..... Alan Badel excels and engages so well in character of The Count of Monte Cristo that we believe him to be the only actor who can rightfully portray the Count in this screen version from the BBC? I think we might agree....
....Although there may be some age-old doubts as to the BBC production of years ago, in my opinion this is finest version to date.... The words are spoken directly from the very book by Alexandre Dumas: Alan Badel is fluent in French, and therefore he naturally articulates in French pronunciation when the spoken word demands. He commands a performance that is both convincing and enigmatic in power of destiny of revenge - it is chilling and remarkable! The BBC had televised this outstanding production in black & white before colour transmission followed -and now we can reminisce or discover and judge for ourselves whether this is the best version which is available in DVD?
It was a long time ago that the BBC adaption was shown in a series on television....in 1964 only....and it is wonderful now to have a copy in DVD format! There have, of course, been several feature films - usually disappointing though, with romanticized melodrama and over simplification of the wonderful plots....though I did like the French version with Gerald Depardieu which runs for 360 minutes. Gerald Depardieu is colourful and flamboyant in character of the Count, and it is a lavish production...but this version could be a little annoying or confusing if you are expecting to follow the familiar plot details? In this version, for example, The Count has a French mistress in Paris, and the story romanticizes with a different ending to the original.
Although the BBC drama is 300 minutes in total running time on television, it is quite acceptable that there are many plot details missing in the adventure of this story....for example, there is an absence of Gaspard Canderousse who is to be reintroduced again, later in the story ( along with Benedetto/Andrea Cavalcanti in Paris. ) .... but having said that, though- full credit must be given to the BBC script writer who has kept to the quality of the original story in regard to the connections that enhanced a mystery in a charm to intrigue....and it is the very finest in British drama with acting performances to match the quality.
The BBC drama is not dated in my opinion, and indeed, the complete series has held me spellbound in mystique ever since I had watched it.....so happy to watch again, but a little sad as well, as to the revengeful manner of how the Count lived his life....
I highly recommend to watch the completed series in DVD, and to read the book -and hats-off to a gentleman reviewer who reads the book every year.... I personally love the book, but would recommend an edition with slightly larger print from the standard issue?
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....Although there may be some age-old doubts as to the BBC production of years ago, in my opinion this is finest version to date.... The words are spoken directly from the very book by Alexandre Dumas: Alan Badel is fluent in French, and therefore he naturally articulates in French pronunciation when the spoken word demands. He commands a performance that is both convincing and enigmatic in power of destiny of revenge - it is chilling and remarkable! The BBC had televised this outstanding production in black & white before colour transmission followed -and now we can reminisce or discover and judge for ourselves whether this is the best version which is available in DVD?
It was a long time ago that the BBC adaption was shown in a series on television....in 1964 only....and it is wonderful now to have a copy in DVD format! There have, of course, been several feature films - usually disappointing though, with romanticized melodrama and over simplification of the wonderful plots....though I did like the French version with Gerald Depardieu which runs for 360 minutes. Gerald Depardieu is colourful and flamboyant in character of the Count, and it is a lavish production...but this version could be a little annoying or confusing if you are expecting to follow the familiar plot details? In this version, for example, The Count has a French mistress in Paris, and the story romanticizes with a different ending to the original.
Although the BBC drama is 300 minutes in total running time on television, it is quite acceptable that there are many plot details missing in the adventure of this story....for example, there is an absence of Gaspard Canderousse who is to be reintroduced again, later in the story ( along with Benedetto/Andrea Cavalcanti in Paris. ) .... but having said that, though- full credit must be given to the BBC script writer who has kept to the quality of the original story in regard to the connections that enhanced a mystery in a charm to intrigue....and it is the very finest in British drama with acting performances to match the quality.
The BBC drama is not dated in my opinion, and indeed, the complete series has held me spellbound in mystique ever since I had watched it.....so happy to watch again, but a little sad as well, as to the revengeful manner of how the Count lived his life....
I highly recommend to watch the completed series in DVD, and to read the book -and hats-off to a gentleman reviewer who reads the book every year.... I personally love the book, but would recommend an edition with slightly larger print from the standard issue?
.