Customer Reviews

Der Graf von Monte Christo [Region 2]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I first saw this production in 1975, when I was a senior in high school, about the same time I was writing a paper about the book it's based on. From the time I was a little girl, Richard Chamberlain had made my heart flutter as Dr. Kildare on TV. "Count" was after the filming of Richard Lester's "Three Musketeers", but before such classic mini-series as "Shogun" and "Thorn Birds", which are what this generation associates the Chamberlain name with most readily. This production did a wonderful job depicting Edmond's despair and loss of hope as the years pass and he realizes that his enemies mean for him to rot away in the solitary confinement of prison. Fortunately, while trying to dig out of there, he digs himself into the cell of Abbe Faria, who becomes his teacher, mentor, savior. . .and ultimately, benefactor. (Trevor Howard was marvelous here, by the way).

It takes 20 years, but Edmond finally escapes jail, finds the treasure, engages the best barber and tailor in Paris, and proceeds to make monkeys of his betrayers. Chamberlain was physically right for this part--very thin, as if he'd subsisted on soup and bread for two decades--and capable of moving as smoothly as a panther. Kate Nelligan was excellent as Mercedes--a woman whose heart was equal mixtures of bitterness, regret, and love for her son alone after losing the great love of her life at age 20. I liked Tony Curtis--he'd played so many good guys in movies like Spartacus, and also comedy such as in Some Like It Hot--that it was fun to see him be the villian here.

All in all, this production was an excellent SHORT adaptation of the book. Had it been made five years later, when mini-series became more popular in America, much more could have done more with the secondary characters and little subplots. It would be the French who beat Hollywood to the remake, however, with the 1998 mini-series starring Gerard Depardieu in the title role. I rented the Chamberlain version and watched it again last year after having seen the Depardieu version for the first time. It's as good as it was 25 years ago, and the prison scenes are far superior to the ones in the Depardieu production. Other than that, you can't really compare the two of them. The French had a longer version, bigger budget, etc. The Chamberlain version, however, holds its own among newer English or American versions of Dumas' works. If you love the book, then all the video and DVD versions are worth collecting. I'll be adding this one to my own collection soon:)

Few films can be said to be faithful to books they are based on. It's simply not possible to accomodate the same level of character development, plot and subplot development, and rich descriptions possible in a book on a 2 hour film. "The Count of Monte Cristo" is no exception to that trend.

This movie is, nevertheless, a good show with good acting (and some not so good) that tells much of the basic story of Dumas' book of the same name.

I think that Richard Chamberlain does a good job as Edmond Dantes, Tony Curtis as Fernand Mondego, Donald Pleasance as the Baron Danglar, and Louis Jourdan as DeVillefore. I was not at all impressed by the character that played Cadarousse.

The scenes with Edmond Dantes and his fiance, Mercedes, are done well and set the emotional stage for the rest of the movie.

Most of the the main elements of the book are touched on in the movie, but not much about the relationship between Monte Cristo and the daughter of the Ali Pasha.

The way that Monte Cristo earns his revenge is rivetting, especially the plan to destroy DeVillefore. A masterpiece of deception and intruige.

While the movie lacks a lot that the book offers, I still enjoy the movie immensely, and believe that you will too.

4 stars.

This is a very well- made television movie based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas. The Count of Monte Cristo has been remade numerous times, most recently starring James Caviezel in the lead, but this 70's version has aged well, and is still very enjoyable 30 years later.

A marvelous cast, including Tony Curtis, Louis Jourdan, and Donald Pleasence as the co-conspirators responsible for the false imprisonment of Edmond Dantes, are all first-rate, especially Donald Pleasence as Danglars.

Richard Chamberlain in the lead role, and Trevor Howard as the Abby Faria, both received Emmy nominations for their efforts. Richard Chamberlain is a dynamic Count, and looks regal and dashing in any period costume you put him in. He also moves with the grace of a gazelle, and handles the French dialect effortlessly, in his melodious baritone voice.

Other noteworthy performances come from Kate Nelligan as Mercedes, and Taryn Power, who were both acting professionally for the very first time in "Count of Monte-Cristo." Both actresses demonstrate emotional depth and command in these initial roles.

With a superb ensemble cast, and the beautiful chateaus and scenery of Italy and France as a backdrop, this "Count of Monte Cristo" adaptation is very enjoyable. Be forewarned, however, there are no happy Hollywood endings in store for Edmond Dantes--only depressing ones.

I can't wait for the Richard Chamberlain edition of the movie to be available on DVD. I hope they fix the one problem that exists on the VHS - the semaphore station man says "you insult me sir, but it is an insult..." which makes no sense. These additional words were in the movie the first time I watched it but are not on the VHS - "...I can live with." He takes the money and sends the bogus message.

When I watch the movie I always speak the lines, but would love to see the DVD include the lines.

This was my first exposure to the story of the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo when I was young, and I ran right to the library the following Saturday and got the book. I doubt any film version will ever do real justice to the complex emotions and intricate vengeance of the Count. (I suspect the one about to hit theatres later this month may be a huge disappointment to fans of the book.) Still, Chamberlain makes an absolutely riveting Count and his performance is more than sufficient reason to watch this video. This was one of Chamberlain's first tv films after he returned from studying acting in England -- a wise choice on his part, and one I think more American actors ought to follow. If anyone knows where I can get my hands on a copy of Chamberlain's performance in 'Hamlet' (I think it was a Hallmark Hall of Fame version, but I was quite young then and may not remember it correctly), I would be forever grateful!

I fully agree with the enthusiastic review submitted by the reader from Dallas (medianew@gte.net), but I'd like to point out that actor Richard Chamberlain is NOT English -- he's American. (He first became known to U.S. audiences in the TV show "Doctor Kildaire.") That said, Chamberlain established himself as a fine film actor in several movie adaptations of Alexandre Dumas novels -- he appears in "The Three Musketeers" and "The Four Musketeers" (playing the role of Aramis), and "The Man In The Iron Mask" as well as "The Count of Monte Cristo." In all of these films, he seems tailor-made for the adventurous, romantic leading-man parts that the stories revolve around. (And in "The Three Musketeers," he also displays a fine comedic instinct.) "The Count of Monte Cristo," like others in the Dumas series, is ideally cast -- and most enjoyable and engrossing, whether you're already familiar with these tales or are encountering them for the first time. Strongly recommended.

This is a top-notch production. Richard Chamberlain, the fine English actor seen in "Shogun" and "Thornbirds", is in top form as the wronged and vengeful Edmund Dantes. The story begins with Edmund content and happy, then betrayed by a rival suitor. He spends 14 years in prison, then escapes and uncovers buried treasure through the directions of a fellow inmate. He resurfaces in Paris as the mysterious count of Monte Cristo and exacts revenge on the people who imprisoned him. The story moves swiftly and is quite engaging. Richard Chamberlain is believable and compelling, both as the young Edmund, before prison, then as the older and cunning Count of Monte Cristo. The acting from the supporting cast is also almost uniformly excellent. The script is well-written, although it is a bit stunted at times. This movie is part of a set of 8 in a series called LITERARY MASTERPIECES. I have also seen 2 others in this series, LES MISERABLES and THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK. These were top-notch productions as well. END

I have always like Richard Chamberlain, but I think this is one of his best works. The story does not bog down and action keeps going. I love movies in this time period and would like to see more of them. The scenery and acting in this movie, not only by Richard Chamberlain, but of all the actors is phenominal. I highly recommend that if you have not seen this movie, take the time to see it. It will be well worth your time.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO is a film adaptation of the classic story by Alexandre Dumas of three men who conspire to have their common enemy Edmund Dantes sent to prison and the vengeance wreaked by Dantes after his escape many years later. The movie is reasonably faithful to the book. The early part of the film depicts prison life graphically and the mood changes abruptly for the better with the start of the revenge sequence.

Richard Chaberlain gives a good performance and is believable as both the younger and older Edmund Dantes. A strong supporting cast includes Kate Nelligan, Louis Jourdan, Donald Pleasance and Tony Curtis. David Greene is known for his direction of GRAY LADY DOWN and THE STRANGE AFFAIR.

Let me just briefly and without qualification say that this version makes the silly Leonardo DiCaprio version seem like child's play. Get this and see for yourself.