Directed by Alexandre de la Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte, already specialists in Alexandre Dumas, the film does not reflect the original too much but shines in costumes, scenery, period details and other luxuries.
Alexandre de la Patelliere and Matthieu Delaportedirectors of the recent diptych “The Three Musketeers. “Dartagnan” and “The Three Musketeers. Milady’s Revengethey set their eyes on another text Alexandre Dumas, “The Count of Monte Cristo”and they made a mega-production in their style, formally careful and narratively moving, full of fights, cavalcades, notable costumes and performers of merit.
At the head, Pierre Niney, Anais Demoustier, Pierfrancesco Favino. Behind, a long cast, almost 40 stunt doubles, half a dozen palaces, the Saint-Etienne cathedral, what was the authentic prison on the island of If, opposite Marseille, and what never was the island of Monte Cristo in front to Tuscany, and we say it was never because Dumas He imagined it differently and it is just a bare islet. Of course, the authors take their liberties, the readers of Dumas They may snort a little, but those who don’t even know what it is about will be amazed from surprise to surprise. Maybe The film seems somewhat superficial, but it skillfully illustrates the old and eternal story of betrayal, survival, overcoming and revenge. In short, an attractive story, with beautiful photography, bombastic music, interesting dialogues, almost incessant rhythm, entertaining, and that lasts 178 minutes, practically three hours.
The first version of “The Count of Monte Cristo”which was also one of the first made in fledgling Hollywood back in 1908, lasted just 14 minutes. Protagonist, Hobart Bosworth, forgotten today. From there there were dozens, with James O’Neill (father of Eugene O’Neillplaywright), John Gilbert, later famous partner of Greta Garbo, Arturo de Córdova, John Derek, Richard Chamberlain, Jim Caviezelamong others, and series and miniseries in Spain, 1969, France, 1998, with Gerard DepardieuCuba, 2002, co-directed by Noemi Cartayathe list goes on. Some loves lost at the foot of the altar, Elisa Landi, Joan Bennett, Yvonne Furneaux, Ornella Muti, Kate Nelligan, Emma Cohen, Mapy Cortés, Anny Duperey.
The most renowned versions so far are those of Rowland Lee with Robert Donat1934, Robert Vernay with Pierre Richard-Wilm1943, and Jean Servais1954, Leon Klimovsky with Jorge Mistral1954, and Claude Autant-Lara with Louis Jordan1961. Also valuable, the series of Denys de la Patelliere with FRancis Weber and music of Nino Rota1979. The director’s son was 8 years old at the time, and now, at 53, he delivers his own version, which promises to surpass all the previous ones, a debatable but not impossible thing, considering current tastes.
Argentina
From our country it is worth mentioning a radio soap opera with Narciso Ibáñez Menta and Rosa Rosen1940s, the aforementioned film Leon Klimovsky, co-production with Mexico where Jorge Mistral was accompanied by Elina Colomer, Santiago Gómez Cou, Nelly Medem, Ernesto Bianco and Nathan Pinzónnothing less, all according to adaptation of Ulysses Petit by Muratand the soap opera “Monte Cristo”2006, with Pablo Echarri, Paula Krum and great cast, script Adriana Lorenzon and Marcelo Camañowhich moved the story to 1995. There the protagonist is not a sailor but a lawyer, and the background highlights a political intrigue. This novel was so successful that the final chapter was broadcast from Luna Park, which was packed. It was sold to more than 45 countries, and had remakes in Chile (with Gonzalo Valenzuela) Mexico (Diego Olivera), Colombia, Russia, Portugal, Italy and even Turkey itself. They were other times.
Among the rarities, things like “The Son of Monte Cristo”, “The Return of Monte Cristo” (in truth, the grandson), “The Wife of Monte Cristo (Lenora Aubert) supplanting him in some revenges), “The Sword of Monte Cristo” (Rita Corday as a swordswoman), “The Secret of Monte Cristo” (pirates in search of treasure), anime “Gankutsuou” set in the future 5053, an Australian drawing, another Canadian Laura Sheperd, “The Viscount of Monte Cristo”Mexican nonsense with the comedian German Valdezaka Tin Tan, and “The Countess of Monte Cristo”a comedy where a girl steals dresses from the studio where she works as an extra and lives the high life posing as an aristocrat. he wrote it Walter Reich and they incarnated it successively Brigitte Helm after “Metropolis”, Fay Wray before falling into the hands of king kong and the skater Sonja Henje.
Half lost, ““Mary Monte Cristo”romantic fantasy Luis Cesar Amadori about a woman with a dual personality, with Zully Moreno and Arturo de Córdovathe same couple and the director of “God repay him.” And what else is “God repay him”but a beautiful variant of Monte Cristo? A worker makes a formidable invention, the boss steals it and sends him to prison, but the other manages to gradually get even with the boss, the boss’s son and the entire society, until he understands that revenge is not the right thing to do. same as justice, nor is it a triumph. The last chapter is always that of redemption.
“The Count of Monte Cristo” (Le comte de Monte Cristo, France-Belgium, 2024); Dir.: Alexandre de la Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte; Int.: Pierre Niney, Anais Demoustier, Pierfrancesco Favino, Anamaria Vartolomei.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
