There were lots and lots of movies based on Eugene Sue's famous melodrama in the dregs of society.this is the first of the two MTV works ;in spite of a very modest budget ,this version is Superior to the six-episode miniseries of the early eighties .It is the movie (and I include the three movies released in theaters in 1943,1957 and 1962,the latter being the worst)which is the most faithful to the book :actually it is that version that makes me read this mammoth novel.

The cast is impressive and features the upper crust of the French TV actors of the era.Some of them (Victor Lanoux,Claude Piéplu) would even enjoy a career on the silver screen.

Excellent screenplay by Claude Santelli;directed by Marcel Cravenne who made a memorable "Danse De Mort" starring Erich Von Stroheim (1946) before working for TV.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

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Les mystères de Paris

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