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The Count of Monte Cristo (1998 miniseries)

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The Count of Monte Cristo
FrenchLe Comte de Monte Cristo
Based on
The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas
Written byDidier Decoin
Directed byJosée Dayan
StarringGérard Depardieu
Music byBruno Coulais
Countries of originFrance
Italy
Germany
Original languageFrench
No. of series1
No. of episodes4
Production
ProducerJean-Pierre Guérin
CinematographyVittorio Storaro
Running time100 minutes (per episode)
Original release
Release7 September (1998-09-07) –
28 September 1998 (1998-09-28)

The Count of Monte Cristo (French: Le Comte de Monte Cristo) is a French-Italian-German four-part miniseries based on the 1846 novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.

The series had approximately 12 million viewers for each episode during its initial premiere in September 1998.[1] The series premiered in the United States on Bravo on 21 June 1999.[2]

The Hôtel de Besenval, a historic hôtel particulier in Paris that has housed the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation and the residence of the Swiss ambassador to France since 1938, served as the headquarters of the Banque Danglars.[3]

Plot

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Edmond Dantès is falsely accused of Bonapartism and sentenced to spend the rest of his life imprisoned in the dreaded Château d'If, an island fortress from which no prisoner has ever escaped, and to which the most dangerous political prisoners are sent. While imprisoned, he meets the Abbé Faria, a fellow prisoner whom everyone believes to be mad. The Abbé tells Edmond of a fantastic treasure hidden away on a tiny island, that only he knows the location of. After many years in prison, the old Abbé dies. Edmond escapes and creates a new identity for himself as he swears to exact a cruel vengeance on the three men responsible for his suffering.

Cast

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Critical reception

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The New York Times positively reviewed the series, praising its visuals and "straightforward, old-fashioned spirit."[4]

The Los Angeles Times praised Gérard Depardieu's performance as the Count as well as the series's visuals, but criticized the series for some of the changes that were made from the book. They also criticized the last four hours of the series as being too "meandering and convoluted."[2]

References

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  1. ^ Bernstein, Adam (19 June 1999). "Eight Hours of Retribution". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b Rosenberg, Howard (21 June 1999). "A Faithful 'Monte Cristo'? Don't Count on It". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  3. ^ Bénédict de Tscharner: Profession ambassadeur – diplomate suisse en France, Lieu de tournage Hôtel de Besenval, Éditions Cabédita, Yens-sur-Morges, 2002, p. 63
  4. ^ James, Caryn (21 June 1999). "TELEVISION REVIEW; Depardieu Revels Lustily in Revenge and Derring-Do as the Count of Monte Cristo". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
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