The Count of Monte Cristo (1934)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Rowland V. Lee

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas père (novel)
Philip Dunne (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

7 September 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

The screen's monumental achievement of 1934!

Plot:

Edmond Dantes is imprisoned in the Chateau d'If without trial, for carrying a message from Napoleon in exile on Elba...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Revenge | Count Of Monte Cristo | Prison | Vengeance

Cast

Robert Donat	...	Edmond Dantes
Elissa Landi	...	Mercedes
Louis Calhern	...	De Villefort Jr.
Sidney Blackmer	...	Mondego
Raymond Walburn	...	Danglars
O.P. Heggie	...	Abbe Faria
Irene Hervey	...	Valentine
Georgia Caine	...	Mme. De Rosas
Walter Walker	...	Morrel
Lawrence Grant	...	De Villefort Sr.
Luis Alberni	...	Jacopo
Douglas Walton	...	Albert
Juliette Compton	...	Clothilde
Clarence Wilson	...	Fouquet
Eleanor Phelps	...	Haydee

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Sweden:Btl

Company:

Reliance Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: During the fencing duel between Dantes and Mondego, in one brief shot near the end Sidney Blackmer holds his sword in his left hand instead of his right, which he does in the rest of the scene.

Quotes:

Abbe Faria: [he is dying] When people die, we feel a grief because their minds are lost to us. How fortunate am I... I leave my mind behind in your possession; it is part of yours. Use it as an instrument for justice. My blessing... Edmond, if you could only see. Death is so beautiful
[he dies]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in V for Vendetta (2005)

Soundtrack:

The World is Mine

Fine old film

Robert Donat was a fine actor who went on to win our hearts with Greer Garson in Goodbye, Mr. Chips. People often forget that he was slated to play the lead in the Sabatini novel, Captain Blood, which went to Errol Flynn, thus establishing his career and mark on Hollywood (and what a mark!). Donat, according to his biographers, detested Hollywood and made several films in Great Britain. His role in the Hitchcock 39 steps is legend. This film, which is a slightly more faithful adaptation of the Dumas book than the one only recently (1/02) released, is superior to its predecessor in several ways. Alas, the other reviewer here is likely too young to have seen in its original B/W but it is a fine film. the lovely Elissa Landi plays Mercedes and Sidney Blackmer, Donat's betrayer. The character actor, O.P. Heggie plays the priest and fellow prisoner of Dantes. Veteran Louis Calhern, here youthful, plays the other betrayer and villain. There's no video or DVD, so if this shows up on the late show, by all means, check it out.