The Count of Monte-Cristo (1975) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

David Greene

Writers:

Sidney Carroll (screenplay)
Alexandre Dumas père (novel)

Release Date:

10 January 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure

Plot:

A young officer, falsely imprisoned by his jealous "friends," escapes and uses a hidden treasure to exact his revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Conspiracy | Marseilles France | Jealousy | Prison | Island Prison

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Richard Chamberlain	...	Edmond Dantes
Trevor Howard	...	Abbe Faria
Louis Jourdan	...	De Villefort
Donald Pleasence	...	Danglars
Tony Curtis	...	Fernand Mondego
Kate Nelligan	...	Mercedes
Angelo Infanti	...	Jacopo
Harold Bradley	...	M. Morrell (as Harold Bromley)
George Willing	...	Andre Morrell
Alessio Orano	...	Caderousse
Ralph Michael	...	M. Dantes
Dominic Barto	...	Bertuccio
Harry Baird	...	Ali
Isabelle De Valvert	...	Haydee (as Isabelle de Valvert)
Taryn Power	...	Valentine De Villefort

Also Known As:

Conte di Montecristo, Il (Italy)

Runtime:

Germany:98 min | UK:103 min (theatrical version) | USA:119 min

Country:

UK | Italy

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-7 | Australia:PG | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:U | West Germany:12

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Quotes:

[Edmond has found Mondego]
Fernand Mondego: So, the light begins to bright! Our sailor boy has woke up from the death...
Edmond Dantes: Um-hum...
Fernand Mondego: Let me see... Caderousse - dead, Danglars - dead, Villefort at mental hospital... Is it my turn now?
Edmond Dantes: Yes.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Yo compro esa mujer" (1990)

An excellent version but not the novel. (See also my comments for 2002 version)

As I have stated elsewhere this was a well made adaptation of the Dumas work, but it is not the novel, which is not this feature's fault. Neither have any of the other American versions that I have seen. With the novel the are so many layers of subtlety and subtext in Edmond Dante's search for revenge, and they are not present here.

That having been said Richard Chamberlain obviously attacks this role with his usual relish and reveals why he has become one of the top picks for many TV mini-series) Trevor Howard gives a reverent and subtle performance as the Abbe Faria. Donald Pleasance and Louis Jordan are both excellent in their roles as well. Tony Curtis is the souring of the milk as it were. His Count Mondego is just not that believable. While I esteem him in many of his roles over the years he was horribly miscast here. The rest of this cast were well picked and the adventure is there. Actually it is a well done feature considering it had to be made on a television program budget. A better script and big screen budget might have taken this film much further. Still, it is worth a watch. I give it nine thumbs up.