A Primary and Shallow version but good for those who do not know the Classic

m-ozfirat

I like the literature of Dumas and I like his novels and Monte Cristo is certainly one of his epic works and one of the best works in the history of literature. The best version I have seen on film is a French language work done in 1954 that is done in two parts that tells the story of the novel scrupulously on film. The other films I have seen based on the novel are shallow and squashed by omission such as the one done in 2002. This one done as a TV film is good to watch as an introduction and summary of the novel that captures the 1800s period it is set in but obviously not with the intention of being an epic which would take about 150 minutes to make.

The problem I have with it is that in some respects it is over simplified that misses simple but important details that do not tell it properly and that would not of prolonged the film. For example we do not see Dantes persuade the smugglers to leave him on the island of Monte Cristo alone to find the treasure or how he alone gets it off the island to singularly become the Count expressing his astute character development and his determination. Chamberlain in my view is poorly cast and does a wooden and aged performance of the lead character who in the novel is more youthful in appearance. The other characters were well cast in this production such as Tony Curtis.

The other misplayed character is Haydee who is represented and shown as a Cliché and Stereotype. In this version her appearance is Arabic which is to do with stereotyping and misrepresenting the diverse Ottoman Empire to the audience. Her description in the novel is the complete opposite as regionally she is from the Balkans not the Middle East. She is fair in physical looks and is a Greek princess whose father was an Ottoman viceroy the historical Albanian ruler of Greece Ali Pasha at the time of Napoleon. Dumas's description of her looks and royal dress is quintessentially Grecian not Arabic. In summary it is a good film to watch if you do not know the story or an introduction to get interested in it. But after watching this read the original book with a wider understanding of its content and context.

score 7/10

m-ozfirat 7 December 2014

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3137674/