World's Worst Javert (LM, 1935)

[PanOvca]

HE'S BETTER THAN TOMMY WISEAU

[witness124]

It has no bearing on hsi miscasting, he made the best of a bad deal.

[ImhotepsAshes]

Laughton was a fantastic actor. People need to get the stentorian Javert of the musical out of their heads and appreciate a performance of real integrity. Yes, it's very much of it's time, but it's striking and moving in it's own right if you only give it a chance.

[RIPopperman]

I've seen that version in the past and enjoyed it. Considering past the physical insufficiency the charactor was believable and enduring.

[nightswimmer99]

This movie would probably still be a cult classic today if they'd been able to get Basil Rathbone to play Javert.

[nightswimmer99]

Laughton was a great actor. But I agree; he was terribly miscast in this film.

[Thejokerjuniorshow]

hahaha! Javert is supposed to be the greatest villain of all time... not a monkey... kool yur looney for les mis too! if you wanted to spell out my whole life in two words it would be les mis... mainly the musical but i love the book and movie too

[rockercharmz888]

@Thejokerjuniorshow Um. He isn't supposed to be a villain? Hugo created Valjean and Javert and made it such that neither are full time hero/villain.

[missbabyice]

The actor's looks really don't help- he looks like a kid getting bullied and being mean in return. I don't see any strength of conviction or tortured soul (how does Javert compare to Frollo on the tortured scale?). I couldn't really sympathise with Laughton's portrayal and of course, March was brilliant

[nvieira100]

@lesmisloony I like Laughton, but have to agree, as Javert, not so much. A very poor interpretation of the character. I think he focused far too much on the "tortured soul" aspect of the character, no where near enough on the "old testament" rigid sterness aspect of the character. Makes for a really "silly puddy" as you put it, portrayal. Also, not very impressed with Frederic March's interpretation of Valjean. Too stern/rigid, not enough of the benevolence of the character. Just my opinion.

[subtlefighter]

Wow . . . just wow. Whether he's a good actor in other movies or not, this is just not Javert. BTW, me and my sister have a long-running in-joke from this clip. If either one of us says 'no' in a way that at all resembles what this Javert says, the other one immediately says the Javert pouty 'no' in response and we crack up, lol.

[vinzcassels]

Yeah, he's not a great Javert, but he's a great actor - maybe he wasn't overly familiar with the novel.

[Classical4eva]

This Javert like epic fails! This version reminds me of Mary Poppins! Does anyone agree, lol!

[redbaronorcrowley]

the writing of the scene fits, the actor isn't doing a good job.

[MlleImparfait]

The beginning scene was a lovely bit of characterization of Javert...however, the trembling lip was annoying.

As was the rest of the clip. Does anyone else find watching Les Mis without music kind of weird?

[Elfdragon12]

Sidewhiskers, please?

Huh, in the scene where Valjean cut him loose, he looked like my 3 year-old nephew about to throw a tantrum.

Was it just me, or did most of the scenes look really fake?

[AngedeMystere]

Most people are annoyed with interpretation rather than quality of execution. I really liked Laughton in Hunchback - I think that role suited him in more ways than Javert.

[AngedeMystere]

I don't think Laughton himself is a poor actor or acted poorly in this film. It's that a quivering lower lip doesn't exactly suit a policeman whose face has been compared to that of a tiger, a bulldog, etc, etc. Javert is supposed to inspire fearful awe. Badass yet sympathetically misguided on some level. And there are just a lot of little quirks that most adaptations miss out on, like his snarkiness. So I blame the director more than Laughton.

[ImhotepsAshes]

Laughton doesn't fit Javert as most of us have come to see him from the musical version... But it's a very fine performance in its own right. And by 1935 standards, it's fairly naturalistic!

[ThaliatheTiger]

Hmmmm. I think I can see both sides of this. Laughton does the straight-laced coldness really well, and he's got an excellent voice for Javert. However, the lip wibble and the near-tears state during times of distress make me feel like I'm watching a bad fanfic (the scene here where March Valjean sets him free was EPIC FAIL, had me laughing at one of the most powerful moments in literary history). It makes me wonder who made those choices; Laughton or the director?

[rob9641]

Besides the fact that acting styles change and what was "good" in 1935 or even in 1978 isn't necessarily "good" in 2009, Valjean and Javert are great characters who can be examined and played in different ways. It's what makes them interesting. Laughton played Javert's anguish at being the son of criminals - Perkins played his unyielding relentlessness as result of being the son of criminals.

[slvr4surfer]

Good Actor...but the resemblance is not there man...

[Bramblefox]

IT'S THE PILLSBURY DOUGHBOY!! Run away!!

[EponineJavert]

You apparently haven't seen some highschool productions ;) haha

I'm not particurally impressed by this performance, but I love Charles Laughton. I think this might've been better with different writing or something. But my favorite Javert is still (and probably always will be) Philip Quast - I think it's spot on with the Book :)

[villanueva41]

Well... Its kinda unique. He's not that bad but I always like to look at Javert as a stronger man than that.

[HenriJonathan]

My God, this is so laughable... Well Laughton already has the syllable laugh in his name (ok that was a bad joke). Although I disagree with your opinion on Malkovich (I thought the completely lacking emotion fit well), I think your right about this being the worst Javert ever (even worse than the one from the 1995 movie who's name I keep forgetting).

@JT826: I'd just like to say that, if you read the book carefully, you will realise that Javert is not supposed to be the true villain in Les Mis.

[jami215]

Geez, you think he's going to cry or something from his lips / facial expression in the first clip, but nahh he's fine.

[jamesrobtonyadams]

why if you take this away from me what is there left? possibly the flattest line ever delivered. what a joke.

[caviekim]

"You never temper justice with mercy?"

"Nnno." LOL That was hilarious!!! Especially the music in the end, it's so...triumphant.

[corechil]

That guy was so bad, I think his performance gave me cancer...

[BubonicWoodchuck]

Fat Javert makes the baby Cosette cry. D:

[AngedeMystere]

Shoujo Cosette has Petit-Gervais, although they don't show him and his confrontation with Valjean until episode 46. It's all in a flashback Valjean is explaining to Javert while they're riding in the fiarce with Marius. Due to the nature of the scene, I think the writers fudged whether or not Valjean intentionally took Gervais' coin. They made it seem like more of a misunderstanding than actual theft and denial.

BTW, I'm uploading the Valjean-Javert-barricade scene right now. :)

[AngedeMystere]

Assuming that you've seen some episodes of the 2007 anime, have you seen any other animated versions of Javert? I know there was another older anime of Les Miz (and I think that Javert had a beard and glasses *shudders*).

[lesmisloony]

YES! I *HAVE* THAT! Well... actually, the one *I* have isn't technically anime, I don't think. But Javert has a beard and glasses and wears a bowler hat. It's stuck on VHS, but as soon as I figure out how to get it onto a DVD or my computer, I'm putting the whole thing on youtube. It's borderline amazing.

(But in my previous comment, I was referring to the accuracy of Shoujo Cosette's Javert. Just physically. And based on what you've told me.)

[AngedeMystere]

*giggles* I should post the scene where Valjean lets Javert go at the barricade. Not exactly accurate, but down right amusing. ^^,

What do you mean by "borderline amazing"? Good way or bad way?

[lesmisloony]

Hm, I haven't really decided yet. Parts of it are so bad they hurt (like spelling Cosette "Cossette") and other parts are amazingly accurate, like Petit-Gervais. In fact, I have yet to see a Petit-Gervais scene as accurate as the one in my animated movie.

No Eponine or Gavroche--other than a quick shot in Montfermeil--but it's still kind of awesome.

And if you have any clips at all of that anime, I would definitely watch it. Definitely.

[AngedeMystere]

*snort* Oh, heavens above . . . and Charles Laughton is reverred as a great actor! I'm not sure if this characterization of Javert was his fault or that of the director, but it's pretty painful to watch. I don't care how ugly and creepy he looks, anime!Javert is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oo much better than him. (Actually, most other Javerts are better than him. ^_^) And yes, Jean Jean was indeed a Sexy Con.

[sillykitty20021]

Wow. I think that was even better than reading the summary of it. Snowman!Javert was just about ready to cry in every scene...I don't think anybody was intimidated by him. And for some reason the students all looking like they belonged in some Western instead of Paris in 1832 was rather amusing as well. And The Ave Maria Choir was completely random, but ridiculously funny all the same!