Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...

's novel ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...

'' has been the subject of many

adaptations In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the ...

in various media since its original publication in 1862.

Books (adaptations and sequels)

* 1872, ''Gavroche: The Gamin of Paris'', translated and adapted by M. C. Pyle. * 1922, The Story of "Les Misérables", adapted by Isabel C. Fortey. * 1935, ''

Jean Val Jean ''Jean Val Jean'' is a 1935 novel by Solomon Cleaver. It is a much abbreviated retelling in English of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. According to the publisher's preface, around the turn of the 20th century, Cleaver, a young min ...

'', a condensed retelling by

Solomon Cleaver Solomon Cleaver (1855–1939) was a Winnipeg Minister of religion, minister and storytelling, storyteller best known for his adaptation of Victor Hugo's ''Les Misérables'', published in 1935 as ''Jean Val Jean''. Cleaver was a well-known orator; an ...

. * 1946, ''Les Misérables'', adapted by Mabel Dodge Holmes, edited by Grace A. Benscoter. * 1995, ''Cosette: The Sequel to Les Misérables'' by Laura Kalpakian, more a sequel to the musical than to Hugo's novel. * 1995, ''Les Misérables'', adapted by Monica Kulling for the Bullseye Step Into Classics series. * 2001, French author François Cérésa wrote two sequels, ''Cosette or the Time of Illusions'' and ''Marius or The Fugitive''. Hugo's descendants, including his great-great-grandson Pierre Hugo, wanted the novels banned, claiming that they breached the moral rights of the author and betrayed the "respect of the integrity" and "spirit" of Hugo's original novel. * 2013, ''Barricades: The Journey Of Javert'', a novel by C.A. Shilton based on the early life of Javert. * 2014, ''A Little in Love'' by Susan Fletcher, a novel based on the early life of Éponine, published by Chicken House Ltd. *2019, ''Sky Without Stars'' by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell, the first book in the 'System Divine' series which serves as a futuristic sci-fi retelling of Les Miserables. * 2020, '' A Wish in the Dark'', a children's fantasy novel by

Christina Soontornvat Christina Soontornvat ( th, คริสติน่า สุนทรวัฒน์; born 1980) is an American author, educator, and mechanical engineer. She won two Newbery Honors in 2021 for the children's books '' A Wish in the Dark'' and ...

*2020, ''The Court of Miracles'' by Kester Grant, a loose retelling of Les Misérables and The Jungle Book with Éponine as the main character. It is the first book in a trilogy.

Comics

Western comics

* 1943:

Classic Comics ''Classics Illustrated'' is an American comic book/magazine series featuring adaptations of literary classics such as ''Les Misérables'', ''Moby-Dick'', ''Hamlet'', and ''The Iliad''. Created by Albert Kanter, the series began publication in 1 ...

releases a comics adaptation with illustrations by Rolland H. Livingstone. * 1961: Classic Comics releases a revision of the 1943 adaptation with illustrations by

Norman Nodel Norman Nodel (1922 – 25 February 2000) was an American comics-illustrator, mostly known for his work in ''Classics Illustrated''. Biography Norman Nodel was born Nochem Yeshaya in 1922. The son of an Orthodox Rabbi, Nodel served as a field ...

. * 1975: François Dermaut adapted the story into a comic book version for the magazine Djin. * 1979: Rene Giffey illustrated an adaptation in three parts: "Jean Valjean et Javert," "Gavroche," and "Cosette et Marius." * 1996:

Eddy Paape Edouard Paape (3 July 1920 – 12 May 2012), commonly known as Eddy Paape, was a Belgian comics artist best known for illustrating the series '' Luc Orient''. Biography Eddy Paape was born in Grivegnée (now a part of Liège), Belgium in 19 ...

illustrated "Les Misérables : Jean Valjean," with a second planned instalment called "Les Thénardiers" but it was never released. * 2010: Daniel Bardet and Bernard Capo illustrated an adaptation published in two parts. * 2019:

Rudy Rupak Acharyya "Rudy" Rupak (born 14 November 1968) is a serial entrepreneur known for introducing the business of medical tourism as the founder of the world's first medical tourism company, PlanetHospital. He is also known for producing '' Snowboa ...

published an online comic book, ''Age of Fire'', which sets the story of Les Misérables in British occupied India. Rudy Rupak, who has produced several feature films such as

Snowboard Academy ''Snowboard Academy'' is a 1997 independent slapstick comedy film directed by John Shepphird and starring Corey Haim, Jim Varney and Brigitte Nielsen. Plot A competition is held between two brothers on their father's ski slopes; one is a skier, ...

, has plans to make ''Age of Fire'' into a

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

movie.

Manga

* 2013: Serial

manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...

adaptation by Takahiro Arai in Japan's '' Monthly Shonen Sunday'' magazine. * 2014: UDON Manga Classics manga adaptation. Art by SunNeko Lee and story adaptation by Crystal Silvermoon.

Film

* 1897, ''Victor Hugo et les principaux personnages des misérables'', a

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

by the

Lumière brothers Lumière is French for 'light'. Lumiere, Lumière or Lumieres may refer to: * Lumières, the philosophical movement in the Age of Enlightenment People *Auguste and Louis Lumière, French pioneers in film-making Film and TV * Institut Lumière, ...

. The film is extant. * 1905, ''Le Chemineau'' (English: ''The Vagabond''), a five-minute short directed by

Albert Capellani Albert Capellani (23 August 1874 – 26 September 1931) was a French film director and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed films between 1905 and 1922. One of his brothers was the actor-sculptor Paul Capellani, and another, film dir ...

. The film is extant and available on several DVD releases. * 1909, in three parts, entitled ''The Price of a Soul'', ''The Ordeal'' and ''A New Life''. The film was directed by

Edwin S. Porter Edwin Stanton Porter (April 21, 1870 – April 30, 1941) was an American film pioneer, most famous as a producer, director, studio manager and cinematographer with the Edison Manufacturing Company and the Famous Players Film Company. Of over ...

and produced by the

Edison Manufacturing Company The Edison Manufacturing Company, originally registered as the United Edison Manufacturing Company and often known as simply the Edison Company, was organized by inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Edison and incorporated in New York City in May 188 ...

. Although faithful to the novel, it is not a complete adaptation as the final part ends with Valjean entering the convent. The film is believed to be lost. The first installment was sometimes billed as ''The Bishop's Candlesticks''. * 1909, in four parts, entitled ''Jean Valjean'', ''The Galley Slave'', ''Fantine; or, A Mother's Love'' and ''Cosette'', directed by

J. Stuart Blackton James Stuart Blackton (January 5, 1875 – August 13, 1941) was a British-American film producer and director of the silent era. One of the pioneers of motion pictures, he founded Vitagraph Studios in 1897. He was one of the first filmmakers to ...

and produced by The Vitagraph Company of America. This film, believed to be lost, is the first motion picture adaptation of the complete novel. * 1910, ''Aa Mujou'', Japanese adaptation, director unknown * 1913, again directed by Capellani with Henry Krauss as Valjean. Budgeted at $100,000, publicity at the time hailed it as "the greatest motion picture ever made". * 1913, ''The Bishop's Candlesticks'', directed

Herbert Brenon Herbert Brenon (born Alexander Herbert Reginald St. John Brenon; 13 January 1880 – 21 June 1958) was an Irish-born U.S. film director, actor and screenwriter during the era of silent films through the 1930s. Brenon was among the early film ...

, adaptation of a popular one-act play by

Norman McKinnel Norman McKinnel (10 February 1870 – 29 March 1932) was a Scottish stage and film actor and playwright, active from the 1890s until his death. He appeared in many stage roles in the UK and overseas as well as featuring in a number of films, ...

based on the first volume of the novel * 1917, directed by

Frank Lloyd Frank William George Lloyd (2 February 1886 – 10 August 1960) was a British-born American film director, actor, scriptwriter, and producer. He was among the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and was its president ...

, produced by William Fox and starring

William Farnum William Farnum (July 4, 1876 – June 5, 1953) was an American actor. He was a star of American silent film cinema and became one of the highest-paid actors during that time. Biography Farnum was born on July 4, 1876, in Boston, Massachuse ...

as Valjean * 1922, ''Tense Moments with Great Authors'', a British production featuring scenes from the novel and starring Lyn Harding as Valjean. * 1923, ''Aa Mujou'', a Japanese adaptation directed by Kiyohiko Ushihara and Yoshinobu Ikeda; production cancelled after two of four parts *

1925 Events January * January 1 ** The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria. * January 3 – Benito Mussolini makes a pivotal speech in the Italia ...

, directed by

Henri Fescourt Henri Fescourt (23 November 1880 – 9 August 1966) was a French film director. He directed some 40 films in his career. Filmography * 1912 : '' Un vol a été commis'' * 1912 : '' Le Petit restaurant de l'impasse Canin'' * 1912 : '' Paris-Sa ...

, starring

Gabriel Gabrio Gabriel Gabrio (born Édouard Gabriel Lelièvre; 13 January 1887 – 31 October 1946) was a French stage and film actor whose career began in cinema in the silent film era of the 1920s and spanned more than two decades. Gabrio is possibly best re ...

Jean Toulout Jean Toulout (28 September 1887 – 23 October 1962) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1911 and 1959. Selected filmography * ''La Digue'' (1911) * '' The Mask of Horror'' (1912) * '' The Tenth Symphony'' ( ...

, Sandra Milowanoff and

François Rozet François Rozet, (25 March 1899 – 8 April 1994) was a French-born Canadian actor. Rozet was born March 25, 1899 in Villars-les-Dombes, Ain, Rhône-Alpes, France and died in Montréal, Québec, Canada. In 1971, he was made an Officer of ...

* 1929, ''The Bishop's Candlesticks'', directed by

George Abbott George Francis Abbott (June 25, 1887 – January 31, 1995) was an American theatre producer, director, playwright, screenwriter, film director and producer whose career spanned eight decades. Early years Abbott was born in Forestville, New Yo ...

, adaptation of a popular one-act play by Norman McKinnel of the first volume of the novel, the first sound film adaptation, with

Walter Huston Walter Thomas Huston ( ;According to the Province of Ontario. ''Ontario, C ...

as Jean Valjean * 1929, ''Aa Mujo'', a Japanese adaptation directed by Seika Shiba * 1931, ''Jean Valjean'', directed by

Tomu Uchida , born Tsunejirō Uchida on 26 April 1898, was a Japanese film director. The stage name "Tomu" translates to “spit out dreams”. Early career Uchida started out at the Taikatsu studio in the early 1920s, but came to prominence at Nikkatsu, ad ...

* 1934, 4½-hour French version directed by Raymond Bernard and starring

Harry Baur Harry Baur (12 April 1880 – 8 April 1943) was a French actor. Initially a stage actor, Baur appeared in about 80 films between 1909 and 1942. He gave an acclaimed performance as the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in the biopic ''Beethoven's Gr ...

Charles Vanel Charles-Marie Vanel (21 August 1892 – 15 April 1989) was a French actor and director. During his 76-year film career, which began in 1912, he appeared in more than 200 films and worked with many prominent directors, including Alfred Hitchcock ...

Florelle Florelle (born Odette Élisa Joséphine Marguerite Rousseau, 9 August 1898 – 28 September 1974) was a French soprano singer and actress. She gained fame as Polly Peachum in the French film ''The Threepenny Opera'', after which she had numero ...

Josseline Gaël Josseline Gaël (born Jeannine Augustine Jeanne Blanleuil; 4 February 1917 – 10 August 1995) was a French actress who specialised in comedy roles. She is best remembered for her portrayal of Cosette in the 1934 film adaptation of Les Misérable ...

and

Jean Servais Jean Servais (; 24 September 1910 – 17 February 1976) was a Belgian film and stage actor. He acted in many 20th century French cinema productions, from the 1930s through the early 1970s. He was married to Gilberte Graillot, and later act ...

* 1935, directed by

Richard Boleslawski Richard Boleslawski (born Bolesław Ryszard Srzednicki; February 4, 1889 – January 17, 1937) was a Polish theatre and film director, actor and teacher of acting. Biography Richard Boleslawski was born Bolesław Ryszard Srzednicki on February ...

and starring

Fredric March Fredric March (born Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel; August 31, 1897 – April 14, 1975) was an American actor, regarded as one of Hollywood's most celebrated, versatile stars of the 1930s and 1940s.Obituary '' Variety'', April 16, 1975, ...

as Valjean,

Charles Laughton Charles Laughton (1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play with his future w ...

as Javert,

Sir Cedric Hardwicke Sir Cedric Webster Hardwicke (19 February 1893 – 6 August 1964) was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned nearly 50 years. His theatre work included notable performances in productions of the plays of William Shakespeare, Shakes ...

as the Bishop,

Florence Eldridge Florence Eldridge (born Florence McKechnie, September 5, 1901 – August 1, 1988) was an American actress. She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1957 for her performance in '' Long Day's Journey into Night''. E ...

as Fantine,

Rochelle Hudson Rochelle Hudson (born Rachael Elizabeth Hudson; March 6, 1916 – January 17, 1972) was an American film actress from the 1930s through the 1960s.John Beal as Marius; the first adaptation nominated for

Academy Award for Best Picture The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since the awards debuted in 1929. This award goes to the producers of the film and is the only category ...

. * 1937, ''Gavrosh'', a Soviet adaptation directed by Tatyana Lukashevich * 1938, '' Kyojinden'', a Japanese adaptation directed by

Mansaku Itami Mansaku Itami (伊丹万作; real name Yoshitoyo Ikeuchi 池内義豊; 2 January 1900 – 21 September 1946) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter known for his critical, sometimes satirical portraits of Japan and its history. H ...

* 1943, ''Los Miserables'', a Mexican adaptation directed by Renando A. Rovero * 1944, ''

El Boassa EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

'', an Egyptian adaptation directed by Kamal Selim * 1948 (''I Miserabili''), directed by

Riccardo Freda Riccardo Freda (24 February 1909 – 20 December 1999) was an Italian film director. He worked in a variety of genres, including sword-and-sandal, horror, ''giallo'' and spy films. Freda began directing '' I Vampiri'' in 1956. The film became ...

and starring

Gino Cervi Luigi Cervi (3 May 1901 – 3 January 1974), better known as Gino Cervi (), was an Italian actor. He was best known for portraying Peppone in a series of comedies based on the character ''Don Camillo'' (1952-1965), and police detective Jules M ...

, Giovanni Hinrich,

Valentina Cortese Valentina Cortese (1 January 1923 – 10 July 2019) was an Italian actress. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in François Truffaut's ''Day for Night'' (1973). Personal life Cortese was bor ...

, Duccia Giraldi and Aldo Nicodemi * 1949, ''Les Nouveaux Misérables'', directed by

Henri Verneuil Henri Verneuil (; born Ashot Malakian; 15 October 1920 – 11 January 2002) was a French-Armenian playwright and filmmaker, who made a successful career in France. He was nominated for Oscar and Palme d'Or awards, and won Locarno International ...

* 1950, ''Re Mizeraburu: Kami To Akuma'' (English: ''Les Miserables: Gods and Demons'') and ''Re Mizeraburu: Kami To Jiyu No Hata'' (English: ''Les Misérables: Flag of Love and Liberty''). Directed by Daisuke Itô and Masahiro Makino respectively, and released on 3 and 14 November respectively. * 1950, ''

Ezhai Padum Padu ''Ezhai Padum Padu'' () is a 1950 Indian Tamil language film directed by K. Ramnoth. It was simultaneously shot in Telugu as ''Beedala Patlu''. It was an adaptation of ''Les Misérables'', Victor Hugo's 1862 novel. The film was released on Diwa ...

'' and ''

Beedala Patlu ''Beedala Patlu'' () is a 1972 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced and directed by B. Vittalacharya. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Krishna Kumari, with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The film is based on the 1862 French nove ...

'', directed by

K. Ramnoth K. Ramnoth (1912–1956) was an Indian cinematographer and director active in Tamil cinema. Career Ramnoth was born in 1912 at Pujapura, Thiruvananthapuram, Trivandrum. After passing his Bachelor degree, he arrived in Chennai in search of a ...

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

and

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...

* 1952, directed by

Lewis Milestone Lewis Milestone (born Leib Milstein (Russian: Лейб Мильштейн); September 30, 1895 – September 25, 1980) was a Moldovan-American film director. He is known for directing ''Two Arabian Knights'' (1927) and '' All Quiet on the Weste ...

, with

Michael Rennie Michael Rennie (born Eric Alexander Rennie; 25 August 1909 – 10 June 1971) was a British film, television and stage actor, who had leading roles in a number of Hollywood films, including his portrayal of the space visitor Klaatu in the s ...

as Valjean,

Robert Newton Robert Guy Newton (1 June 1905 – 25 March 1956) was an English actor. Along with Errol Flynn, Newton was one of the more popular actors among the male juvenile audience of the 1940s and early 1950s, especially with British boys. Known for h ...

as Javert, Sylvia Sidney as Fantine,

Edmund Gwenn Edmund Gwenn (born Edmund John Kellaway; 26 September 1877 – 6 September 1959) was an English actor. On film, he is best remembered for his role as Kris Kringle in the Christmas film ''Miracle on 34th Street'' (1947), for which he won t ...

as the Bishop,

Debra Paget Debra Paget (born Debralee Griffin; August 19, 1933) is an American actress and entertainer. She is perhaps best known for her performances in Cecil B. DeMille's epic ''The Ten Commandments'' (1956) and in Elvis Presley's film debut, '' Love Me ...

as Cosette and Cameron Mitchell as Marius * 1955, ''Kundan'', an Indian Hindi film directed by

Sohrab Modi Sohrab Merwanji Modi (2 November 1897 – 28 January 1984) was an Indian stage and film actor, director and producer. His films include ''Khoon Ka Khoon'' (1935), a version of Shakespeare's ''Hamlet'', '' Sikandar'', ''Pukar'', ''Prithvi Va ...

* 1956, ''Duppathage Duka'',

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

n Sinhala film * 1957, ''Sirakaruwa'', a Sri Lankan Sinhala adaptation directed by

Sirisena Wimalaweera Sirisena Wimalaweera ( si, සිරිසේන විමලවීර; born 23 June 1901 – died 24 August 1963) was a Sri Lankan filmmaker and theater master. He made several critically acclaimed films from 1949 to 1960. He is the first indepe ...

* 1958, directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois, starring

Jean Gabin Jean Gabin (; 17 May 190415 November 1976) was a French actor and singer. Considered a key figure in French cinema, he starred in several classic films including ''Pépé le Moko'' (1937), '' La grande illusion'' (1937), ''Le Quai des brumes'' ...

* 1958, ''Os Miseráveis'', a Brazilian adaptation directed by Dionísio Azevedo * 1961, ''Jean Valjean'', Korean film by Seung-ha Jo * 1961, ''Cosette'', directed by Alain Boudet on Claude Santelli's program Le Théâtre de la jeunesse * 1962, ''Gavroche'', directed by Boudet on Le Théâtre de la jeunesse * 1963, ''Jean Valjean'', directed by Boudet on Le Théâtre de la jeunesse * 1964, ''Aa mujo'', Japanese film, director unknown * 1967, ''Sefiller'', Turkish film * 1972, ''Beedala Patlu'', Indian Telugu film directed by B. Vittalacharya * 1972, ''Gnana Oli'' ("''The light of wisdom''"), Indian Tamil loose adaptation, directed by P. Madhavan * 1977, ''Neethipeedam'', in Indian Malayalam, based on ''Les Misérables'' and

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

's ''

The Wrong Man ''The Wrong Man'' is a 1956 American docudrama film noir directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Henry Fonda and Vera Miles. The film was drawn from the true story of an innocent man charged with a crime, as described in the book ''The True St ...

'' * 1978, ''Al Boasa'', Egyptian adaptation *

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street bridges, 14th Street Bridge in ...

, directed by

Robert Hossein Robert Hossein (30 December 1927 – 31 December 2020) was a French film actor, director, and writer. He directed the 1982 adaptation of ''Les Misérables'' and appeared in '' Vice and Virtue'', '' Le Casse'', '' Les Uns et les Autres'' and '' ...

and starring Lino Ventura,

Michel Bouquet Michel Bouquet (6 November 1925 – 13 April 2022) was a French stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from 1947 to 2020. He won the Best Actor European Film Award for ''Toto the Hero'' in 1991 and two Best Actor Césars for ...

Évelyne Bouix Évelyne Bouix (; born 22 April 1953) is a French film actress and stage actress. She has appeared in 61 films from 1970. She was made ''Chevalier'' (Knight) of the Ordre national du Mérite in 1999. Selected filmography * ''Rene the Cane'' ( ...

, Christiane Jean and Frank David * 1989, ''Ngọn Cỏ Gió Đùa'', Vietnamese film directed by Hgô Ngoc Xun with a script by Việt Linh and released by Saigon Video. Based on ''Ngọn cỏ gió đùa'', Hồ Biểu Chánh's book adaptation of ''Les Misérables''. *

1995 File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is O. J. Simpson murder case, acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the 1994, year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The ...

, directed by

Claude Lelouch Claude Barruck Joseph Lelouch (; born 30 October 1937) is a French film director, screenwriter, writer, cinematographer, actor and film producer, producer. Lelouch grew up in an Algerian Jewish Family. He emerged as a prominent director in the 1 ...

; a loose, multi-layered adaptation set in the 20th century starring

Jean-Paul Belmondo Jean-Paul Charles Belmondo (; 9 April 19336 September 2021) was a French actor and producer. Initially associated with the New Wave of the 1960s, he was a major French film star for several decades from the 1960s onward. His best known credits ...

* 1998, directed by

Bille August Bille August (born 9 November 1948) is a Danish director, screenwriter, and cinematographer of film and television. In a career spanning over four decades, he has been the recipient of numerous accolades, making him one of the most acclaimed co ...

and starring

Liam Neeson William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Tony Awards. In 2020, he was placed 7th on ''The I ...

as Valjean,

Geoffrey Rush Geoffrey Roy Rush (born 6 July 1951) is an Australian actor. He is known for his eccentric leading man roles on stage and screen. He is among 24 people who have won the Triple Crown of Acting, having received an Academy Award, a Primetime Em ...

as Javert,

Uma Thurman Uma Karuna Thurman (born April 29, 1970) is an American actress and former model. She has performed in a variety of films, from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action films. Following her appearances on the December 1985 an ...

as Fantine,

Peter Vaughan Peter Vaughan (born Peter Ewart Ohm; 4 April 1923 – 6 December 2016) was an English character actor known for many supporting roles in British film and television productions. He also acted extensively on the stage. He is perhaps best know ...

as the Bishop,

Claire Danes Claire Catherine Danes (born April 12, 1979) is an American actress. She is the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2012, ''Time'' named her one of the 100 most influenti ...

as Cosette and

Hans Matheson Hans Matheson (born 7 August 1975) is a Scottish actor and musician. In a wide-ranging film and television career he has taken lead roles in diverse films such as '' Doctor Zhivago'', '' Sherlock Holmes'', '' The Tudors'', '' Tess of the d'Urb ...

as Marius. * 1998 මනුතාපය Sinhala Translation (Manutaapaya) by ඊරියගොල්ල සූරීන් (Mr. Iiriyagolla) * 2007, Sudanese 2005 or 2006 or 2007 film directed by Gadalla Gubara and starring Gamal Hassan as Valjean * 2010, ''Ngọn Cỏ Gió Đùa'', Vietnamese Cải lương musical film directed by Pham Van Dai and broadcast on

HTV9 Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV; vi, Đài Truyền hình Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) is a Vietnamese television network owned by the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. History The old name of HCMC Television was Saigon Liberation ...

. Based on ''Ngọn cỏ gió đùa'', Hồ Biểu Chánh's book adaptation of ''Les Misérables''. * 2011, ''Les misérables: Tempête sous un crâne'', filmed stage play by Jean Bellorini and Camille de la Guillonnière *

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

, adaptation of the stage musical, directed by

Tom Hooper Thomas George Hooper (born 5 October 1972)''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005''. 5d: 2485. is a British-Australian filmmaker. Hooper began making short films as a teenager and had his first professional short, ...

and starring

Hugh Jackman Hugh Michael Jackman (born 12 October 1968) is an Australian actor. Beginning in theatre and television, he landed his breakthrough role as James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine in the 20th Century Fox ''X-Men'' film series (2000–2017), a role ...

as Valjean,

Russell Crowe Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is an actor. He was born in New Zealand, spent ten years of his childhood in Australia, and moved there permanently at age twenty one. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maxi ...

as Javert,

Anne Hathaway Anne Jacqueline Hathaway (born November 12, 1982) is an American actress. The recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award, she was among the world's highest-paid actresses in 2 ...

as Fantine,

Samantha Barks Samantha Jane Barks (born 2 October 1990) is a Manx people, Manx actress and singer who rose to fame after placing third in the BBC talent show-themed television series ''I'd Do Anything (BBC TV series), I'd Do Anything'' in 2008. She has rele ...

as Eponine,

Aaron Tveit Aaron Kyle Tveit (; born October 21, 1983) is an American actor. Tveit originated the lead role of Christian the composer in the stage adaptation of ''Moulin Rouge!'' on Broadway, a performance for which he won the 2020 Tony Award for Best Acto ...

as Enjolras,

Amanda Seyfried Amanda Michelle Seyfried ( ; born December 3, 1985) is an American actress. Born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania, she began modeling at age 11 and ventured into acting at 15, with recurring roles as Lucy Montgomery on the CBS soap opera ...

as Cosette,

Sacha Baron Cohen Sacha Noam Baron Cohen (born 13 October 1971) is an English actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his creation and portrayal of the fictional satirical characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno Gehard, and Admiral ...

as Thenardier,

Helena Bonham Carter Helena Bonham Carter (born 26 May 1966) is an English actress. Known for her roles in blockbusters and independent films, particularly period dramas, she has received various awards and nominations, including a British Academy Film Award a ...

as Mme. Thenardier,

Eddie Redmayne Edward John David Redmayne (; born 6 January 1982) is an English actor. Known for his roles in biopics and blockbusters, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Olivier Awards. He ...

as Marius and

Colm Wilkinson Colm Wilkinson (born 5 June 1944), also known as C. T. Wilkinson, is an Irish tenor and actor who is best known for originating the lead role of Jean Valjean in ''Les Misérables'' (in the West End and Broadway) and for taking the title role in ...

as the Bishop *Note: The 2019 film ''Les Misérables'' borrows the title and some of the settings but is not an adaptation of the work, rather it borrows on some of its themes.

Television

* 1949, ''The Bishop's Candlesticks'', based on the play by Norman McKinnel. Broadcast on BBC Television. David Phethean played the role of the convict Jean Valjean. * 1949, ''The Bishop's Experiment'', an episode of the American anthology drama series ''

Your Show Time ''Your Show Time'' is an American anthology drama series that debuted on NBC Television on the East Coast in September 1948 and then on both the East and the West Coast, as a network show, on January 21, 1949. The show was produced by Marshall ...

''. Based on an incident from the novel with Leif Erickson as Jean Valjean. * 1952, ''The Bishop's Treasure'', a play by Wilfred Harvey adapted from the story in ''Les Misérables'' by Victor Hugo. Broadcast on BBC Television. Patrick Crean played the role of the convict Jean Valjean. * 1953, ''The Bishop's Candlesticks'', an episode of the 30 minute American anthology drama series ''

Medallion Theatre ''Medallion Theatre'', aka ''Chrysler Medallion Theatre'', is a 30-minute American anthology series that aired on CBS from July 11, 1953, to April 3, 1954. Henry Fonda (in the premiere telecast "The Decision of Arrowsmith"), Claude Rains, and Jane ...

'' with

Victor Jory Victor Jory (November 23, 1902 – February 12, 1982) was a Canadian-American actor of stage, film, and television. He initially played romantic leads, but later was mostly cast in villainous or sinister roles, such as Oberon in ''A Midsummer N ...

in the role of Jean Valjean. * 1953, ''Jean Valjean'', an episode of the American anthology drama series '' Monodrama Theater'' * 1964, ''I miserabili'', Italian TV-miniseries directed by Sandro Bolchi, starring:

Gastone Moschin Gastone Moschin (8 June 1929 – 4 September 2017) was an Italian stage, television and film actor. Career Born in San Giovanni Lupatoto (Veneto), Moschin graduated from the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico and then began hi ...

(Jean Valjean), Tino Carraro (Javert), Giulia Lazzarini (Fantine/adult Cosette),

Loretta Goggi Loretta Goggi ( born 29 September 1950) is an Italian singer, actress, comedian and TV host. Goggi is also an acclaimed singer and her records have sometimes entered the Italian pop charts. She was the first runner-up at the 1981 ''Festival del ...

(young Cosette), Antonio Battistella (Thénardier), Cesarina Gheraldi (Mme. Thénardier), Angela Cardile (Éponine),

Roberto Bisacco Roberto Bisacco (1 March 1939 – 10 October 2022)Aldo Silvani Aldo Silvani (21 January 1891 – 12 November 1964) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1934 and 1964. He was born in Turin, Italy and died in Milan, Italy. Selected filmography * '' Cardinal Lambertini'' ...

(Monseigneur Bienvenu) and Edoardo Nevola (Gavroche), nearly ten hours long * 1967, BBC miniseries, directed by

Alan Bridges Alan Bridges (28 September 1927 – 7 December 2013) was an English film and television director. In 1967 Bridges directed a television adaptation of Charles Dickens' '' Great Expectations'' starring Gary Bond as Pip. He won the '' Grand P ...

, starring:

Frank Finlay Francis Finlay, (6 August 1926 – 30 January 2016) was an English stage, film and television actor, Oscar-nominated for a supporting role as Iago in Laurence Olivier's 1965 film adaptation of ''Othello''. In 1983, Finlay was directed by Ital ...

as Valjean, Anthony Bate as Javert, Alan Rowe as Thenardier,

Judy Parfitt Judy Catherine Claire Parfitt (born 7 November 1935) is an English theatre, film and television actress. She made her film debut in a minor supporting part in '' Information Received'' (1961), followed by supporting role in the BBC television ...

as Madame Thenardier,

Michele Dotrice Michele Dotrice (born 27 September 1948) is an English actress. She portrayed Betty Spencer, the long-suffering wife of Frank Spencer, portrayed by Michael Crawford, in the BBC sitcom ''Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'', which ran from 1973 to 1978, ...

as Fantine and Cosette, Lesley Roach as young Cosette,

Elizabeth Counsell Elizabeth Counsell (born 7 June 1942) is an English actress, best known for starring in the BBC television series ''Brush Strokes'', and for her work in classical theatre. Career She played Lady Macbeth to Michael Gambon's Macbeth at the Foru ...

as Eponine, Vivian Mackerall as Marius, Derek Lamden as Gavroche,

Cavan Kendall Cavan Spencer Kendall McCarthy (22 May 1942 – 29 October 1999) was a British actor. Life Kendall was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father was the son of music hall comedian and actress Marie Kendall. Through his father, Kendall was a ...

as Enjolras, and Finlay Currie as the Bishop. * 1967, ''Os Miseráveis'', Brazilian soap opera starring Leonardo Vilar as Jean Valjean * 1970, ''Los Miserables'', Episode of the Argentina television series ''Alta Comedia'', directed by Martín Clutet and broadcast on 13 June 1970. * 1971, ''Los Miserables'', Spanish production by TVE as part of the ''Novela'' TV series, directed by José Antonio Páramo and starring José Calvo as Jean Valjean * 1972, French TV miniseries directed by

Marcel Bluwal Marcel Bluwal (25 May 1925 – 23 October 2021) was a French film director and screenwriter who directed more than 40 films in his career. Selected filmography Director * ''Carom Shots'' (1963) * ''The New Adventures of Vidocq'' (1971, TV ser ...

, starring:

Georges Géret Georges Géret (18 October 1924 – 7 April 1996) was a French film actor. He appeared in over 80 films between 1954 and 1992. He was born in Lyon, France. Selected filmography * '' The Unfrocked One'' (1954) - Un militaire à l'Oflag et � ...

(Jean Valjean), Bernard Fresson (Javert), Nicole Jamet (Cosette), François Marthouret (Marius), Alain Mottet (Thénardier), Micha Bayard (Mme. Thénardier), Hermine Karagheuz (Éponine), Anne-Marie Coffinet (Fantine), Jean-Luc Boutté (Enjolras), Gilles Maidon (Gavroche), François Vibert (Monseigneur Myriel) * 1974, ''Los Miserables'', Mexican TV adaptation directed by Antulio Jiménez Pons and starring Sergio Bustamante, Antonio Passy, Carlos Ancira, Magda Guzmán,

Blanca Sánchez Blanca Sánchez (March 2, 1946 – January 7, 2010) was a Mexican character actress, the daughter of Luis Sánchez Silva and Ofelia de la Fuente. She appeared in several telenovelas such as '' Quinceañera'' and ''Luz y sombra''. Her film work ...

, Diana Bracho, and Luis Torner. Some episodes exist, others might be lost. Came out in 1973 ? * 1978, a British

telefilm A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

directed by

Glenn Jordan Glenn Jordan (born April 5, 1936) is a retired American television director and producer. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Jordan directed multiple episodes of ''Family'' and helmed numerous television movies, several based on real persons as divers ...

and starring

Richard Jordan Robert Anson Jordan Jr. (July 19, 1937 – August 30, 1993) was an American actor. A long-time member of the New York Shakespeare Festival, he performed in many Off Broadway and Broadway plays. His films include '' Logan's Run'', ''Les Misér ...

as Valjean,

Anthony Perkins Anthony Perkins (April 4, 1932 – September 12, 1992) was an American actor, director, and singer. Perkins is best remembered for his role as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's suspense thriller '' Psycho'', which made him an influential ...

as Javert,

Angela Pleasence Daphne Anne Angela Pleasence (born 30 September 1941) is an English actress. Trained in theatre, Pleasence's first major film role came in '' Hitler: The Last Ten Days'' (1973), followed by roles in horror films such as ''From Beyond the Grave'' ...

as Fantine,

Caroline Langrishe Caroline Langrishe (born 10 January 1958) is an English actress. Early life Born in London, Langrishe is the elder daughter of Patrick Nicholas Langrishe (1932–2022), of The Manor House, Sellindge, Kent, a Lieutenant in the 11th Hussars, late ...

as Cosette, and

Christopher Guard Christopher Guard (born 5 December 1953) is an English actor, musician and artist. He is known for roles such as Jim Hawkins in '' Return to Treasure Island'' (1986), Bellboy in '' Doctor Who'' serial '' The Greatest Show in the Galaxy'' (1988 ...

as Marius. Original version is 150 minutes long; a cut for theatrical release is 95 minutes. U.S. debut on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

December 27. * 1980/81, ''Inochimoyu'', Japanese TV series for NHK with 23 episodes * 1985, TV version of the 1982 film, which is 30 minutes longer and divided into four parts * 1987, ''Gavroche'', East German TV movie based on the 1967 play by Peter Ensikat, directed by Dieter Bellmann. * 1988, ''Nihon Jean Valjean monogatari: Ai mujo'' ("''Japanese Jean Valjean's story''"), Japanese TV series *

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from ...

, 6-hour French TV miniseries starring:

Gérard Depardieu Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu, CQ (, , ; born 27 December 1948) is a French actor, filmmaker, businessman and vineyard owner since 1989 who is one of the most prolific thespians in film history having completed over 250 films since 1967 alm ...

(Jean Valjean),

John Malkovich John Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an American actor. He is the recipient of several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, two Screen Actors Guild Aw ...

(Javert),

Virginie Ledoyen Virginie Fernández (born 15 November 1976), known by her stage name Virginie Ledoyen (), is a French actress who has appeared in French, British and American films. Life and career Ledoyen was born in Aubervilliers, the daughter of Olga, a res ...

(Cosette),

Enrico Lo Verso Enrico Lo Verso (born 18 January 1964) is an Italian actor. He studied acting at Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and ''INDA, Istituto Nazionale del Dramma Antico''. Filmography * ''Atto di dolore'' (1990) * '' A Season of Giants'' (1990) ...

(Marius Pontmercy),

Charlotte Gainsbourg Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (; born 21 July 1971) is a British-French actress and singer. She is the daughter of English actress Jane Birkin and French musician Serge Gainsbourg. After making her musical debut with her father on the song " Lemo ...

(Fantine),

Asia Argento Asia Argento (; born Aria Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento; 20 September 1975) is an Italian actress and filmmaker. The daughter of filmmaker Dario Argento, she has had roles in several of her father's features and achieved mainstream success with ...

(Éponine),

Christian Clavier Christian Jean-Marie Clavier (; born 6 May 1952) is a French actor, screenwriter, film producer and director. He became widely popular after starring in two hit comedy series: Patrice Leconte's ''Les Bronzés'' and ''Les Visiteurs'' directed by J ...

and

Veronica Ferres Veronica Maria Cäcilia Ferres (; born 10 June 1965) is a German film, television, and stage actress. Her 2007 portrayal of Sara Bender in ''Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie'', based on the true story of Jutta Fleck, earned her the award for Be ...

(the Thénardiers),

Steffen Wink Steffen Wink (born 5 July 1967) is a German actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, ...

(Enjolras) and Jérôme Hardelay (Gavroche). * 2000, 3-hour English TV movie version of the 2000 French miniseries. * 2013, ''Ngọn Cỏ Gió Đùa'', 45-episode 30-hour-long Vietnamese adaptation. Directed by Hồ Ngọc Xum and broadcast on HTV9 channel. Based on ''Ngọn cỏ gió đùa'', Hồ Biểu Chánh's book adaptation of ''Les Misérables''. * 2014–2015, ''Los Miserables'', a Spanish language telenovela broadcast on Telemundo channel. It is a modern-day semi-adaptation. * 2018, a six-part BBC miniseries by Andrew Davies, starring

Dominic West Dominic Gerard Francis Eagleton West (born 15 October 1969) is an English actor, director and musician. He is best known for playing Jimmy McNulty in HBO's ''The Wire'' (2002–2008), Noah Solloway in Showtime's '' The Affair'' (2014–2019), ...

as Valjean,

David Oyelowo David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo ( ; born 1 April 1976) is a British actor, director and producer. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards as well as nominations for two Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards ...

as Javert,

Lily Collins Lily Jane Collins (born 18 March 1989) is a British and American actress and model who is known for her work in several films, including ''Stuck in Love'' (2012), ''The English Teacher'' (2013), and '' Love, Rosie'' (2014), comedy ''Rules Do ...

as Fantine,

Ellie Bamber Eleanor Elizabeth Bamber (born 2 February 1997) is an English actress. She won third prize at the Ian Charleson Awards for her 2017 performance in ''The Lady from the Sea'' at the Donmar Warehouse. On television, she is known for her roles in th ...

as Cosette,

Erin Kellyman Erin Mae Kellyman (born 17 October 1998) is an English actress. On television, she gained prominence through the Channel 4 sitcom '' Raised by Wolves'' (2015–2016) and the BBC series ''Les Misérables'' (2018), '' Don't Forget the Driver'' (20 ...

as Eponine and

Josh O'Connor Josh O'Connor (born in 1989/1990) is a British actor. He portrayed a young Charles III (Prince Charles) in the Netflix drama ''The Crown'' (2019–2020), for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama and th ...

as Marius. * 2019, 2-hour Fuji TV ''Les Misérables Owarinaki Tabiji'' by

Hideya Hamada Hideya (written: 秀弥, 秀哉 or 英也) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: * Hideya Kawahara, computer programmer and developer of Project Looking Glass *Hideya Matsumoto, Japanese mathematician *, Japanes ...

, starring

Dean Fujioka , better known as , is a Japanese actor, singer-songwriter, musician, model and film director. He is a talent of Amuse, Inc. Biography Dean Fujioka was born in Sukagawa, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Moving with his family, he grew up in Kamagaya, ...

, and

Arata Iura , previously known as Arata, is a Japanese actor, model and fashion designer. He is the Director of fashion brand Elnest Creative Activity. He holds the position of Director at the Artisan Culture Organisation Institute. Biography Iura co-star ...

. While there is no actual claim that the television series '' The Fugitive'' is a modern adaptation of ''Les Miserables'', there are parallels to and elements of the novel in the series; producer

Quinn Martin Quinn Martin (born Irwin Martin Cohn; May 22, 1922 – September 5, 1987) was an American television producer. He had at least one television series running in prime time every year for 21 straight years (from 1959 to 1980). Martin is a mem ...

has gone on record as admitting that ''The Fugitive'' was "a sort of modern rendition of the outline of ''Les Miserables''."

Animation

* 1966, ''Gavrosh'', Soviet animation short * 1977, ''Cosette'', Soviet claymation short * 1977, ''Shōjo Cosette'', broadcast on the Japanese television program ''

Manga Sekai Mukashi Banashi ''Tales of Magic'', also known as ''Merlin's Cave'' and ''Wonderful'', ''Wonderful Tales From Around the World'', and known in Japan as ''Manga Fairy Tales of the World'' (まんが世界昔ばなし ''Manga sekai mukashi banashi''?) is a Japa ...

'', 1 episode, Japanese animation * 1978, ''Aa Mujō'', cover the first two volumes of the novel, broadcast on ''Manga Sekai Mukashi Banashi'', 13 episodes, Japanese animation * 1979, ''Jean Valjean Monogatari'', directed by Takashi Kuoka for

Toei Animation () is a Japanese animation studio primarily controlled by its namesake Toei Company. It has produced numerous series, including ''Sally the Witch,'' ''GeGeGe no Kitarō,'' ''Mazinger Z'', ''Galaxy Express 999'', ''Cutie Honey'', ''Dr. Slump'', ' ...

and written by

Masaki Tsuji is a Japanese anime screenwriter, mystery writer, manga author, travel critic, essayist, professor as well as mystery fiction novels writer. Tsuji was most active in the business from the 1960s through the 1980s, and worked as a script writer on ...

, Japanese animation * 1987, two-minute short by Austrian experimental filmmaker Mara Mattuschka * 1988, by Emerald City Productions * 1992, a 26-episode French animated TV series by Studios Animage, AB Productions, Pixibox and Studio SEK * 1993, 90-minute movie version of the 1992 series * 2007, '' Les Misérables: Shōjo Cosette'', a 52-episode Japanese animated TV series by

Nippon Animation is a Japanese animation studio. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, with chief offices in the Ginza district of Chūō and production facilities in Tama City. Nippon Animation is known for producing numerous anime series based on works of ...

. This is the longest adaptation at over twenty two and a half hours.

Radio

* 1925, radio play of ''The Bishop's Candlesticks'' broadcast on BBC 6BM Bournemouth. Also broadcast on 2EH Edinburgh in 1926, 5WA Cardiff in 1927 and 5PA Plymouth in 1928. * 1937, ''

'', a seven-part series written, produced, directed by and starring

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

, pre-dating his series ''

The Mercury Theatre on the Air ''The Mercury Theatre on the Air'' is a radio series of live radio dramas created and hosted by Orson Welles. The weekly hour-long show presented classic literary works performed by Welles's celebrated Mercury Theatre repertory company, with mus ...

''. * 1939, 12 episodes broadcast on the ''

BBC National Programme The BBC National Programme was a radio service which was on the air from 9 March 1930 – replacing the earlier BBC's experimental station 5XX – until 1 September 1939 when it was subsumed into the Home Service, two days before the outbrea ...

'', directed by Patrick Riddell, produced by John Cheatle, starring Henry Ainley as Jean Valean, Baliol Holloway as Javert, Margaretta Scott as Cosette and Patrick Waddington as Marius. Featuring music specially composed by Robert Chignell. * 1944, adapted by Rhoda Power for the ''For Schools'' program on the

BBC Home Service The BBC Home Service was a national and regional radio station that broadcast from 1939 until 1967, when it was replaced by BBC Radio 4. History 1922–1939: Interwar period Between the early 1920s and the outbreak of World War II, the BBC ...

. This adaptation was repeated throughout the 40s and 50s. * 1947, a radio adaptation of "Jean Valjean and the Bishop", broadcast on ''

Favorite Story ''Favorite Story'' is an American old-time radio dramatic anthology. It was nationally syndicated by the Ziv Company from 1946 to 1949. The program was "advertised as a show that 'stands head and shoulders above the finest programs on the air'". ...

'' on September 13 and starring Ronald Colman. * 1952, an adaptation of the 1952 movie starring Ronald Colman with Debra Paget and Robert Newton reprising their film roles, directed by Earl Ebi for ''

Lux Radio Theater ''Lux Radio Theatre'', sometimes spelled ''Lux Radio Theater'', a classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network (1934–35) (owned by the National Broadcasting Company, later predecessor of American Broadcasting Company ...

'' on January 22. * 1976, adapted for radio in 16 parts by Barry Campbell, Constance Cox and Val Gielgud. Starring Robert Hardy as Victor Hugo and Trevor Martin as Jean Valjean. The series aired on

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...

between 2 May and 15 August 1976. * 1982, directed by Hyman Brown for CBS Radio. * 2001, dramatised in 25 episodes by Sebastian Baczkiewicz and Lin Coghlan, directed by Sally Avens and

Jeremy Mortimer Jeremy Mortimer is a British director and producer of radio dramas for BBC Radio.Jeremy Mor ...

for

. * 2002, directed by

Philip Glassborow Philip Glassborow is a playwright, lyricist and composer who writes for theatre, radio and television. His best-known theatre musical is The Great Big Radio Show! (music and lyrics) with book in collaboration with Nick McIvor, which was premiered ...

and produced by Paul McCusker for

Focus on the Family Focus on the Family (FOTF or FotF) is a fundamentalist Protestant organization founded in 1977 in Southern California by James Dobson, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The group is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations ...

Radio Theatre. * 2012, 14 episodes, directed by François Christophe for

France Culture France Culture is a French public radio channel and part of Radio France Radio France is the French national public radio broadcaster. Stations Radio France offers seven national networks: * France Inter — Radio France's " generalist" sta ...

Radio.

Musical

In 1980, a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

of the same name opened in Paris at the Palais des Sports. It has gone on to become one of the most successful musicals in history. It was directed by

, the music was composed by

Claude-Michel Schönberg Claude-Michel Schönberg (born 6 July 1944, in Vannes) is a French record producer, actor, singer, songwriter, and musical theatre composer, best known for his collaborations with lyricist Alain Boublil. Major works include ''La Révolution Fran� ...

, and the libretto was written by

Alain Boublil Alain Boublil (born 5 March 1941) is a French musical theatre lyricist and librettist, best known for his collaborations with the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg for musicals on Broadway and London's West End. These include ''La Révolution ...

. An English-language version of Schönberg's work opened in London at the

Barbican Arts Centre The Barbican Centre is a performing arts centre in the Barbican Estate of the City of London and the largest of its kind in Europe. The centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhib ...

in 1985. It was produced by

Cameron Mackintosh Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946) is a British theatrical producer and theatre owner notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "th ...

and adapted and directed by

Trevor Nunn Sir Trevor Robert Nunn (born 14 January 1940) is a British theatre director. He has been the Artistic Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. He has directed dramas f ...

and John Caird. The lyrics were written by

Herbert Kretzmer Herbert Kretzmer (5 October 192514 October 2020) was a South African-born English journalist and lyricist. He was best known as the lyricist for the English-language musical adaptation of ''Les Misérables'' and for his long-time collaboration ...

and additional material by

James Fenton James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

Concerts

* '' Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert'' (1995) * '' Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary'' (2010) * '' Les Misérables: The Staged Concert'' (2019)

Plays

* 1862, ''Charity'', a two-act drama by C. H. Hazlewood founded on Victor Hugo's story of ''Les Misérables''. The action of the drama depicts the conversion of Jean Valjean (Mr Forrester) by the bishop Myriel (Mr James Johnstone) and the results as developed at Marseilles including an incident with the Savoyard Jarvais (Miss Catherine Lucette). The drama was first performed Sadler's Wells Theatre, London on 7 November. In this version Fantine is revealed to be Valjean's sister, a change to the plot of the novel that would later be used in Henry Neville's adaptation ''The Yellow Passport''. * 1863, Charles Hugo, the author's son, adapted the novel into a two-act play for the stage in Brussels (the French government had refused to allow the drama to be performed in Paris). The play was subsequently performed in Bordeaux in 1870 and partially at the

Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin The Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin is a venerable theatre and opera house at 18, Boulevard Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. History It was first built very rapidly in 1781 under the direction of (1726–1810) to house th ...

in 1878 (the play ended with Valjean and Cosette finding refuge in the Petit-Picpus convent). The 1899 revival in Paris saw the full play performed with scenes removed, added or modified by

Paul Meurice Paul Meurice (5 February 1818 - 11 December 1905) was a French novelist and playwright best known for his friendship with Victor Hugo. Biography Meurice was born and died in Paris. In 1836, aged eighteen, he was introduced to Hugo by his frie ...

, who was now listed as the co author. This version starred

Benoît-Constant Coquelin Benoît-Constant Coquelin (; 23 January 184127 January 1909), known as Coquelin aîné ("Coquelin the Elder"), was a French actor, "one of the greatest theatrical figures of the age." Biography Coquelin was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais ...

as Valjean and featured music by

André Wormser André Alphonse Toussaint Wormser (1 November 1851 – 4 November 1926) was a French Romantic composer. Life and career André Wormser was born in Paris and studied with Antoine Marmontel and François Bazin at the Paris Conservatoire. As a ver ...

. * 1863, ''Fantine or The Fate of a Grisette'' in three parts by Albert Cassedy dramatised from the original French edition by Victor Hugo. Music performed by the great composer and director C Koppitz. Performed for three nights only at the Washington Theatre in January. * 1863, ''Jean Valjean '' by Harry Seymour, with George Boniface Sr as Jean Valjean, performed at The

Bowery Theatre The Bowery Theatre was a playhouse on the Bowery in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. Although it was founded by rich families to compete with the upscale Park Theatre, the Bowery saw its most successful period under the populis ...

* 1867, ''Out of Evil Cometh Good'', a drama in a prologue and four acts, by Clarance Holt; first performed at The Prince of Wales Theatre, Birmingham in October with the author as Valjean, Miss May Holt as Fantine (and Cosette), and Miss Johnstone as Eponine. In late 1869, the play was renamed ''The Barricade'' (although initially the original title was kept as a subtitle). The updated cast featured the author as Valjean, Mrs. Digby Willoughby as Fantine (and Cosette), and Miss May Holt as Eponine. ''The Barricade'' was first performed at Croydon in October 1867 and made its debut in London on 7 September 1878, at the Duke's Theatre. The play was a critical and commercial success and was performed as late as 1887. * 1868, ''The Yellow Passport'', a melodrama in prologue and four acts by Henry Neville. The original title of the play, as licensed by The Lord Chamberlain, was ''The Convict Jean Valjean 9430'' and the drama was performed under this title in August at the Amphitheatre, Liverpool. ''The Yellow Passport'' made its debut at the Olympic Theatre on 7 November with Neville as Valjean and, despite mixed reviews, enjoyed a respectable run lasting until April 1869. The play enjoyed several revivals, the last of which was at the Britannia in November 1889 with Algernon Syms in the role of Valjean. * 1868,

Alfred Dampier Alfred Dampier (28 February 1843? 1847? – 23 May 1908) was an English-born actor-manager and playwright, active in Australia.John Rickard,Dampier, Alfred (1843–1908), ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Vol. 4, Melbourne University Pres ...

, under the pseudonym of Pierre Adam, wrote an adaptation that was produced in Guernsey and which resulted in a complimentary letter from Victor Hugo. Dampier relocated to Australia in 1873 and performed the play at the Theatre Royal Sydney in June 1874 under the title of ''The Yellow Passport or Branded For Life''. The play was rewritten and re-titled ''Valjean, Saint or Sinner'', for its production at Sydney's Victoria Theatre on 24 February 1877. The play was again rewritten, and re-titled ''Saint or Sinner'' for its performance in England at the Surrey Theatre on 26 March 1881. The play was rewritten and retitled ''A Convict Martyr'' in 1893 for another performance at the Theatre Royal Sydney. In 1895, the play was performed in various theatres in California in under the title of ''Les Miserables''. The drama bears some plot similarities with William Muskerry's adaptation ''Atonement or Branded for Life'', particularly the conclusion in which Valjean is killed by Thenardier just as he is given a pardon by Javert. * 1869, ''The Man of Two Lives'', an adaptation of the novel by William Bayle Bernard, first performed at Drury Lane on 29 March with Charles Dillon as Valjean. Dillon had previously performed the role of Valjean two years prior in an adaptation entitled ''Valjean'' written by Sheffield playwright Joseph Fox but it was only played in the provinces and was unlicensed. Bernard made some radical changes to the story such as Jean Valjean being sent to the galleys for trying to flee from conscription to military service and not for stealing a loaf of bread. The play was rarely performed after its initial run at Drury Lane. * 1870, ''Fantine'', written by

Bronson Howard Bronson Crocker Howard (October 7, 1842 – August 4, 1908) was an American dramatist. Biography Howard was born in Detroit where his father Charles Howard was Mayor in 1849. He prepared for college at New Haven, Conn., but instead of ent ...

and performed in Detroit. * 1872, ''Atonement'', a romantic drama in a prologue and four acts, founded on Victor Hugo's 'Les Misérables' by William Muskerry, first performed at the Victoria Theatre, London, on 31 August; revived at Sadler's Wells on 14 September; played at Manchester in 1877 in ten tableaux. * 1875, an adaptation entitled ''Cosette'', with Louis James as Jean Valjean. Performed at the Boston Theatre. * 1878, ''Valjean '' by Algernon Willoughby (founded on Victor Hugo's work, ''Les Miserables''), in which Mr. John Coleman assumed four characters: Jean Valjean, M. Madeline, The Fugitive, and Urban Le Blanc. First performed at The Prince of Wales Theatre, Glasgow, in August. The play was last performed in 1883. * 1884, ''Les Miserables'', a drama adapted by Wilson E. McDermut and Bertrand H. Atwood, registered for copyright 27 June 1884, under entry no. 12924, by and in the names of the authors. * 1886, ''Jean Valjean, Or, The Shadow of the Law'', in Five Acts by Harry Clifford Fulton. * 1892, ''After Ten Years'', by Percy H. Vernon, a one-act play based on the first part of the novel featuring Valjean and the Bishop, first performed at Metropole, Birkenhead on 21 October. * 1901,''The Bishop's Candlesticks'', a one-act play by

based on volume one of the novel. * 1906, ''Jean Valjean'' a play in 4 acts, by Charles Lawson, registered for copyright 18 July 1906, under entry no. D 8342. * 1906, ''Jean Valjean'', registered for copyright 20 November 1905, under entry no. 5 7643, by and in the name of Gabriel L. Pollock. * 1906, Broadway actor

Wilton Lackaye Wilton Lackaye (September 30, 1862 – August 22, 1932) was an American stage and film actor, who originated the role of Svengali (from the 1895 novel ''Trilby'') in both stage and film. Early life William Andrew Lackey was born in Loudoun Count ...

wrote an adaptation in five acts, ''The Law and the Man'', so he could play Valjean. * 1914, ''Jean Valjean'', dramatised by Augusta Stevenson. * 1929, ''The Silver Candlesticks'': a one-act play by Gilbert Hudson, adapted from an episode in Victor Hugo's ''Les Miserables''. * 1938, ''Jean Valjean and The Christmas Doll'', by Agnes Irene. Smith, Dramatic Publishing. A Christmas play in which Jean Valjean finds little Cosette on Christmas Eve. * 1955, ''God's Ambassador''. A play in three acts by Harold Homes Stuart Jackson. Published by Epworth plays. Freely adapted from an incident recorded in ''Les Misérables''. * 1987, a stage adaptation by Tim Kelly. * 1997, a stage adaptation by Jonathan Holloway. * 2011, A stage adaptation by Spiritual Twist Productions, ''Les Miserables: A Story of Grace'', highlighting the religious aspect of the novel. * 2013, ''Les Misérables: The Memoirs of Jean Valjean'' – A limited run play performed by the South Devon Players during Sept-Nov. Based mainly on the book, with some scenes included that weren't well known. * A stage adaptation is performed outdoors every summer at the Citadelle in

Montreuil-sur-Mer Montreuil (; also nl, Monsterole), also known as Montreuil-sur-Mer (; pcd, Montreu-su-Mér or , literally ''Montreuil on Sea''), is a sub-prefecture in the Pas-de-Calais department, northern France. It is located on the Canche river, not far fr ...

, the setting of the first part of the novel. * In late 2018, Iranian director Hossein Parsaei staged a big-budget musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's masterpiece in the Royal Hall of Espinas Palace Hotel in the Iranian capital Tehran. Over 300 cinema superstars, actors, singers and musicians appeared in the blockbusting play. The new adaptation of Les Misérables has been the most expensive show in the history of Iran's theatre until that day, and is the first one going on stage in the Espinas Palace Hotel, whose auditorium has a capacity of 2,500 people. * The musical ''Gavroche'' is a retelling of the story from the point of view of the young characters, mainly Gavroche and his siblings. The book, music, and lyrics for Gavroche are by Bonnie Gleicher, based on John Hoover's original concept and book.

Games

* An

adventure game An adventure game is a video game genre in which the player assumes the role of a protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and/or Puzzle video game, puzzle-solving. The Video game genres, genre's focus on story allows it to draw ...

has been released by Chris Tolworthy, intended as a direct adaptation of the book. * There is a free downloadable amateur 2D

fighting game A fighting game, also known as a versus fighting game, is a video game genre, genre of video game that involves combat between two or more players. Fighting game combat often features mechanics such as Blocking (martial arts), blocking, grappli ...

based on the musical. The game is called ''ArmJoe'', which is created by Takase. The name is a pun on the novel's Japanese title ''Aa Mujō'' (ああ無情). The game incorporates the major characters as they appear in the musical, namely Jean Valjean, Enjolras, Marius, Cosette, Éponine, Thénardier, and Javert – as well as a policeman, a robotic clone of Valjean called RoboJean, an embodiment of Judgement, and a rabbit named Ponpon. * In 2013,

Anuman Interactive Microids (formerly Microïds) is a French video game developer and publisher based in Paris. Founded in 1985 by Elliot Grassiano, it attained early success with games published through Loriciel in France and other partners (including Activision ...

launched ''Les Miserables: Cosette's Fate'', a

hidden object game A hidden object game, also called hidden picture or hidden object puzzle adventure (HOPA), is a puzzle video game genre in which the player must find items from a list that are hidden within a scene. Hidden object games are a popular trend in casu ...

based on the novel. Players embody Cosette and try to escape from the innkeepers. * ''Les Miserables: Jean Valjean'', a

based on the novel. * ''Les Misérables: Eve of Rebellion'', a

card game A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games (such as poker). A small number of card ...

based on the novel. * ''Inspector Javert and the Oath of Blood,'' an

, is currently in development with an expected release date of 2021. * In Persona 5 Strikers, Valjean appears as the Persona of the playable character Zenkichi Hasegawa, given the new Arcana of the Apostle Arcana.

Dance

In 2003, the created the ballet ''Les Misérables''. The libretto spans the novel, beginning with Jean Valjean's theft of bread, and ending with his death. Choreographer Norihiko Mochizuki used classical and modern music from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including "Vltava" from Smetana's

Má Vlast ''Má vlast'' (), also known as ''My Fatherland'', is a set of six symphonic poems composed between 1874 and 1879 by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. The six pieces, conceived as individual works, are often presented and recorded as a single ...

and the Catalan lullaby " El Cant dels Ocells". The ballet was restaged in 2010, when it was awarded the top prize in the dance division of the 65th ACA National Arts Festival held by the Government of Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, and again in August 2022 at

Mielparque Tokyo , formerly known as Tokyo Yūbin Chokin Kaikan, is a multi-purpose facility located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It opened in 1971 and was given its current name in 2007. It is one of eleven Mielparque facilities located in Japan. The bu ...

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adaptations of Les Miserables France in fiction