Les Miserables (1935)

Pretty good, if judged on its own…but if compared to the source material, it's weaker than kool-aid. Fantine's a poor widow…not a single mother reduced to whoring; Marius stomps for prisoners' rights...he isn't part of the revolution; Eponine's a secretary, not a wretch in rags. Still, March is good and Laughton succeeds in the difficult task of conveying the side of Javert that makes the audience understand and somewhat sympathize with him.

B