Les Mis!

[Enjolras's Lament]

So, have any starving-for-literate readers such as myself read Victor Hugo's novel? I was a bit disheartened when Hans told in an interview that he found the book boring. True, it is a bit wordy, buts it's like Shakespeare--you get used to the language after a chapter or two.

Anyway, after I saw the movie, I got the Broadway CD and checked out the 1,400 page novel at my public library. Strangely, though, after a month since finishing Les Mis, I went to check out The Hunchback of Notre Dame and found that I was no longer used to Hugo's work. Needless to say, I returned the book the next day. o.o

[Gg]

Hey! And welcome!

I wish I could refer you to the old board with the old thread on LesMis because there were so many posts by members who had read Les Mis or seen the Musical or both and we discussed for....ever, it seems. It would have been interesting to be able to hear you rekindle that discussion where it trailed off back then.

The Unofficial Hans Matheson site is run by a young college student who has read Les Mis so many times I think she could probably recite it, in English and French no doubt. She has written extensively on the subject and it's history on the site, so that's somewhere you might want to check.

I love reading Hugo, actually, but I love thingyens too, so,...


I doubt Hans would have had the time to read the entire novel before showing up in NY for rehearsals anyway, but even if you isolate the "Marius" section, I think his performance echoes Marius as written -- at least for me -- but I think that happens with adaptation -- you're either completely devastated by the changes (I had a friend GASP audibly in a screening of "Obsession" because this tiny little character had been changed) or you allow them and your past experience with the novel allows you to see things that others may not.

[Gg]

OMG!!!!!

I try to post Charles _______ -- author of David Copperfield and Oliver Twist and Nick...etc etc and it thinks I'm talking dirty!!!

Not that I'm above that but -- wow!

[Enjolras's Lament]

XD Well, our dear author of Oliver Twist was far from dirty. At least, in my eyes. Incestual, but far from dirty.

I, for one, was a bit devastated by the Les Mis drama because there was no Eponine. Nor Enjolras. Dear, dear Enjolras. -pets- Or Grantaire. I missed his drunken presence.

Apparently, though, if you look Les Mis up on IMDb, all of the above were casted. I think I do recall Enjolras having about one line, but I don't remember Eponine at all.

Also, although the movie did have a marvelous ending, it never reveals whether the attempted revolution went through. You just see Liam Neeson saying, "Here, Claire. Have your dead mom's necklace. Oh, and here's Hans. Make sure he doesn't die, okay? Bye!" Then, Javert just kind of falls off of the bridge. Very blandly. >.>

Although, when I first saw the movie, before seeing the musical and reading the book, I love it.

[Gg]

well I think that's part of the deal -- with adaptation. There's no way that you can fit it all in -- the plot alone much less all of Hugo's political/cultural/philosophical commentary. There was an earlier French film version that came closer...but I think that your having seen the film first and then being compelled to read it is testiment to its effectiveness.

The editing certainly keeps us for losing our faith in Marius, as you do in the novel -- and Eponine, beloved as she is -- does raise some ambiguity with the triangle her presence creates. The tall black guy in the film is Enjolras. I have never noticed Eponine but maybe I'm missing something... maybe in the earlier scene in the "inn" there a young version scurrying around while Cosette knits her socks...

But try to spell Charles' last name and you'll see what I mean! auto-edit gone a little too prudish!

I, on the other hand, am a dirty bird!

[Enjolras's Lament]

Ha! I'll take your word on the "dirty bird" business. ^^

thingyens. Now that does look rather silly. Imagine saying, "Hello, Mister Thingyens, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh, but the pleasure is mine, miss."

Hmm...oh, I remember him! Mostly from the scene where he and Marius walk in together and casually place their firearms on the table. Yesh, yesh.

Did Enjolras wear the tassely suit in the movie?

[Gg]

nope -- looked like everyone else from what I remember -- but I should take a look to be sure. PS you need a DVD copy?

Maybe it could go like this

"I am very sorry indeed sir, but I can not seem to say the first half of your last name without being sensored"

"My dear lady there is surely nothing to fear in uttering my last name. Please do try"

"Very well Mr. thingyens...OH! I am sorry...I suspect it may be the first four letters! What is to be done?"

"Perhaps you should call me Johnson"

[Gg]

apparently "Johnson" is a suitable idiom

[Gg]

but back to Les Mis

[Enjolras's Lament]

XD "But, Sir, doesn't 'John' mean...?"

"Oh, confound censorship! Just call me Daddy!"

.....I have no idea where that just went.

And yes, I'm afraid that I am in need of the DVD. I feel so..."out of the circle".

[Gg]

just post me a private message ... all you need do is ask -- we are an equal opportunity circle!

[Enjolras's Lament]

Woot! So, what was this about a former Les Mis board with avid fans? -is interested-

[Gg]

uhms.thathughsongirl.com/main.html

that should take you to her page

-- the old board, with the Les Mis thread -- though restored, was whipped clean, and as the thread on Les Mis was from years ago, it was lost... that was from the "Unofficial Hans Matheon" site -- but I think the fans are avid as ever -- as most of us are still here!

You can see her restored board on a link from her homepage...

[Virgil Reality]

I too came to the book via the musical and the movie and I have to say I agree with Hans. Gotta remember that was a long time ago - I bet he wouldn't say or even think the same way now. That book needs serious editing, it would never get published in that form these days.

I do think he captured the spirit of Marius as in the book in the little screen time he had, I don't feel Marius of the book was the heroic leader that the movie and even the musical wanted to make it. The movie version has him assume the Enjolas role too though the character of Enjolas was there. They only gave the "amis" a token exposure - they weren't the stars or the focus of the movie.

Don't we see Eponine briefly as a child at the Thenardiers? I never really buy her as anything but a marginal character so I didn't miss her that much.

Interesting though how the Marius appeal has stood the test of time! Sort of vindicates Bille Auguste's concept though I bet the studios prevailed and there's a lot of good stuff on the cutting room floor.

Sigh .. the possibilities.

[musicgeek]

Yet another person who came to the musical and the book through the movie. I tried to read the unabridged version in 6th grade, but stopped because the first book is REALLY slow. Then I saw the movie and felt compelled to read the book. Now I'm waiting for Les Mis to come back to Dallas.

You're right, he did get the marius thing down. He even looks the way Hugo described! Here's what Hugo said about Marius: "a handsome young man of medium height, with heavy jet black hair, a high intelligent brow, wide and passionate nostrils..."and it goes on. He is a combination of Enjolras and Marius because he does fall in love with Cosette (Marius) but he leads the ABC Society (Enjolras).