of VictorHugo.The film adapted the novel&music of stage show.If you've read original source material, the film filled in gaps missed by the stage musical.

[jo]

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I've come across stage versions of Valjean's Soliloquy... and thought I would compare them to how Hugh Jackman delivered this key passage from the book of Hugo and the musicalized version.

The Soliloquy represented the moment when Valjean realized the grace of redemption. His version traces the way his beliefs changed as he received enlightenment on what this meant for him. His second chance at life. The acting and singing build to a crescendo as he begins to feel humbled by what has happened to him... and then resolves how he will lead his new life.



Click on link.



A stage version with Ramin Karimloo --





A concert version from the original English version Valjean ( Colm Wilkinson)





From a concert version by Alfie Boe --

[jo]

I decided to look at readers reviews for Les Miserables. 7.5 of 10/ unweighted mean of 7.7.

One interesting reader review --

les miserables
auuwws20 September 2020
A wonderful movie that contains very beautiful songs
18 out of 25 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No
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It's a joy.
JohnDeSando18 December 2012
Jean Valjean: "I stole a loaf of bread. My sister's child was close to death, and we were starving." Javert: "And you will starve again unless you learn the meaning of the law!"

Just as I stood at the end of the stage production of Les Miserables, I stood in my home after watching a screener copy. I was, however, concerned that I would have nothing "critical' to say about director Tom Hooper's lush film version, filled with first-rate actors believable crowds, and singing befitting non-opera types in a people's opera.

Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), mayor of Paris in the first part of the 19th century, promises dying prostitute Fantine (Anne Hathaway) to take care of her daughter, Cosette (Amanda Seyfried). He has been eluding the tireless policeman, Javert (Russell Crowe), after breaking parole for the crime of stealing a loaf of bread, for which he served 19 years. It's not so much the melodrama that grabs me as the inspired music that has discernibly distinct and luscious melodies and a book that straightforwardly tells story and reveals character.

Jackman, Hathaway, and Crowe are competent singers, and the better for not being opera stars, who would have compromised the Everyman feel of the musical. For an almost three hour show, Hooper and writer Claude-Michel Schonberg keep the action moving from Javert and Valjean in a battle of wits and the youths fomenting a revolution right outside the windows.

For comic relief, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier and Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier run a comical whore house and do quite well as pickpockets. At times, their antics are so opposite the grand action outside as to be almost irritating. Les Mis was a thrill on stage; it is a joy on screen as the 19th century comes alive with the poor struggling against the rich and the noble, poor or rich, miserable.

One of the best comments written why the singing in the movie is the best decision to make. To make it sound grounded and not like a performance at La Scala ( Milan's very famous opera house). It would have sounded incongruous if a hardened convict ( who originally came from a tree-cutter background) sounded like a tenor singing an aria.

Jo

[jo]

Sometimes, reader comments make for a better and keener appreciation of an artistic work, compared to some critics' comments which occasionally simply look like a faultfinding exercise!

Also, those comments from the likes of Michael Cerveris & Adam Lambert who criticized the singing as not worthy of the musical is more of misplaced appreciation of what a movie is compared to a stage musical. Even for stage musicals -- the original Les Miserables in Paris had a baritone singing the role of Valjean ( it actually sounds incongruous to hear a hardened convict singing tenor notes)... compared to Colm W ( who was hired to do the role because Nunn could not find someone who physically suited the role and can sing -- it was a compromise to transpose Valjean's notes to tenor because he wanted the physicality of Colm for the role but had to go with his tenor voice).


Jo

[jo]

Besides, Les Miserables is important as a tale...not as a music composition, if one is to judge its artistic merit. It was originally a much lauded literary gem from Victor Hugo, with straightforward film adaptations starting even in the earlier part of the 20th century. The one we probably all saw was the adaptation which featured Liam Neeson as Valjean. Thus Tom Hooper had the wisdom to put his cinematic vision on the storytelling & characterizations and allowing the music as the supporting artistic element. Thus the acting choices preceded the complementing music in importance in the film adaptation.

Jo

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Could be a beautiful work of art of the time --

[jo]

Hugh Jackman may be best remembered for his work as WOLVERINE...

but his best artistic work to-date has to be his Oscar-nominated interpretation of the story of Jean Valjean!


Jo

[jo]

Psst: You may not remember it... but when cronuts became the NYC rage at Magnolia Bakery, someone tweeted that he was standing in line for the cronut, right behind Hugh

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www.broadwayworld.com/article/Remastered-LES-MISERABLES-Film-To-Be-Re-Released-This-Year-20230815

Remastered LES MISERABLES Film To Be Re-Released This Year
According to Cameron Mackintosh, the film adaptation of the musical epic Les Miserables will return in 2023.

By: A.A. Cristi
Aug. 15, 2023

Remastered LES MISERABLES Film To Be Re-Released This Year

According to Cameron Mackintosh, the film adaptation of the musical epic Les Miserables will return in 2023.


The superstar producer recently told Variety that the acclaimed movie musical "is currently being digitally remastered and will be re-released later this year."

Though he offered no details as to whether fans can expect the film to return to the big screen, the producer spoke of the staying power of the piece, stating, “Whether they’re fighting for repression, standing up for rights and strength, that’s something that has never happened with any other show. Young people don’t see the show as ‘old,’ but rather they resonate with the aspects of the novel and in turn the music. The story of ‘Les Mis’ becomes more poignant and more of the moment, now than ever. It’s about the heart of what Victor was writing, and that’s about humanity.”


Tom Hooper's 2012 adaptation of Les Misérables stars an ensemble cast led by Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sacha Baron Cohen. The film grossed over $442 million worldwide and was nominated for eight categories at the 85th Academy Awards, winning three, including Best Supporting Actress for Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Fantine.

Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, LES MISÉRABLES tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption - a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.

Boublil & Schönberg's score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "Bring Him Home," "Do You Hear The People Sing?," "One Day More," "Master of the House" and many more. Seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries and 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly still one of the world's most popular musicals. To date, LES MISÉRABLES remains the 6th longest-running Broadway production of all time.

[jo]

These are the 2 top reviews from the USA of the original soundtrack album --

Top reviews from the United States



Andrew Bohman
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent album, but here's what's missing...
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2013
Verified Purchase

Sorry for the very long review, but I felt I should give my (almost) complete thoughts and analysis. The first two paragraphs are my analysis and thoughts on the music itself and the last part is what I find wrong with it (what's missing). If I were you I'd probably just look over the last section to see what isn't there. As far as the product itself goes, it arrived quickly and while I'm not a fan of the paper case (which requires some struggling to open), I haven't had any issues with the quality of the CDs.

First off, let me start by saying that this music is some of my favorite and I have almost no complaints about the music itself. We all probably know how amazing it is, but I'll add my thoughts just because. I feel the movie version of Les Mis surpasses all other versions partly because it's not attached to any strict tempo which allows for more emotion in the voices and a much more natural feel. What we're hearing is what we're seeing when we watch the movie--the actors are being recorded live as they're acting, which means they can get into the moment and convey much more feeling. As a result, the orchestration is also more fluid and is much richer. The redone orchestrations are very stirring and more diverse, with tiny nuances which, if you listen for them, are oftentimes more beautiful than the melodies. Unlike the slightly more repetitively orchestrated previous versions, these orchestrations are always changing and dynamic. As an example, if you just listen closely to the instruments in "I Dreamed a Dream," and you can catch the lilting harp accompaniment, gorgeous solo violin parts, melancholy English horn lines, in addition to stunning orchestra swells that you don't always pay attention to. Also, one of my favorite additions is the strings/woodwinds in the second verse of "Stars" which perfectly tie in and are some of the more beautiful parts in the movie. Listening to that will hugely increase your appreciation of the music.

Having said enough about the instrumentation, I'll throw out my opinion on the vocals. First off, probably the most debated voice is that of Hugh Jackman. Jackman, in my opinion, is an absolutely fantastic actor but a rather mediocre singer. In fact, the first time I heard his voice I was disappointed. It's very raw and unfiltered sounding, but after a while it's really grown on me. The reason is because it's so dripping with emotion. I just listened to his performance of "Valjean's Soliloquy" on this CD, which I originally didn't care for, and it nearly put a lump in my throat with how emotional and intense it was! So if you don't like his voice now, you might later. Moving on, Russell Crowe is the best Javert by far. His voice is so rich and powerful without coming across as harsh like Philip Quast's voice is (to me). Anne Hathaway was an excellent Fantine, and I think that's mutually agreed by everyone. Even the critical reviews I've read of the movie all had to admit she did a fantastic job. Her emotion was present not only in "I Dreamed" but I (once again) almost got a lump in my throat from hearing her in "Fantine's Arrest" and "Fantine's Death." Despite what people say about Amanda Seyfried's voice, I think she did a very nice job as Cossette. Yes it's laden with vibrato, but for once I actually didn't mind the vibrato. All in all, I think she has a very pretty voice. Eddie Redmayne also has a very bold, pleasant voice. And finally, Samantha Barks is probably the best Eponine. While Lea Salonga was certainly an excellent singer, I think Samantha Barks is better, by a slim margin. To me it sounds like her voice is purer and more pleasant.

However, despite how much I love this album, I'd actually give it 4.5 stars if I could. As was mentioned by several reviewers before, this is not a complete recordings. Some of the songs are chopped down, other bits of singing were totally omitted, which I thought was kind of disappointing. It might seem nitpicky because it doesn't really affect the listening pleasure quite so much, but as a hobby I'm an arranger/transcriber and I'd like to have access to all of the soundtrack for those purposes. Listening to the album, I can pinpoint where much of the music is missing and I personally would have liked this info when I purchased it. So, while I certainly haven't discovered everything which is missing, this is some of what I've found (if you catch anything I haven't, feel free to tell me in the comments):

Disk 1:
-Track 1: Probably one of the most obvious and disappointing, Look Down has been cut in the middle; much of the body of the verse is totally gone (all of the convicts' part), and so is the second playing of the orchestra fanfare when Valjean retrieves the flag for Javert. However, this track did include the beautiful oboe-laden part when Valjean is "free" and starting to travel (Which accounts for the extra time, the rest is the same as the Highlights album).
-Track 2: The music accompanying Valjean on parole and the entire section where he is welcomed by the bishop is missing. All this has is when he's caught by the guards and the bishop shows his compassion.
-Track 4: Some is cut including Fantine's plea to the foreman after "Monsieur le Maire" leaves.
-All of the times Valjean and Javert talk (well, sing) to each other while Valjean is the Mayor is gone, most notably the whole part where Valjean rescues M. Fauchelevent by pulling up the cart. I really liked the sound of the melody where Javert says "Can this be true? I don't believe what I'm seeing," but that's all missing.
-Track 7: The parts where M. Bamatabois confronts Javert and tries to get Fantine arrested (and when she pleads) isn't there, it starts when Valjean intervenes.
-Track 8: The confrontation where Javert confesses to Valjean is missing.
-Track 13: The reprise of "I Dreamed a Dream" where Valjean relays to the Thenardiers that he will take Cosette is gone, it starts right from his first encounter with Cosette to the Waltz of Treachery.
-(Track 18-ish) The parts where Eponine and Marius converse is gone, including when Marius begs her to find Cosette and she has a brief soliloquy
-(Track 22-ish) The attack on the Rue Plumet scene is gone, including where Valjean hurriedly leaves with Cosette.
That's all I could find for now for disk 1.
Disk 2:
-When Valjean enters the barricade and all of his parts (including his receipt of Marius's letter) before "Bring Him Home" (Track 7) are all absent, including when he lets Javert go. I was disappointed at the entire omission of that critical moment.
-Track 8: Though this isn't an omission, I wanted to include how relieved I was when they DID include the part where the sergeant confronted those at the barricade. I love that bit of singing, and I was afraid that it was going to be missing when I got the album, but thankfully it's not.
-The end credits suite is missing! There's plenty of room on the second disk for that, but it's totally gone. The suite is especially beautiful and I have no clue as to why it's omitted.
Really, that's all I have to say about Disk 2, which says a lot in how there's not much gone.

So would I recommend this? Without a doubt. If you're debating about purchasing this and can't decide because some content is gone, let me say it's certainly worth it, even if you have the Highlights album already. The missing content isn't too great and doesn't overshadow how much more is there. It's a minor regret. Especially if you're a Les Mis fan, this incredible album is essential to have.

M. Secaur
4.0 out of 5 stars Not "complete", but still great...
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2013
Verified Purchase
While I'll admit to being relatively new to the world of Les Mis, having listened to and compared all three major cast recordings (London, Broadway, and this one), there is no question that the 2012 film soundtrack is the definitive version. While there will be many who disagree with me on this point, in my mind, it is about as close to perfect as a musical album can be, and the fact that it was all recorded live makes it even better.

I won't attempt to give a long, in-depth review of the film, the story, or music itself, but rather illuminate what makes this CD different from its predecessors.

As everyone probably knows by now, 99% percent of the vocals were recorded live as opposed to in a studio. This gives the album a rawness and virility not usually heard in cast albums, and certainly not ones from movie musicals. The songs, being sung by actors, take on a more natural and less "stagey" sound, which certainly helps heighten the feelings within the music, and makes them pack a far harder emotional wallop. This is the first musical album I've ever listened to that honestly brought me to tears. While one's opinion of what makes a great singer is incredibly subjective, I found the whole cast to have uniformly good voices, with no one seeming too out of place that they completely ruined it for me; and to anyone who complains that so-and-so doesn't sound as good as they should have, I'd like to know how good their voice would sound after 12 hours of continuous singing!

As with any kind of adaptation, there are going to be obvious differences between the old and the new, but here many of the changes are good ones: new arrangements, new incidental scoring by Schonberg, a new song for Valjean, and some extra dialogue. Avid fans of the stageshow might bridle at the cutting of certain lyrics, or the rearrangement of several pieces, both for clarity and time, but these are very minor qualms when you take into account the fact that the pros vastly outweigh the cons.

Unlike the previously released Highlights album, this set has ALL the major songs, including "Who Am I?" and "A Little Fall Of Rain", as well as extended versions of the "Epilogue" and "In My Life", among others. My only complaint is that this isn't a "complete" recording--i.e., a few sections of sung-through dialogue written for the film are strangely absent, and a few songs, most notably the "Work Song" are truncated from how they are heard on screen. Being a two-disc set, I don't really understand this, as there is ample space left on both discs to include the omissions I mentioned above, but, I guess you can't have it all.

Despite this flaw, I recommend this set very highly, as well as the Highlights (the cut of "Stars" is done better on that CD than this one).

A remastered version is something to look forward to. Presumably it will be released in time for the holiday gift-giving time!

Jo

[jo]

The album was a GRAMMY nominee in 2014. How it did not win... and who won... both escape me.

Music for visual media field
Best compilation soundtrack for visual media


WINNER: “Sound City: Real to Reel” — Dave Grohl & various artists

“Django Unchained” — Various artists

“The Great Gatsby (Deluxe Edition)” — Various artists

“Les Misérables (Deluxe Edition)” — Various artists

“Muscle Shoals” — Various artists

I understand that remastered editions may qualify for GRAMMY honors but if it is released within FIVE (5) years of the original release music. This remastered edition will not qualify for it.

Jo

[jo]