The Lowdown

This is a cartoon version of The Count of Monte Cristo made in 1973 by Hanna-Barbera. It's for a younger audience (although not as much as the 1991 or 1997 cartoon versions) and runs at 56 minutes long.

Some Observations

• With so short a time to play with, they omit most of the extraneous elements of the story. Villefort is out (Fernand and Danglars are the main baddies), as is Paris (action is moved to Marseilles) and almost all of the complicated revenge plot.
• Danglars is very different in this one; he moves from the usual weak-willed snitch character to being much more forceful, actually taking on some of the Villefort elements (Valentine is moved to being his daughter so the Maximilian storyline can continue). He is also now a 'master swordsman', pretty much so they can have a sword fight at the end.
• As often seems to happen in these adaptations, Jacopo is given an expanded role (why do people like Jacopo so much?) and takes on the 'count's servant / helper' role (see 2002 film) rolling in the Bertuccio and Baptistin characters.
• There's quite a funny segment where they discuss how it will take several years to build the tunnel out of the Chateau d'If, then there's a very quick montage of them building the tunnel, and then the tunnel is built.

The Verdict

Not much to say about this one really. It's perfectly well-executed for what it is, but you just can't really tell this story in 56 minutes without it seeming rushed. Much of the plot and character is missed out, giving you just the bare bones. Also, it being a cartoon they have to dumb down the revenge elements: Fernand just kind of runs off, and Danglars, although the financial ruin element of the storyline is maintained, gets his comeuppance by falling into some water and getting really wet.

Characters and Plot Elements