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ineffable-gallimaufry · 8 months ago

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in depth analysis of why i didn't like les misérables (1998) under cut. because. i have actually coherent thoughts tbh but also. well it's a lot

section one: a thing that people didn't like (maybe) that i liked but it also leads into an actual issue i had

so, little lead in to this! so you know where valjean is stealing the silverware? happens every time? and then how they switched it up so the bishop walks in and then valjean fucking punches him in the face for no reason? yeah. so i don't have a problem with that. controversial take but yeah. lemme get into that... with... how jean valjean is introduced in the book!

so, there's three scenes we see of jean valjean before we go into his madeline era which show two sides of him namely that he is both a man made cruel by the prison system and a man rejected by society. what we get of jean valjean in the scene where he steals the silver is a first glimpse of the violence and desperation he is living in. mostly we see it in the scene with petit gervais but i digress. my point is, jean valjean in this part of the book is NOT the same as he is when we next see him in m-sur-m. so, what he can be is desperate. when he punches the bishop, that is because he is desperate to steal the silver so he can survive. that makes sense. also, it makes the bishop even better since he's willing to forgive jean valjean even AFTER that.

so. that's not the problem though. the problem is, this is jean valjean from the past! looping back around to petit gervais, this is where he actually gets better. when he meets the bishop, that's when he gets the means to get where he gets, and he is able to have someone believe he can be better. after petit gervais, jean valjean realizes he fucked up! he sees himself as a monster! and then THAT'S where he commits to bettering himself. (pleaseee adapt petit gervais into more things pretty please) but where '98 fucks up is that they don't have valjean grow! he doesn't get better! he's still the same guy! what the hell! he was supposed to improve and grow! and because he doesn't do that, this leads to quite a few problems later on. but that's other points.

section two: the police shit. aka beauvais

you betcha i have a problem with a random character who's name i couldn't even remember!! captain beauvais, in case you forgot, is the captain in m-sur-m and he's more sympathetic to jvj, he lets himself get knocked out after fantine dies (i will get back to the scene i promise) he's not in the book! and he's one of my biggest problems, that being how this movie handles the idea of the police!

here's how the book sees it. javert is a character who is clearly not in the right, but it is made explicitly clear that is BECAUSE he is doing his job. now i don't know if that's what victor hugo intended but the way i've been reading it is that javert is a good cop which makes him a bad person, or rephrased, it's because he is a cog in a fundamentally abusive system that he's our antagonist, not because he's uniquely malicious

in fact, this is basically stated outright in the chapter "Javert Satisfied", through the quotes "Javert, though frightful, had nothing ignoble about him," and "Without himself suspecting the fact, Javert in his formidable happiness was to be pitied, as is every ignorant man who triumphs," we see here that javert is not supposed to be malicious! what he is, evidently, is ignorant!! and where does he get that ignorance?

"Javert had been born in prison, of a fortune-teller, whose husband was in the galleys. As he grew up, he thought that he was outside the pale of society, and he despaired of ever re-entering it. He observed that society unpardoningly excludes two classes of men,—those who attack it and those who guard it; he had no choice except between these two classes; at the same time, he was conscious of an indescribable foundation of rigidity, regularity, and probity, complicated with an inexpressible hatred for the race of bohemians whence he was sprung. He entered the police; he succeeded there."

read that quote again! he was born in a prison (and yes i will get into the prison shit) and that's where the problem is. this upbringing leads him to believe that his only redemption is through policing, leading him to not question the methods and stuff! javert isn't good BUT the reason he isn't good is explicitly connected to the way the police system is broken!

and that leads us to ... captain beauvais! or rather what he represents, the idea that the system isn't the problem, javert is! this movie goes out of its way to portray javert as being particularly bad, something that goes counter to the fact that he is supposed to be an example of how no matter how noble someone believes themselves to be, policing is a fundamentally broken system that merely suppresses those seen as outside the pale of society, rather than treating people as people! the point is that javert is a part of the very same system that threw jean valjean in jail for stealing when he was hungry!

remember how victor hugo said, "So long as there shall exist, by virtue of law and custom, decrees of damnation pronounced by society, artificially creating hells amid the civilization of earth, and adding the element of human fate to divine destiny; so long as the three great problems of the century—the degradation of man through pauperism, the corruption of woman through hunger, the crippling of children through lack of light—are unsolved; so long as social asphyxia is possible in any part of the world;—in other words, and with a still wider significance, so long as ignorance and poverty exist on earth, books of the nature of Les Misérables cannot fail to be of use. "??? remember that???

javert is made out as particularly bad in '98! when they're chasing valjean, he is the one that specifically pushes them so hard the cart crashes! and beauvais is the main problem here because they insert him in as a sympathetic character from the police to juxtapose against javert, making it so that there's no longer an angle that is critical of the systems that are the problem! aka, the whole fucking point!! arghhhh!!!

section three: why tf did jvj beat up javert???

see. okay. while i do think javert deserved it for being a super extra huge asshole in this. and i think he was probably into it, that's not my point. it's not about javert!! it's about jean valjean. let's look at the book again.

so, this is in "authority reasserts its rights" btw. fantine dies, jean valjean threatens javert, talks to fantine and says ... well they don't say, but he gets his closure. and then what he does is, he turns to javert and he says "Now, I am at your disposal." he notably does NOT beat him up. he submits himself to the law! and that's really interesting! because that has implications!

see, because this isn't just a one time thing! jean valjean tries to break out of jail four times and this turns his five years into nineteen, the nineteen years that break him. when he is offered the opportunity to sleep in a bed, all he can remember is how he hasn't slept in a bed for NINETEEN YEARS! this greatly impacts his character going on and they aren't acknowledging it! when he escapes the first time, it's said that, "He wandered for two days in the fields at liberty, if being at liberty is to be hunted, to turn the head every instant, to quake at the slightest noise, to be afraid of everything," and then, when he is put at liberty finally, he is still afraid of conflict on the same level! victor hugo specifically says "Jean Valjean had entered the galleys sobbing and shuddering; he emerged impassive. He had entered in despair; he emerged gloomy." see, he emerges prison with two options, his violent impulses and the passive acceptance of what happens to him, BOTH bad! but as we see in part one, this violence is something that he grows out of! and this leaves one last maladaptive problem, his avoidant tendencies! this is what his response is, avoiding that violence and submitting to authority!

and that's our problem from part one again. he hasn't grown. if jean valjean, at this point, reacts with violence, he hasn't grown! like, and we can see this tendency again and again! when jvj sees the chain gang in... well, "the chain gang" they say, "Jean Valjean’s eyes had assumed a frightful expression. They were no longer eyes; they were those deep and glassy objects which replace the glance in the case of certain wretched men, which seem unconscious of reality, and in which flames the reflection of terrors and of catastrophes. He was not looking at a spectacle, he was seeing a vision. He tried to rise, to flee, to make his escape; he could not move his feet." he is trying to run! when he is confronted with the horror of his past, he wants to run instead of confronting the problem head on! when javert shows up after jvj and cosette arrive in paris, when jean valjean sees javert, it is said, "He recoiled, terrified, petrified, daring neither to breathe, to speak, to remain, nor to flee, staring at the beggar who had dropped his head, which was enveloped in a rag, and no longer appeared to know that he was there," and even when he has javert completely at his mercy, he says, "I do not think that I shall escape from this place. But if, by chance, I do, I live, under the name of Fauchelevent, in the Rue de l’Homme Armé, No. 7."

what does this all mean? jean valjean WOULD NOT beat up javert. that's just a complete failure to understand that during and after his madeline era, he is non-confrontational! i mean, when i said avoidant, that was honestly a misnomer. he doesn't even run. what he does is submit himself to the law. time and time again. when he frees javert, he offers himself up. when he sees anything that threatens him, he freezes! and that's why in this scene, it makes the most sense for him to immediately submit to javert, and the law! whoever wrote this movie SUPER fucked up with jean valjean! and speaking of fucking up with jean valjean...

section four: how the fuck did they screw up cosette so bad‽

do i really need to go into this. over protective mother jean valjean is how he do be, and he does hate marius because he has a weird fucking relationship with cosette but like. let's not get into his weird complexes. because here's the main thing:

HE WOULD NOT FUCKING SLAP COSETTE

let me back this up. "two misfortunes make one piece of good fortune" specifically gives us of valjean, "It sometimes happened that Jean Valjean clasped her tiny red hand, all cracked with chilblains, and kissed it. The poor child, who was used to being beaten, did not know the meaning of this, and ran away in confusion." this is important, because it shows that valjean is explicitly counter to the thénardiers in his parenting! where the thénardiers beat cosette and shit, jean valjean DOES NOT. he is supposed to be gentle. he's not "figuring out what he's doing and super fucking up" he literally helped his sister raise her kids! and he forgot what that was but upon starting to raise cosette, he comes back to this! he loves her so much you guys! and let me bring you another quote, victor hugo tells us of valjean and cosette, "He protected her, and she strengthened him," HE PROTECTED HER! that's the whole g*ddamn point! he's an overprotective mom, he's scared to have his daughter leave him alone again, and he loves her so much he wouldn't become that horrible! and he doesn't!

jean valjean would never hurt cosette, and if you wanted to go in that direction, make that actually hold weight! make him realize that he's hurting cosette by clinging onto her so hard! make him realize that he's in the wrong, and make him more self sacrificial because he feels extremely bad about doing that! i mean, obviously... i don't think it works. but my point is, if you do it, give it weight. make it matter! they didn't do that and they fucked up their relationship in the process. bad movie. don't do that.

section five: uhhh wtf was up with marius

i don't actually have in depth analysis of this. i am done with my in depth thoughts. they just entirely fucked up les amis de l'abc. idk what to say. horrible job. i'm gonna call it a day tbh. it's late. i don't have any like actually interesting things to comment on. hope you enjoy if you did read this since... it's my analysis and i wrote it up and all that

#les mis #les miserables #les misérables #jean valjean #javert #cosette #inspector javert #les mis 1998 #i didn't like it. not my favorite. i did like jvj and fantines relationship though. that was cute #i liked how they both couldn't read and it was cute because she finally had someone care about her and she was so happy #like. i just liked that dynamic. but i am being negative since. i can't stop thinking about it

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algumaideia · 1 year ago

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Victor Hugo is trying really hard to make me feel bad for Jean Valjean after he stole from Gervais, but he failed. I'll hold this grudge against Valjean forever.

#les miserables #jean valjean #or idk maybe he will do something to redeem himself #but this inner turmoil is no excuse for stealing from a child you jerk

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scotianostra · 9 months ago

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Happy birthday Annette Crosbie, born 12th February 1934.

Annette was born in Gorebridge, Midlothian, to strict Presbyterian parents who disapproved of her becoming an actress.

Nvertheless, she joined the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School while still in her teens. Her big break came in 1970 when she was cast as Catherine of Aragon in the BBC television series The Six Wives of Henry VIII, for which she won the 1971 BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress. In 1973, she starred alongside Vanessa Redgrave in the BBC serial, A Picture of Katherine Mansfield.

Crosbie was born in Gorebridge, Midlothian, to strict Presbyterian parents who disapproved of her becoming an actress. Nevertheless, she joined the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School while still in her teens. Her big break came in 1970 when she was cast as Catherine of Aragon in the BBC television series The Six Wives of Henry VIII, for which she won the 1971 BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress. In 1973, she starred alongside Vanessa Redgrave in the BBC serial, A Picture of Katherine Mansfield.

In 1975, Crosbie made a similar impact as Queen Victoria, in the ITV period drama Edward the Seventh, for which she won the 1976 BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress. She played Cinderella’s fairy godmother in The Slipper and the Rose, which was chosen as the Royal Film Première for 1976. In that film, Crosbie sang the Sherman Brothers’ song, “Suddenly It Happens”. In Ralph Bakshi’s animated movie, The Lord of the Rings, filmed in 1978, Crosbie voiced the character of Galadriel, Lady of the Elves. In 1980, she played the abbess in Hawk the Slayer. In 1986, she appeared as the vicar’s wife in Paradise Postponed.

After appearing in the BBC1 drama Take Me Home, Crosbie’s next major role was as Margaret Meldrew, the long-suffering wife of Victor Meldrewplayed by fellow Scot, Richard Wilson) in the BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave for which she is best known. She also played Janet, the housekeeper to Dr. Finlay, in the 1993 revival of A.J. Cronin’s popular stories.

Crosbie’s other roles include playing the monkey-lover Ingrid Strange in an episode of Jonathan Creek, Edith Sparshott in An Unsuitable Job for a Woma, and Jessie in the film Calendar Girls. In 2004, Crosbie appeared alongside Sam Kelly in an episode of the third series of Black Books, as the mother of the character Manny Bianco. In the series six and seven of the BBC Radio 4 comedy series Old Harry’s Game, she played a recently deceased historian named Edith.

In 2008 she appeared in the BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens’s Little Dorrit, in 2009, she portrayed Sadie Cairncross in the BBC television series Hope Springs. In 2010 Crosbie appeared in the Doctor Who episode “The Eleventh Hour”. In 2014 Crosbie appeared in the movies What We Did on Our Holiday and Into the Woods. In 2015 she appeared in a BBC adaptation of the novel Cider with Rosie. In 2016 she appeared in the new film version of Dad’s Army .

In recent years, she appeared in season two of Ricky Gervais' black comedy-drama After Life on Netflix. She now resides in Wimbledon and is a campaigner against cruelty for animals.

#scotland #scottish #history #actress #happy birthday

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psalm22-6 · 1 year ago

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Reading the screenplay for Les Misérables (1917) by Frank Lloyd and Marc Robbins

So the 1917 American film production of Les Miserables (starring William Farnum, directed by Frank Lloyd, and produced by William Fox) is not lost per se but it isn't readily available to watch either. According to @melancholyarchivist's research, a version is preserved by the Filmoteka Narodowa and can be viewed on-site (Is there anyone in Poland who's interested in visiting?) and we may some day get a restored version. In the meantime, I found that (most of) the screenplay is available through the Library of Congress, where it was submitted as part of the studio's copyright claim. I will tell you straight away that it itsn't complete. It ends right at the story's climax, which was incredibly frustrating to me but there's still lots of cool info. Here were some high/low lights for me: The film begins with a forward displayed through intertitle cards:

1. In the realm of prose Victor Hugo’s immortal classic shows that if sin dims the Divine Image, conscience disturbs the soul with sore discontent. 2. We see how God uses conscience to waken a dead soul and “plague the sinful man with dark despair,” until the conscience, that first made a coward of a bad man, at last makes a hero, of a good man. 3. In “Les Miserables,” Victor Hugo portrays the worst man as having a Diving Spark that no injustice can extinguish, which God guards and feeds, making it incorruptible in this life, and immortal in the next—SLOW FADE

That is not a great start but okay. Then we see Napoleonic soldiers walking triumphantly through the streets (the year is 1796.) Contrast this with scenes in Jean Valjean’s household, where children are fighting over a scrap of bread. Valjean sees the baker's window full of cakes and bread. He breaks the window and reaches over the cakes in order to take the bread. He is of course immediately caught, and the baker rejoices smugly. For context to this next part, an iris shot was a common technique in silent films where the camera’s “eye” opens and closes to direct the viewer's attention. (Also I have added punctuation to a lot of these quotes to make them more readable.)

SLOW IRIS in on loaf of bread on Judge’s bench. Open full on Judge, looking off and talking sternly, pointing to loaf of bread

This makes it sound like the bread is on trial. The bread on display in the courtroom is present in the 1935 American film production as well and like in the '35 production, 1917 has Jean Valjean dragged out of the courtroom while dramatically reaching for his sister. In Toulon, we see Javert as a prison guard. Although Valjean is repeatedly referred to as a "galley slave," he is not shown working on a ship (as he will be in the '35 film). He demonstrates his strength by saving a prisoner in a quarry. There is a lengthy scene of Jean Valjean attempting to escape prison (which was eventually cut down according to what I've read. Notice how the title page says "a film in 10 reels." It was later cut to 8.) Jean Valjean strangles a guard to death. Bloodhounds chase him across a marsh. When Valjean is released from prison, instead of being chased by the dog out of the dog house, there is a scene where Jean Valjean asks a man for food. The man refuses but Jean Valjean then sees him give his dog steak. He exclaims “I am denied food–when even dogs are fed.” A nun directs Valjean to the Bishop's. After the classic Bishop's Candlesticks sequence, we do see Valjean steal from Petit Gervais. Cut to the bishop praying in front of his empty cupboard. Then cut back to Jean Valjean, who sees the coin. Cut to the bishop. Back to Jean Valjean. Jean Valjean has a vision of himself: beside him fades in images of him as a prisoner, which are slowly replaced by a vision of the Bishop surrounded by light and looking at him sadly. The police are looking for Valjean but they don’t see him because he is on the ground sobbing. Then he goes to the Bishop’s house and prays outside it. There is a very sad scene of Fantine leaving Cosette with the Thenardiers but this scene was later cut. After Fantine is fired, an “old hag” tells her “Why should you starve when you are still young enough to attract men?” (This intertitle was cut by the Chicago board of censors.) In horror, Fantine holds up her hair and has a vision of Cosette as a baby, which dissolves into the hair. We see Fantine go to the hairdresser to sell her hair. Immediately after this she encounters the Bamatabois character and remembers what the old woman told her (that intertitle was also cut by the Chicago board of censors). She smiles at him, and touches his arm, and he pushes her into the gutter, telling her it is where she belongs. When Javert arrests her, the money she got for selling her hair is left behind in the gutter. Meanwhile, we see Valjean coming into the homes of poor families to give them money. He arrives in time to see Fantine's arrest and orders that she be freed, leading to this direction:

Very dramatic. I'll try to limit my use of screenshots though, since the typeface is a bit hard to read but one thing that's very charming and at times hilarious are the typos. See for example this scene where Javert tells Mayor Madeleine that he has denounced him:

Interior Madelein's room-- He writing at desk. Door opens. Housekkeper announces Javert. Javert enters. Stands looking at Madeleine. Housekeeper exits. Madeline turns around, asks Javery his business.

Even ignoring "Javery," they just spelled Madeleine three different ways.

Closeup Javert-- Her looking at Madeleine with resigned expression says: "I WISH TO TENDER MY RESIGNATION." Closeup Madeleine-- He looking at Javery in tense manner, suddenly controls himself, quietly says "Well."

As Jean Valjean decides what to do about Champmathieu's arrest, he sees visions of prison and of the bishop. When he arrives at the court in Arras, he is transfixed by the doorknob, which transforms into the face of prisoner 24601 (I thought that part sounded pretty cool). In the courtroom, no one believes that Madeleine is Jean Valjean. He addresses the prisoners and reveals that he knows Valjean's prison number. Then he lifts up his sleeve.

Closeup Madeleine left arm and shoulder. Letters T.F.P. and numbers 24601 is seen branded there

Of course, the musical would later do this but what other early adaptations show Jean Valjean with a brand? Fantine dies, Simplice lies to help Valjean escape (a fair amount of emphasis on Simplice actually.) We see Madame Thenardier send Cosette out to get water. In the woods, witches and ghouls haunt Cosette. Valjean buys her Catherine, shows the Thenardiers the letter from Fantine and gives them money in exchange for Cosette. Cut to 1832 (funny, this is basically just like how the musical abridgesthings). We get a birds eye view of Paris and the

Closeup Courfeynac-- He surrounded by men, who are eagerly questioning him. Marins enters. They greet one another in friendly manner. Courfeynac tells Marius he wants to speak with him. They exit from friends. Long Distance-- Men gathered in knots whispering as Courfeynac and Marins go to table, sit and start to talk. [...] Interior room at coffee house-- Marins on stall, addressing men in earnest manner. He finishes speech, is congratulated by Courfeynac and others. IRIS OUT.

Yes, Courfeyrac is called "Courfeynac" for half the script, until they switch to "Courferac" which isn't as bad. Marius is always "Marins," except once when he is called Marius and I swear that "Marius" is the typo. We also get a short scene of Gillenormand, who receives a letter from Marins saying that he won't accept his money. Meanwhile...

Long Distance Garden-- Cossette out of sight. Valjean enters, sees her gone. Registers surprise. Cossette creeps out behind him, startles him. He turns, sees her. They exit together.

It's not super egregious but Cosette is always called "Cossette." Marins leaves Courfeynac. Cossette and Valjean go to the park.

Long Distance-- Valjean and Cossette seated on bench Closeup Marins-- He looking off, registers fascination. Closeup Cossette-- She reading book, slowly raises eyes. Sees. Closeup Marins-- He looking toward her, fascinated.

He looks at her like she's a bug.

Long Distance-- Marins walks past Cossette and Valjean. He exits past camera. Closeup Cossette-- She peeping over top of book after book after Marins. Very interested. Pathway-- Marins going from camera, turns and suddenly walks back.

Freak behavior.

Long distance-- Valjean speaks to Cossette, who is shyly looking toward Marins. They both rise and exit past camera. Marins comes to bench, picks up Cossettes handkerchief, gazes after them, registers facination.

I don't think that there is any payoff to the handkerchief, it seems to really be Cossette's. Cut to the Thenardier's. There is no Azelma, Azelma is replaced by Gavroche (sometimes spelled Gavroch, Gavranche, Bavranche or Gavrouche.) Eponine comes to Marin's room and he gives her money. Then that very afternoon, Valjean comes to give the Thenardiers alms. Gavroche actively participates in his parent's schemes (he breaks the window with a rock, not his hand.) Thenardier recognizes Valjean and decides to rob him.

Outlet of Sewer-- Low barred arch gate in background, river seen beyond. Thenardier come to outside of gate, opens it with key, enters, close gate behind him as he comes to foreground toward camera. 4 men creep past camera and join him. He starts to whisper to them.

I love that Thenardier is meeting Patron-Minette (unnamed though) in the sewer and that they introduce his key here. Meanwhile, Marins goes to the police:

Police Headquarters-- Javert with back to camera, listening to Marins, who is telling of plot. Javert suddenly swings around, full face to camera. THE SUBLINE IRONY OF FATE. JAVERT NOW ATTACHED TO THE PARIS POLICE TAKES CHARGE OF THE CASE.

I bet that that reveal was awesome! Javery gives Marins a gun. Then Valjean arrives at the Thenardier's house and is forced to write a letter luring Cossette there. But before he can be made to give the address, he escapes and burns his arm. Marins fires the pistol and Javert arrives. Valjean then knocks over the candlesticks and escapes in the dark. He goes home and Cossette tends to his wound. Eponine and Gavroche see their parents arrested.

Closeup Eponine and Gavranche-- Gavranche turns to Eponine and says: SISTER DEAR - I AM GOING FAR FROM HERE.

Meanwhile Marins is distraught because he can't find Cossette

Interior Meeting Room, A.B.C.'s-- Room crowded with men. Marins seated alone at table. Courfeynac addressing men. Marins does not pay much attention.

Eponine finds Cossette's house and leads Marins there.

Exterior Valjeans house-- Eponine enters followed by Marins. She turns, points to garden gate. He joyfully starts toward gate. She stops him. He turns to her. She wistfully says: DO YOU LOVE HER? Back-- She finishes line. Marins nods yes, then eagerly exits to gate. Eponine looks after him and sighs. Garden at bench-- Cossette gazing out dreamily. Marins enters quietly behind her, stands looking at her with great love. She suddenly feels his presence, sees him, rises, stands staring at him. They look at one another. Marins registers great love, starts to speak to her. She turns away from him, registers great confusion and emotion. Close up Eponine-- She leaning against iron fence, registers dumb suffering.

Unlike in the book, where iirc Marius and Cosette embrace straight away and then never again until they are married, Marins and Cossette do not embrace as first but after many meetings, they embrace A LOT. One night Valjean looks out his window and he just sees them making out. Then Marins leaves. Cosette goes inside.

Interior living room (night)-- Cossette discovered arranging flowers in old fashion vase and lighting candles in happy manner. Valjean enters to her, stands looking at her in silent anguish. She turns, sees him, goes to him lovingly, asks him what's the matter. He quietly says: FOR REASONS WHICH I CANNOT EXPLAIN WE MUST LEAVE THIS HOUSE TONIGHT FOR ANOTHER I HAVE CHOSEN.

So yeah the reason they leave is because of Marins. Meanwhile, Javert gets a message:

Interior Police Headquarters-- Javert discovered writing. Gendarmine enters, hands him letter. He opens it, read INSPECTOR JAVERT A MALE PRISONER NAMED THENARDIER ESCAPED TONIGHT FROM THE LA FORCE PRISON. ACT ACCORDINGLY. LEBLANCC

This letter makes me laugh. MEANWHILE, Cossette is distraught at leaving. She sees Eponine (Marins had previously pointed out his friend Eponine) and gives her a letter for Marins.

Insert note-- DEAREST MARINS FOR SOME UNEXPLAINED REASON MY FATHER HAS SECRETLY TAKEN ME TO NO 7 DE L'HOMME WHICH IS TO BE OUT FUTURE HOME. COSSETTE

That also makes me laugh. Then a riot breaks out for no reason except that it is 5 June 1832.

Street near coffee house-- People seen hurriedly entering homes, all in state of alarm. Courfeynac at head of 35 men marching toward camera, old man and Gavranche at side of him. They all singing revolutionary songs.

Eponine is there in men's clothes and she gets the idea to give Marins (who has discovered that Cossette's house is empty) an anonymous note telling him to go to the barricade.

Long shot-- Shooting barricade in foreground, fight in progress. Red flag which is attached to pole at top of barricade suddenly falls, shot away. Old man grabs it, starts to climb to top of barricade. Close up top of barricade-- Old man starts to put flag back into place. Close up soldiers at end of street-- Officer gives command, they fire volley. Close up old man-- He trying to fix flag, suddenly his body sags, clutching flag, he falls. Long distance-- Old man falls from top of barricade to ground. Courferac goes to him. Close up Courferac andold man-- Courferac raises the dead body, registers strong emotion Close Up Marins-- He gazing off, exits toward Courferac Behind barricade-- Marins with Courferac laying dead man on matress, Marins has dead man's coat in hand, suddenly rises, calls off, raises hand, says: "LET THIS DEAD HERO'S COAT BE OUR FLAG."

They continue to fight the National Guard. Marins strikes a soldier senseless. Eponine gets shot, gives Marins the letter, and asks for a kiss. Marins kisses her. She dies. Then he writes a note to Cossette. Gavroche delivers the note to Valjean. Valjean is about to rip it up when he has a vision of the Bishop.

Sub title-- KNOWING THAT COSSETTE'S HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON MARIN'S SAFETY, VALJEAN GOES TO THE BARRICADE TO WATCH OVER HIM.

The next morning, the insurgents are still fighting:

Iris in on old man's coat-- Top of pole at barricade. Open full, showing long distance shot of street, men in barricade being served with coffee, fighting going on. Valjean in background, tending wounded.

Couferac tells them that they are going to run out of ammunition and Gavroche goes to get more. Valjean yells at him to come back. When Gavroche is shot and killed, Valjean retrieves the body and the ammunition.

Interior coffee house-- Courferac followed by Marins and Valjean leave body of Gavrouche. Courferac sees Javert and in terrible rage points to him and says: "YOUR FRIENDS MURDERED THAT BOY FOR WHICH CRIME YOU DIE."

I forgot to mention that Javert had been caught and tied up earlier. Marins is horrified but Courferac agrees. Valjean secretly lets Javert go. The barricade is attacked by cannons. Marins is shot. Valjean takes Marins and leaves. We see Courferac fighting terrifically. Shots of Valjean carrying Marins through the sewers are interspersed with shots of Courferac and others fighting. The insurgents retreat into the coffee house. The others die until only Courferac remains. He runs into another room, slamming the door behind him. The soldiers follow. The screenplay ends there! Don't you wish you could read the rest??! I feel certain that we were going to see Thenardier again, since he had escaped from prison, plus we saw him use that key. And I think we would have seen Gillenormand too. Also obviously Jean Valjean dies, but I read that his death scene got cut down in the final version.

#les miserables #lm 1917 #les mis #posts destined to be tagged long post

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crackspinewornpages · 2 years ago

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Les Misérables 70/365 -Victor Hugo

By eight the cart arrived at a hotel in Arras fourteen hours into a journey that he expected to be six. (that’s why you always leave early) He inquired if he could return to his town by mail wagon, he’d have to be ready by one. He wandered around Arras asking where the court house is, it’s under construction so court’s being held in the grand hall. It’s late but there’s still a session but it just ended with the verdict of life imprisonment for the woman who murdered her baby. (what is this emotional misdirection) The other case is of a repeat offender, started two hours ago, can't get into it there’s a crowd. During the suspended hearing Madeliene works his way through the crowd, it couldn’t be proven Champmathieu stole the apples but he was identified as a convict from Toulon and would be condemned. (that’s convict bias for you) The usher refused to allow Madeliene into the full room but would pass a note to Monsieur le President who sometimes allows admittance.

Madeleine’s reputation exceeded his town, when the Councilor read the name on the note allowed him admittance immediately. Madeliene followed the usher into the council chamber to a spot behind the President’s chair and suppressed a panic attack. At this moment despite not eating and the hard journey he felt nothing and thought of Fantine and Cosette.

The crowd was now silent, “for one there felt the grand human thing which is called the law, and that grand divine thing which is called justice.”p.179 No one paid Madeliene any attention, it was all on Champmathieu and he felt he was looking at his past self. Everything was the same as before but behind the President hung a crucifix, God wasn’t at his trial.

Three hours the jurors and crowd heard the story and were divided. His lawyers argued that while the apples were in his possession there’s no proof he stole them, (there is possession of stolen property but they have to prove you knew it was stolen) though four identified him as Valjean was it proof he was a thief. Champmathieu denied he was Valjean but ignorance defended him badly. (only a fool represents himself in court) The district attorney stated it had been conceded Champmathieu is Valjean and painted him a monster, little reformed, denies theft and his own identity, all the changes of his speech craft of deceiving justice. (all of this was before mugshots and finger printing was used to ID people and if you watch crime shows you already know witness ID can be unreliable)

As his final defense Champmathieu said he worked as a wheelwright, him and his daughter earned little in bad conditions. Go to the man he worked for, Mr. Baloup, he knows who he is. The crowd laughed and the President announced Baloup was summoned but couldn’t be found, this is his last chance to explain himself. In his refusal to admit anything it can only be concluded he is a thief and Valjean, Champmathieu denied it all. The district attorney brings up Javert, he is an inspector who identified him and also suspects he stole from the Bishop of Digne. The convict witnesses Brevet, Chenildieu and Cochepaille all identify him as Valjean. Before the President sums up the argument Madeliene calls their attention.

The crowd, convicts and court looked at him as he asks if they recognized him, “He is not the man whom you are in search of; it is I: Jean Valjean.”p.186 (Who Am I? 24601!~) The President calls for a physician because clearly Madeliene is ill. Valjean confesses to his name, after living in deceit, after the theft from Gervais, don’t condemn this man. He gives defining details of the convicts, all stared at him with sympathy, the evidence was clear. Not wanting to disturb the court further, Valjean announced he had other things to do they know where to arrest him, but he preferred not to have had any of this to occur. (how funny is this some random guy confesses in court then tells them all he has things to do they know where to find him and just leaves the room in chaos) An hour later Champmathieu was released thinking all were fools, not comprehending the magnitude of what happened.

BOOK EIGHT A COUNTER-BLOW

Fantine spent the night feverish and fell asleep in the morning when Valjean returned without Cosette. The Sister is surprised his hair turned white over the few days (to show much stress he was under) but he was indifferent. He can bring back Cosette in a few days, they don’t want to disappoint Fantine but he has to see her, they both don’t have much time. Fantine woke up and asks for Cosette.

The doctor came and assured her her daughter is there, she wants her near but the doctor says she still has a fever. She insists she’s cured and wants her child but bows in understanding, all night she saw white things watching her smiling, (so owe all agree these were angels) there’s nothing wrong with her anymore but she’ll behave. She turns to Valjean asking about Cosette and he placates her telling her Cosette is beautiful, she’ll see her soon. Fantine works herself into a coughing fit then hears a child playing outside believing it is Cosette, mumbling how happy they’ll be and laughed. Then she stopped and sat up, eyes fixed on something in the room, behind Valjean stood Javert.

Afte Valjean left the courthouse he set out again by mail wagon. The district attorney still tried to convince the jurors that Champmathieu is the real Valjean but the defense brought up circumstantial evidence that refuted it and the jury declared Champmathieu innocent. So, without Champmathieu the district attorney went after Madeliene and had the President order his arrest, forwarded it to Javert and informed him of what happened. Anyone who knew Javert would have shuddered to see his look at that moment.

He entered Fantine’s room silently as a spy, he had a look of a demon that found his damned soul. Satisfaction of finding Valjean, humiliation of being thrown off and his effected pride. (pride comes before the fall) He personified justice, but the sense of duty is hideous when misdirected, virtues that have one vice of error. Javert in this is to be pitied, designing himself all that is good and evil. (you can’t live in a world of shades of gray when you only see black and white)

Fantine was sure Javert had come for her, Valjean puts her at ease, Javert roared at him to be quick and seized him by the collar. Valjean wants three days to retrieve her child, Fantine starts to cry for Cosette. Javert tells her to be quiet, soon she’ll be where people like her should be. He declares Madeliene as the convict Valjean, Fantine falls back into bed dead. (so the shock was too much and killed her) Angry at Javert, Valjean seizes a bed post head piece and would have bludgeoned him with it but Fantine was there and quietly spoke unheard words to her and then allowed Javert to take him.

Madeliene’s arrest was a sensation but when learning the truth nearly everyone deserted him. (being in trouble with the law shows you who your friends are) The nuns sat by Fantine and his portress went about her duties and saw Madeliene’s hand come through the window to take a key and candlestick, he broke out. Inside the house in his room the portress had put the blackened cudgel and sou-piece from the fireplace onto the table. He packed up the silver candlesticks when the Sister came to see him and he gave her a letter of payment for his trial and Fantine’s funeral.

They heard the portress’s loud voice say no one’s entered the house, Valjean hid behind the door as Javert entered to see a nun praying. Javert was religious as he was authoritive, since in his eyes they don’t make mistakes or sin. (ha) When asked the Sister lied for the first time in her life that she is alone and hasn’t seen Valjean and Javert leaves not noticing the smoking candle. An hour later Valjean left the town and despite orders Fantine was given a pauper’s grave.

#les miserables #victor hugo #books #book summaries #epic #historical fiction #tragedy

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tvguidancecounselor · 7 months ago

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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 633: Kevin Weisman

This week Ken welcomes actor (Alias), writer, producer, and co-host of the "Did You Do It?" podcast, Kevin Weisman.

Ken and Kevin discuss L.A. weather, growing up in the Valley, how filthy with Boston people old L.A. was, the insanity of the man named Griffith, shooting apples off of heads and why it is never a good idea, Equity Waiver plays, the "no more on stage than in the audience" rule, stand up, performing for people who don't want to see a performance, Edinburgh Festival, Kyle Gass, The New Beverly Theater, Jacob's Ladder, comedians in serious roles, Tim Robbins, The Actors Gang, Buffalo Knights, Dead Man Walking, Mr. Madonna, the wonders of High Hair, rarely going into L.A. proper, Zuma Beach, Valley Girl, playing drums, John Candy, the wonder of John Ritter, meeting your heroes, being surprised by people's process, how when you're good at something it looks easy, how acting is hard, doing tech rehearsals on LSD, The Dead, We Are the World, loving music documentaries, variations on a theme, being in a touring band, Hello Ladies, working with Paulie Shore, playing a wheelchair user, giving people opportunities, Woody, TV stars becoming movie stars, Die Hard, King's Dance Macabre, how to play a bad person, how to deal with bombing, committing to storytelling, working consistently, Goliath, Billy Bob Thornton, multi-cam sitcoms, getting cut out of Gone in 60 Seconds, winning over J.J. Abrams, Felicity, playing against type, the time Jennifer Garner came to see Ken do stand up, Better Call Saul, Fringe, being promised your character will be brought back, Scorpion, being nice to everyone on set, all the acting Quinten Tarantino does, David Cronenberg on Alias, being hired by Spielberg for The Terminal, Christian Slater, The Forgotten, the loveliness of Victor Garber, when Ricky Gervais cannot keep it together, Clerks II, being spotted by Kevin Smith fans, Awake, Runaways, Weisman deep cuts, relying on fan sites for your own knowledge of your own work, being IN TV Guide and dealing with your mom's tech issues.

Check out this episode!

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missiekatjie · 1 year ago

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FFXIV Notice

If you run into anybody claiming relation to Victor, Claudia, and/or Sebastien Gervais, the characters being referenced are mine and the people aren't associated with me anymore.

I don't know if folks are still claiming those connections or not, just, if they are, I don't approve. I'm no longer connected to the Fustuarium/STELLAE group and only maintain contact with a few people out of the entire thing.

Every so often I think I might come back to FFXIV and reboot those stories. I don't know, though. I never purchased Endwalker, never finished Shadowbringers, but I also don't like the unlikely thought of people I don't associate with anymore continuing to use something I built. Y'know?

/shrug

#ffxiv #in which i'm kind of an asshole but am okay with it

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ledenews · 2 years ago

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Josh Maniscalco Named to 2023 ECHL All-Star Classic

Wheeling's Leading Scorer to Represent Western Conference in Norfolk on January 16th The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, in conjunction with the ECHL, are excited to announce that defenseman Josh Maniscalco has been selected to play in the 2023 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Optima Health and Sentara Healthcare. Maniscalco, 23, is having an outstanding second season with the Nailers, as he is currently leading the team in scoring at nearly a point-per-game pace. Josh has eight goals, 17 assists, and 25 points in 26 games. In addition to his lead in assists and points, he is also in the top spot on the club in power-play points (13) and shots on goal (90). His eight goals and 25 points are both tied for the most among ECHL defensemen, and his 90 shots put him in sole possession of first among blueliners. Maniscalco has posted multiple points on seven occasions this season, and three of those games have come in the last two weeks, as he has collected eight points in his last four contests. This is the Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania native's fourth time being honored by the ECHL in his two seasons with Wheeling. Last season, he was named to the All-ECHL Second Team and the ECHL All-Rookie Team, and he was also the AMI Graphics Plus Performer of the Month in December of 2021. Josh played in his 100th professional game on Friday, in addition to his 90th as a Nailer. He has amassed 25 goals, 53 assists, and 78 points in a Wheeling uniform. The 2023 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Optima Health and Sentara Healthcare will be played in Norfolk, Virginia on Monday, January 16th. The game will air live exclusively on NHL Network and will stream on FloHockey. The evening will consist of a tournament featuring the ECHL All-Stars and the host Norfolk Admirals, with an integrated skills competition with points counting towards each team's score. The Norfolk Admirals will announce their rosters for the Cruisers and Destroyers next week. Additionally, Ann-Sophie Bettez and Sydney Brodt of the Premier Hockey Federation, as well as Emily Brown and Sam Cogan of the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association will each be assigned to one of the four teams. The 15th class of the ECHL Hall of Fame will be officially inducted at a luncheon at noon on the same day as the All-Star Classic. Mark Bernard, Scott Bertoli, Victor Gervais, and former Pittsburgh Penguins Equipment Manager Dana Heinze are this year's inductees. 2023 ECHL All-StarsDetermined in a vote of coaches, team captains, media relations directors, broadcasters, and members of the media. Eastern Conference All-StarsG – Cam Johnson, Florida EverbladesD – Michael Brodzinski, Orlando Solar BearsD – Olivier Galipeau, Trois-Rivières LionsD – Jarrod Gourley, Adirondack ThunderD – Luke Martin, Jacksonville IcemenD – Derek Topatigh, Atlanta GladiatorsF – Collin Adams, Worcester RailersF – Pat Guay, Savannah Ghost PiratesF – Bear Hughes, South Carolina StingraysF – Alex Ierullo, Greenville Swamp RabbitsF – Max Newton, Reading RoyalsF – Zach O’Brien, Newfoundland GrowlersF – Mathew Santos, Maine Mariners Western Conference All-StarsG – Jake Kupsky, Idaho SteelheadsD – Josh Maniscalco, Wheeling NailersD – Matt Murphy, Iowa HeartlandersD – Gordi Myer, Toledo WalleyeD – Andrew Nielsen, Utah GrizzliesD – Chad Nychuk, Kalamazoo WingsF – Tye Felhaber, Fort Wayne KometsF – Liam Finlay, Allen AmericansF – Lincoln Griffin, Cincinnati CyclonesF – Seamus Malone, Indy FuelF – Matt Marcinew, Rapid City RushF – Eddie Matsushima, Tulsa OilersF – Jeremy McKenna, Kansas City MavericksF – Brayden Watts, Wichita Thunder Read the full article

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