in the middle 1950s two film version of hugo best remembered novel appear and disappear very quickly in movie house . this french version of le miserables be one . the other be a french or italian version of notre dame de paris or the hunchback of notre dame . that one star anthony quinn a quasimodo and gina lollabrigida a esmarelda . both film be actually quite good and and be the best straight version of the novel to try to get most of the story onto the screen . however and both be too long for most audience and especially this version of le miserables . this ran over three hour . a point out in the other review that i write about the 1935 version of le miserables and that film version be the best normal screen length film version . but the performance of jean gabin a jean valjean in this film be superior to the performance of fredric march in the same role . i would also note that the performance of bourvil a thenardier be the best i have see ( even good than ian holm in the 1978 version ) . thenardier be an even slimy villain than javert be and but javert single mind pursuit of valjean in the novel make the antic of thenardier look secondary and and they be usually dismiss in the filmed version ( though not in the musical version ) . check out the scene where thenardier and his goon kidnap valjean for ransom and and the latter demonstrate how tough he be effectively thwart the plan . it do not appear in the 1935 version .