Les Miserables: The History of The World's Greatest Story (Theatre Documentary)

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From Victor Hugo's classic French novel of the nineteenth century to Tom Hooper's award winning blockbuster, Les Misérables has undergone one of the most successful transitions from book to stage to screen.
In this new documentary, the scintillating journey of Hugo's universal story is traced from book to stage to screen with contributions from those who have starred in and helped to create the entertainment phenomenon which has captured a place in everyone's hearts.
Helmed by entertainment and celebrity journalist Neil Sean, this insightful documentary traces the events of the Paris insurrection in 1832 and features excerpts from the restored 1978 Les Misérables lm starring Anthony Perkins alongside interviews with Frances Ruffelle, Hugh Jackman, Nick Jonas, Tom Hooper, Alfie Boe, Amanda Seyfried, Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Anne Hathaway.
When Cameron Mackintosh decided to make a musical of Jean Valjean`s search for redemption, critics slated its first London performance in 1985, as literary critics had done with the publication of Victor Hugo`s novel in 1862. But nearly thirty years later over 60 million people have seen the stage play and many more will watch the movie or read Hugo s novel, which is amongst the ten greatest novels of all time.
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[@legacyxlove]

I love these two as the Thenardiers! The 10th anniversary is MY FAVE.

[@joaidane]

And the concept album is still better by far than the jazzed up English version.

[@wlms5293]

Just watched this, albeit a little ‘late’, enjoyed this story behind “Wicked”. Captures the spirit & inspiration behind Broadway musicals and the work of so many that make this magic possible.

[@kof3017]

What a coincidence, I picked up my book today!

[@kof3017]

@StellarClick Thank you!

[@JothTheMan]

Did you finish it?

[@razeshbudhathoki]

Oh yes art

[@jakewhittle444]

Les Miserables behind the scenes

[@legacyxlove]

Aaron went to my college!

[@pcn3407]

Frances Rufelle was the best Eponine.

[@EarlBritt]

I've read the book about 50 years ago and watched various movies. I can't say I liked the 2012 musical as well a I have enjoyed previous movie versions or the book. I wish the this documentary would have focused less on the musical versions.

[@MattTexas]

What’s up with Lea’s British accent?

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

I noticed that. I thought it was weird myself.

[@kof3017]

9:33 sorry, a "what" funeral?

[@kennethwayne6857]

A pauper's funeral.

[@kof3017]

@@kennethwayne6857 Thank you! Because I didn't know it was something like this or "pompous" which would make the phrase mean the exact opposite! And the question was if he was true to his Miserables work on this, or if he would be otherwise an hypocrite, thanks.

[@yourmother2739]

Victor Hugo would not have wanted this story to be a musical he was serious about the damage of poverty. Not to be treated lightly for the entertainment for the privileged.

[@yourmother2739]

The 1998 film is excellent.

[@gretchenboyle481]

You obviously have not seen the musical

[@yourmother2739]

I have and did not like it.@@gretchenboyle481

[@mje1625]

A documentary on Victor Hugo and his motivation and process for writing "Les Miserable" would make a far more entertaining AND informative film than a bunch of interviews. Boring!

[@andrefurman9389]

Mr. Makintosh! How could you cast Nick Jonas! He totally destroyed the part of Marius! Voiceless boy, who cannot hold a note among the giants of singing. To say he looked bleak is to say nothing.

[@gretchenboyle481]

Um, your narration says the action leads to the French Revolution???? NO

[@donovandelaney3171]

The Less Miserables movie was supposed to have moments where the characters are not singing. But writers chose to make it just like the Opera. Bad chose. That’s why it bombed.

[@sallysue8176]

I hope your being sarcastic

[@terirobinson3616]

It didn't bomb in my opinion, Samantha Barks work in it was Oscar worthy, and Eddie Redmayne's "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" was beautiful 😍

[@cijmo]

I would say that it bombed because of the shit casting. It would have been so much better had they used the musical theatre stars that they gave minor roles to (Hadley, Killian, Fra, Francis could have even played Fantine) instead of Wolverine, Maximus, Catwoman and the cast of Sweeny Todd. There were so many great Valjeans and Javerts in the team of Les Amis. Making it like an opera couldn't have been a bad choice because the sung-through is so loved and popular with better casts. Sam Barks and Aaron Tveit were great because they're actual musical theatre stars. Wolverine is a musical theatre star, just not right for the role. Maximus would make an AMAZING Javert, just not in the musical with his weak and wobbly voice. I wish they would have used him for the next non-musical version. They had an entire goldmine of real stars for this but chose to kiss the ass of Hollywood.

[@yourmother2739]

It should NOT be a musical. Hugo was serious about the devastation of poverty. Free Palestine!!!