Les Miserables (BBC iPlayer)
Discussion
JackReacher said:
Could someone please help explain the obsession the policeman has with Jean Valjean? I imagine that in Paris at that time in history, there must have been all sorts of hideous crimes committed on a regular basis, yet this policeman is dedicating his life, with sleepless nights to try and track down a man who stole a purse from a child, and some candlesticks from a priest. Just does not add up to why he is taking it so personally, when he is also aware of the "good" he has done to the girl.
IIRC (its a good few years since I read the book) Javert was the supervisor of the prison where Valjean was a prisoner - Valjean broke parole and Javert never forgot him but wasn't specifically chasing him his whole life.Javert was of course doing a bunch of other non-Valjean related policing too, a bit obsessed with finding Valjean after crossing paths with him again but its more that he has a very strict sense of duty and legalism in general. The story is following Valjean's life, so you only see Javert as he relates to Valjean.
Just finished this. I wanted to watch it as it's such a well known story/musical. I enjoyed it but obviously there were a few 'really?' moments in it. As I just watch the last one yesterday I couldn't work out:
How the lead character aged 10 years in 6 weeks and developed a mortal condition - what was with all the grey hair all of a sudden?
What was the final scene with the two kids all about? I waited for something to happen but nothing did.
How the lead character aged 10 years in 6 weeks and developed a mortal condition - what was with all the grey hair all of a sudden?
What was the final scene with the two kids all about? I waited for something to happen but nothing did.
Frimley111R said:
Just finished this. I wanted to watch it as it's such a well known story/musical. I enjoyed it but obviously there were a few 'really?' moments in it. As I just watch the last one yesterday I couldn't work out:
How the lead character aged 10 years in 6 weeks and developed a mortal condition - what was with all the grey hair all of a sudden?
Yeah, I didn't really get that part either. How the lead character aged 10 years in 6 weeks and developed a mortal condition - what was with all the grey hair all of a sudden?
I went to see the West End Show on Saturday night, so just before the last episode, and that bit confused me in that too. I thought a lot of time had passed because suddenly Valjean was an old man! But my OH explained to me after that it took place just after Marius & Cosettes wedding, so not long.
I imagine it's some sort of artistic metaphor or something, which I don't care quite enough to analyze further...
Frimley111R said:
What was the final scene with the two kids all about? I waited for something to happen but nothing did.
This wasn't in the show and I have no idea. I was expecting Marius to show up and give them some money or something. Either that or it was highlighting Valjean's beginnings, or even was meant to be Valjean as a child??Great series though! And I can't recommend the West End show highly enough, it was brilliant.
I had the same question after watching the musical years back, apparently in the book he gets depressed and basically wastes away after Cosette gets married.
See user7812's answer here:
https://movies.stackexchange.com/questions/16525/w...
See user7812's answer here:
https://movies.stackexchange.com/questions/16525/w...
user7812 said:
The source novel (as translated) indicates that he died of wasting, a condition marked by under-nutrition, reduced physical activity and which ultimately results in chronically low blood pressure and systemic organ failure. His wasting was evidently prompted by late onset depression and a change in mental state
In case anyone is thinking of going to see the musical version after watching the BBC's adaptation (I highly recommend it, it's not been on in London for 30 years or so for no reason). The various versions can be a bit tricky to navigate. So as a theatre regular I will try to untangle them.
The original / classic version is currently at the Queens Theatre in London until mid July, tickets for that are here:
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/les-mi...
It's been in that theatre for about 15 years. Before that it was at the Palace theatre on Charing Cross Road.
That version is closing in July because they need to refurbish the theatre. I'm highlighting that version because it still has the classic set that Les Mis is famous for, with a massive barricade on a revolving centre stage. When the show first came out, that set really was something special.
There is currently a touring version with multiple UK dates throughout the year, tickets for that are here
https://www.lesmis.com/uk-ireland-tour/tour-dates
The touring version is slightly smaller scale, with the same songs but some slightly different costumes, some modernised orchestrations, and fewer musicians than the original/classic had. The most noticeable difference is the smaller set, which does not have the famous revolve or quite as big a barricade.
When the London show returns to the Queens Theatre in December 2019 after the theatre refurb, it is going to be the smaller scale / updated Touring version, with changes as above. So if you want to see the original / classic version, you need to go before July.
In the meantime while the refurb is going on. They are going to have what is known as the 25th Anniversary Concert Version, at the Gielgud Theatre a few doors up the road (Cameron Mackintosh owns them both). This was announced earlier this week and will run from August to November, tickets went on sale yesterday here and have sold like crazy:
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/les-mi...
"Concert Version" means they're still in costume, and will wave a few props about, but there's not really any set to speak of. Well there probably will be a Revolutionary France feel to the stage but it won't keep changing with each scene. They're promising a cast and orchestra of 65 for these shows, which is quite a bit more than the "normal" shows above. The reason it has sold so well is because they have stuffed it full of people well known for previous appearances in Les Mis over the years, people like Michael Ball (who originated the role of Marius) and Alfie Boe and John Owen Jones. So Les Mis fans are in a frenzy about it. It will also have Matt Lucas in it (he appeared in the 25th anniversary concert version that was at the O2 a while back). He plays the innkeeper Thenardier and has the jolly song "Master of the House" to sing.
Of course there is also the Hugh Jackman / Russel Crowe film version of course, but true Les Mis fans pretend that never happened.
You can get tickets from other places, but all the links I've given are the show/theatre themselves, not agencies, so are the cheapest and best sources. You can get a good idea of which seats are good value and which have poor views, from sites like http://www.theatremonkey.com and https://www.seatplan.com.
The original / classic version is currently at the Queens Theatre in London until mid July, tickets for that are here:
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/les-mi...
It's been in that theatre for about 15 years. Before that it was at the Palace theatre on Charing Cross Road.
That version is closing in July because they need to refurbish the theatre. I'm highlighting that version because it still has the classic set that Les Mis is famous for, with a massive barricade on a revolving centre stage. When the show first came out, that set really was something special.
There is currently a touring version with multiple UK dates throughout the year, tickets for that are here
https://www.lesmis.com/uk-ireland-tour/tour-dates
The touring version is slightly smaller scale, with the same songs but some slightly different costumes, some modernised orchestrations, and fewer musicians than the original/classic had. The most noticeable difference is the smaller set, which does not have the famous revolve or quite as big a barricade.
When the London show returns to the Queens Theatre in December 2019 after the theatre refurb, it is going to be the smaller scale / updated Touring version, with changes as above. So if you want to see the original / classic version, you need to go before July.
In the meantime while the refurb is going on. They are going to have what is known as the 25th Anniversary Concert Version, at the Gielgud Theatre a few doors up the road (Cameron Mackintosh owns them both). This was announced earlier this week and will run from August to November, tickets went on sale yesterday here and have sold like crazy:
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/les-mi...
"Concert Version" means they're still in costume, and will wave a few props about, but there's not really any set to speak of. Well there probably will be a Revolutionary France feel to the stage but it won't keep changing with each scene. They're promising a cast and orchestra of 65 for these shows, which is quite a bit more than the "normal" shows above. The reason it has sold so well is because they have stuffed it full of people well known for previous appearances in Les Mis over the years, people like Michael Ball (who originated the role of Marius) and Alfie Boe and John Owen Jones. So Les Mis fans are in a frenzy about it. It will also have Matt Lucas in it (he appeared in the 25th anniversary concert version that was at the O2 a while back). He plays the innkeeper Thenardier and has the jolly song "Master of the House" to sing.
Of course there is also the Hugh Jackman / Russel Crowe film version of course, but true Les Mis fans pretend that never happened.
You can get tickets from other places, but all the links I've given are the show/theatre themselves, not agencies, so are the cheapest and best sources. You can get a good idea of which seats are good value and which have poor views, from sites like http://www.theatremonkey.com and https://www.seatplan.com.
Edited by kev1974 on Friday 8th February 16:10
kev1974 said:
In case anyone is thinking of going to see the musical version after watching the BBC's adaptation (I highly recommend it, it's not been on in London for 30 years or so for no reason). The various versions can be a bit tricky to navigate. So as a theatre regular I will try to untangle them.
The original / classic version is currently at the Queens Theatre in London until mid July, tickets for that are here:
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/les-mi...
It's been in that theatre for about 15 years. Before that it was at the Palace theatre on Charing Cross Road.
That version is closing in July because they need to refurbish the theatre. I'm highlighting that version because it still has the classic set that Les Mis is famous for, with a massive barricade on a revolving centre stage. When the show first came out, that set really was something special.
There is currently a touring version with multiple UK dates throughout the year, tickets for that are here
https://www.lesmis.com/uk-ireland-tour/tour-dates
The touring version is slightly smaller scale, with the same songs but some slightly different costumes, some modernised orchestrations, and fewer musicians than the original/classic had. The most noticeable difference is the smaller set, which does not have the famous revolve or quite as big a barricade.
When the London show returns to the Queens Theatre in December 2019 after the theatre refurb, it is going to be the smaller scale / updated Touring version, with changes as above. So if you want to see the original / classic version, you need to go before July.
In the meantime while the refurb is going on. They are going to have what is known as the 25th Anniversary Concert Version, at the Gielgud Theatre a few doors up the road (Cameron Mackintosh owns them both). This was announced earlier this week and will run from August to November, tickets went on sale yesterday here and have sold like crazy:
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/les-mi...
"Concert Version" means they're still in costume, and will wave a few props about, but there's not really any set to speak of. Well there probably will be a Revolutionary France feel to the stage but it won't keep changing with each scene. They're promising a cast and orchestra of 65 for these shows, which is quite a bit more than the "normal" shows above. The reason it has sold so well is because they have stuffed it full of people well known for previous appearances in Les Mis over the years, people like Michael Ball (who originated the role of Marius) and Alfie Boe and John Owen Jones. So Les Mis fans are in a frenzy about it. It will also have Matt Lucas in it (he appeared in the 25th anniversary concert version that was at the O2 a while back). He plays the innkeeper Thenardier and has the jolly song "Master of the House" to sing.
Of course there is also the Hugh Jackman / Russel Crowe film version of course, but true Les Mis fans pretend that never happened.
You can get tickets from other places, but all the links I've given are the show/theatre themselves, not agencies, so are the cheapest and best sources. You can get a good idea of which seats are good value and which have poor views, from sites like http://www.theatremonkey.com and https://www.seatplan.com.
Cheers for this, just managed to get some tickets...selling out fast!The original / classic version is currently at the Queens Theatre in London until mid July, tickets for that are here:
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/les-mi...
It's been in that theatre for about 15 years. Before that it was at the Palace theatre on Charing Cross Road.
That version is closing in July because they need to refurbish the theatre. I'm highlighting that version because it still has the classic set that Les Mis is famous for, with a massive barricade on a revolving centre stage. When the show first came out, that set really was something special.
There is currently a touring version with multiple UK dates throughout the year, tickets for that are here
https://www.lesmis.com/uk-ireland-tour/tour-dates
The touring version is slightly smaller scale, with the same songs but some slightly different costumes, some modernised orchestrations, and fewer musicians than the original/classic had. The most noticeable difference is the smaller set, which does not have the famous revolve or quite as big a barricade.
When the London show returns to the Queens Theatre in December 2019 after the theatre refurb, it is going to be the smaller scale / updated Touring version, with changes as above. So if you want to see the original / classic version, you need to go before July.
In the meantime while the refurb is going on. They are going to have what is known as the 25th Anniversary Concert Version, at the Gielgud Theatre a few doors up the road (Cameron Mackintosh owns them both). This was announced earlier this week and will run from August to November, tickets went on sale yesterday here and have sold like crazy:
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/les-mi...
"Concert Version" means they're still in costume, and will wave a few props about, but there's not really any set to speak of. Well there probably will be a Revolutionary France feel to the stage but it won't keep changing with each scene. They're promising a cast and orchestra of 65 for these shows, which is quite a bit more than the "normal" shows above. The reason it has sold so well is because they have stuffed it full of people well known for previous appearances in Les Mis over the years, people like Michael Ball (who originated the role of Marius) and Alfie Boe and John Owen Jones. So Les Mis fans are in a frenzy about it. It will also have Matt Lucas in it (he appeared in the 25th anniversary concert version that was at the O2 a while back). He plays the innkeeper Thenardier and has the jolly song "Master of the House" to sing.
Of course there is also the Hugh Jackman / Russel Crowe film version of course, but true Les Mis fans pretend that never happened.
You can get tickets from other places, but all the links I've given are the show/theatre themselves, not agencies, so are the cheapest and best sources. You can get a good idea of which seats are good value and which have poor views, from sites like http://www.theatremonkey.com and https://www.seatplan.com.
Edited by kev1974 on Friday 8th February 16:10
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