« At the Apollo »
LES MISERABLES, from the novel by Victor Hugo: directed by Raymond Bernard: musical score by Arthur Honneger; produced by Pathe Consortium Cinema and distributed here by Distinguished Film.
When the French version of "Les Misérables" had its première here just ten years ago it consumed two hours and forty-five minutes. At that time the film critic of The Times found it had "dignity, strength and a measure of great beauty" - but he also noted that it was "diffuse." Yesterday the same film - in a longer, uncut version - opened at the Apollo with its running time lengthened by thirty-five minutes. It is unquestionably now more diffuse.
Although so powerful a film merits a reappearance here, there seems no logical reason why it should run for nearly three and a half hours. There are other current drawbacks, too. The photography has suffered somewhat from age, and the English sub-titles contain a great many glaring and ridiculous errors in spelling. But, if only as a vehicle for the brilliant Harry Baur in one of his great performances, it is still something to be seen. E. J. B.
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