Les
Misérables is nominated for eight Oscars including
best picture, best actor (Hugh Jackman) and best supporting actress (Anne
Hathaway); and it took home Sound Mixing in addition to Makeup and Hairstyling
and Best Supporting Actress. But the gold trophy film is actually based on
the musical of the same name by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel
Schönberg which is in turn based on Les Misérables, the 1862 French
novel by French poet and playwright Victor Hugo.
Though the musical numbers we heard today were sung in English, the first musical-stage adaptation
of Les Misérables was originally released as a French-language
concept album, and presented at a Paris sports arena in 1980. However, the first
production closed after three months when the booking contract expired. It wasn’t
until 1983 did the British director find the work of Les Misérables amazing. He then assembled a
production team to adapt the French musical for a British audience. After two
years in development, the English-language version opened in London on 8 October
1985. The success of the West End musical led to a Broadway
production.
In
19th-century France, Jean Valjean, "prisoner 24601," is released on parole by
the policeman Javert. For decades, the ruthless policeman Javert has been
chasing Valjean for him breaking the parole. Valjean is turned away by many
people due to him being a convict. However, The Bishop of Digne offers
him food ,shelter and buys Valjean's soul for God. Ashamed of what he did, yet
humbled by the bishop's mercy and kindness, Valjean follows the Bishop's advice
and began his new life. Eight years later, Valjean has assumed a new identity
as Monsieur Madeleine, a wealthy factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer.
He agrees to take care of factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette, because
of realizing his part in the ruination of Fantine’s life. Cosette, who
lives with an innkeeper, Thénardie ,and his family, Éponine and Mme.
Thénardier, was abused by them.
Ten years later,
a revolution in Paris is in progress, which is launched by the students, Marius
Pontmercy and Enjolras . In the street, Cosette is spotted by
Marius Pontmercy, a young rebel who is part of a force that plans to revolt.
Though Éponine secretly loves Marius, she still helps Marius to meet with
Cosette .Marius and Cosette pledge their love, but Marius decides to stay and
fight rather than run away with Cosette. Javert infiltrates the rebel camp as a
spy. The rebels lose, and Marius is hurt. Valjean searches for Marius and
encounters Javert in a sewer. Although he has the drop on him, he lets Javert
go, and Javert, unable to live with the thought of owing his life to Valjean,
kills himself. Éponine, who has also been searching for Marius, is fatally
wounded, and dies in Marius' arms after confessing her love. Valjean rescues
the wounded Marius, reunites him with Cosette, and prepares for his own death
in a convent. Valjean gives Cosette his confession to read about his past, then
the souls of Fantine and Éponine guide him to Paradise, where those who died at
the barricades ask once more: "Do You Hear the People Sing?
In my opinion,
the best way to enjoy the musical numbers of Les Misérables is to watch
the 10th & 25th Anniversary Concert, because the concerts were
nearly "complete," missing only a handful of scenes, including
"The Death of Gavroche" and the confrontation between Marius and the
Thénardiers at the wedding feast. And about the cast if the concerts,it is
known as the Les Misérables Dream Cast, assembled from around the
world. What's more,the concert concluded with seventeen Valjeans from
various international productions singing, "Do You Hear the People
Sing?" in their native languages.The cast of the concerts, to name a few,
Lea Salonga,Jenny Galloway, Nick Jonas,Norm Lewis and Colm
Wilkinson......etc, are all incredible singers.Surprisingly,Colm
Wilkinson who had been the original cast of Jean Valjean in both
London and New York, starred The Bishop of Digne in the film.And
Samantha Bark who starred Épone in the film is also the cast of
the 25th Anniversary Concert.
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