Starring: Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Sidney Blackmer, Raymond Walburn, Louis Calhern
Directed by: Rowland V. Lee
Screenplay by: Philip Dunne, Rowland V. Lee, Dan Totheroh
Release date: Aug 1934
Runtime: 113 mins
Language: English
Producation company: Reliance Pictures
The Lowdown
This is a film adaptation made in 1934 starring Robert Donat. It's the first sound adaptation to be produced.
Some Observations
- Of the traditional adaptations, this is probably the 'lightest' in terms of tone. The Count is an altogether more sympathetic character, acting with nobility and selflessness in most situations. We don't get any of the feeling that his revenge might be going too far, or of the internal struggle we see in some of the darker adaptations.
- Consequently, the revenge is a little muted - he defeats Fernand in a duel, but lets him go; he exposes Villefort in open court, but he just goes to prison rather than being driven insane. Danglars a bit of an afterthought - in some adaptations he is the worst of the lot, but here he is more of a bumbling secondary character. Caderousse is omitted.
- Unlike some of the more imperious Counts, the henchmen are treated better as well - no Bertuccio or Baptistin in this one, but we have Jacopo and Ali elevated to being more like treasured companions than tools to achieve revenge.
- Lots to like in this one though - the script has a rare quality of being able to summarise elements of the story so that the viewer can take in the expository information needed to follow the plot, while at the same time still being entertaining to watch.
- It also performs well against one of the most frequently occurring challenges - of the pacing of the story. Though they pack a lot of the story in, it doesn't feel rushed in the way that some the under two hour versions do.
- There's also a sequel, The Son of Monte Cristo, which I didn't watch but doesn't really sound like it could be any good at all.
The Verdict
This is one of the core adaptations and, as the first 'talkie' film version, is an important milestone. It's probably the first time we see the Count as a bit more of a swashbuckler who fights duels and protects the innocent, rather than purely being focused on revenge. The strength of the script and pacing mean this isn't too bad, but in terms of its influence on later works, it may have a lot to answer for.
Characters and Plot Elements
| Character | Status | Plot Element | Status |
| Edmond Dantes | Present | Landing on Elba and meeting with Napoleon | Present |
| Mercedes | Present | Return to Marseille | Present |
| Fernand Mondego | Present | Conspirators - stage 1 (accused by enemies) | Present |
| Danglars | Present | Conspirators - stage 2 (betrayed by Villefort) | Present |
| Gerard de Villefort | Present | Imprisoned in the Chateau d'If | Present |
| Gaspard Caderousse | Omitted | Escape by posing as another prisoner | Present |
| Pierre Morrel | Present | Finding the treasure | Present |
| Maximilien Morrel | Omitted | Visiting Caderousse | Omitted |
| Louis Dantes (Father) | Omitted | Return to Marseilles; Morrel suicide attempt | Omitted |
| Abbe Faria | Present | Franz meets Sinbad the Sailor on Monte Cristo | Omitted |
| Jacopo | Present | Hallucinogenic drugs | Omitted |
| La Carconte | Omitted | Rome - Albert kidnapped by Luigi Vampa | Present |
| Julie Morrel | Omitted | Count as a vampire | Omitted |
| Emmanuel Herbaut | Omitted | Breakfast at Albert's - Count's arrival in Paris | Omitted |
| Noirtier de Villefort | Present | Dinner at Auteiul | Omitted |
| Luigi Vampa | Present | The Vendetta - Bertuccio and Villefort | Omitted |
| Albert de Morcerf | Present | Manipulation of the telegram | Present |
| Lucien Debray | Omitted | The dappled greys - wild horses | Omitted |
| Beauchamp | Present | Affair between Madame Danglars and Lucien Debray | Omitted |
| Baron de Chateau Renaud | Omitted | Noirtier paralyzed | Omitted |
| Franz d'Epinay | Omitted | Love story between Maximilien and Valentine | Omitted |
| Madame Danglars | Omitted | Toxicology - poisoner in the Villefort household | Omitted |
| Eugenie Danglars | Omitted | Ali Pacha story | Present |
| Louise d'Armilly | Omitted | Implied sexual relationship between Eugenie Danglars and Louise d'Armilly | Omitted |
| Heloise de Villefort | Omitted | Arranged marriage between Valentine de Villefort and Franz d'Epinay | Present |
| Les Saint-Merans | Omitted | Benedetto and Caderousse | Omitted |
| Valentine de Villefort | Present | Benedetto and Eugenie | Omitted |
| Edouard de Villefort | Omitted | Villefort's spies | Omitted |
| Barrois | Omitted | Revenge against Caderousse - stabbed by Benedetto | Omitted |
| Benedetto | Omitted | Trial of Fernand | Omitted |
| Major Cavalcanti | Omitted | Duel between Albert de Morcerf and the Count of Monte Cristo | Present |
| Haydee | Present | Albert joins the army | Omitted |
| Bertuccio | Omitted | Revenge against Fernand - his treachery revealed, he kills himself | Present |
| Baptistin | Omitted | Revenge against Danglars - unlimited credit | Omitted |
| Ali | Present | Revenge against Villefort - trial of Benedetto, he goes mad | Omitted |
| Abbe Busoni | Omitted | Mercedes' end - return to Marseilles | Omitted |
| Sinbad the Sailor | Present | Danglars' escape and Luigi Vampa's bill of fare | Omitted |
| Lord Wilmore | Omitted | Edmond gets together with Haydee | Omitted |
| The phrase "wait and hope" | Omitted |