From Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper comes the Golden Globe-winning spectacular musical extravaganza Les Misérables. Adapted from the global musical phenomenon of the same name by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 epic novel, it features an all-star live-singing cast including Golden Globe winner Hugh Jackman, Oscar winner Russell Crowe, Oscar and Golden Globe winner Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Helena Bonham Carter, Golden Globe winner Sacha Baron Cohen and newcomer Samantha Barks. It received eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor for Hugh Jackman and won three Oscars: Best Supporting Actress for Hathaway, Best Sound Mixing and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. It swept the Golden Globes with awards for Jackman, and Hathaway, as well as the prize for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Set in 19th century France, Les Misérables tells the incredible tale of former convict Jean Valjean who was imprisoned for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family. Released on parole after nineteen years in the galleys, he is hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after breaking parole. On the run, he uses the alias Monsieur Madeleine and changes his life, becoming a wealthy factory owner and the mayor of a town. Meanwhile, one of his factory workers Fantine gets fired when it is exposed she has a daughter named Cosette out of wedlock. In need of money to send to innkeepers Monsieur and Madame Thénardier for Cosette’s care, she sells her hair, her teeth and resorts to prostitution. One evening when a sick Fantine is harassed by an abusive man, she strikes him and gets arrested by Javert. Feeling guilty, Valjean intervenes and orders for her release. As she lays dying in the hospital, he promises he will take care of Cosette. However soon afterward Javert learns of Valjean’s true identity and Valjean makes a hasty escape to find Cosette, taking her away from the Thénardiers.
Nine years later on the eve of the June Rebellion of France, Cosette, now a young woman, and student Marius Pontmercy fall in love. Marius’ friend Éponine, who is the Thénardiers’ daughter, is also in love with him. As tension rises after the death of Jean Maximilien Lamarque, Marius and fellow student Enjolras organize a group of idealistic students to join the revolution. Resolving to fight to the death, the streets of Paris are painted red with broken dreams, passion, sacrifice and redemption as many lives are changed forever that fateful day.
DVD and Blu-ray special features include feature commentary with Director Tom Hooper and three featurettes. In “The Stars of Les Misérables, Director Tom Hooper talks about casting the iconic characters, and the actors discuss why it was important to them to be a part of this groundbreaking version of Les Misérables. In “Creating the Perfect Paris,” take a look at the massive Paris set featuring real cobblestones and running water created by production designer Eve Stewart. The mini-documentary “The Original Masterwork: Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables” takes a look at the historical backdrop and universal themes of Hugo’s classic, and how the filmmakers mined the novel to enrich the look and feel of the film.
Exclusively on Blu-ray are four more featurettes. In “Les Misérables Singing Live,” the star-studded cast and production team discuss how the daunting challenge of singing live rather than lip-syncing to pre-recorded tracks ultimately gave them the creative freedom to deliver nuanced, emotionally powerful performances. “Battle at the Barricade” takes an in-depth look at the creation and filming of all the action on this remarkable set. Director Tom Hooper wanted the dramatic building of the barricade to be as visceral and intense as possible, so he had his actors build it in real time, literally hurling furniture out of windows to construct an actual barricade. In “The West End Connection,” meet the “godfather” of the original stage production of Les Misérables, renowned West End producer Cameron Mackintosh, who was deeply involved in the filming, as well as former Les Misérables theatrical stars who were thrilled to appear in supporting roles in the current film. Finally in “Les Misérables on Location,” members of the cast and crew talk about what it was like to find and work in the incredible real world locations: a massive dry dock on the coast of England, a beautiful underground chapel in the heart of London and the ancient city of Winchester.
View video: Les Misérables Trailer
Cast:
- Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean
- Russell Crowe as Javert
- Anne Hathaway as Fantine
- Amanda Seyfried as Cosette
- Isabelle Allen as Young Cosette
- Eddie Redmayne as Marius Pontmercy
- Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier
- Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier
- Samantha Barks as Éponine
- Daniel Huttlestone as Gavroche
- Aaron Tveit as Enjolras
- George Blagden as Grantaire
- Killian Donnelly as Combeferre
- Fra Fee as Courfeyrac
- Alistair Brammer as Jean Prouvaire
- Gabriel Vick as Feuilly
- Hugh Skinner as Joly
- Iwan Lewis as Bahorel
- Stuart Neal as Lesgles
DVD Special Features:
- The Stars of Les Misérables - Director Tom Hooper talks about casting the iconic characters, and the actors discuss why it was important to them to be a part of this groundbreaking version of Les Misérables.
- Creating the Perfect Paris - Production designer Eve Stewart created a massive Paris set featuring real cobblestones and running water. Take an intricate look into the detailed recreation of these Paris streets that no longer exist in today’s world.
- The Original Masterwork: Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables - This mini-documentary takes a look at the historical backdrop and universal themes of Hugo’s classic, and how the filmmakers mined the novel to enrich the look and feel of the film.
- Feature Commentary with Director Tom Hooper
Blu-ray Special Features:
Includes all DVD Special Features plus:
- Les Misérables Singing Live - The star-studded cast and production team discuss how the daunting challenge of singing live rather than lip-syncing to pre-recorded tracks ultimately gave them the creative freedom to deliver nuanced, emotionally powerful performances.
- Battle at the Barricade - Director Tom Hooper wanted the dramatic building of the barricade to be as visceral and intense as possible, so he had his actors build it in real time, literally hurling furniture out of windows to construct an actual barricade. This featurette takes an in-depth look at the creation and filming of all the action on this remarkable set.
- The West End Connection - Meet the “godfather” of the original stage production of Les Misérables, renowned West End producer Cameron Mackintosh, who was deeply involved in the filming, as well as former Les Misérables theatrical stars who were thrilled to appear in supporting roles in the current film.
- Les Misérables on Location - Filming rather than staging Les Misérables presents the opportunity to shoot in real world locations: a massive dry dock on the coast of England, a beautiful underground chapel in the heart of London and the ancient city of Winchester. Members of the cast and crew talk about what it was like to find and work in these incredible locations.
Exclusives:
USA
- Best Buy - Les Misérables Blu-ray SteelBook with DVD, Digital Copy and UltraViolet Digital Copy.
- Target -
o Les Misérables Deluxe Version Blu-ray Combo Pack with bonus disc, 32-page book and postcards all housed in a collectible packaging. The bonus disc features 40 minutes of extra content that highlights “The Genesis of Les Misérables,” the rigors of playing Jean Valjean in “The Transformation of Hugh Jackman,” showcases the ensemble cast in “The Young Revolutionaries,” dissects what went into making the film in “Anatomy of a Scene: ‘Lovely Ladies’ & ‘Master of the House’” and finally the cast reflects on the musicals enduring themes in “Les Mis Lives On.” The collectible book contains 32 pages of the artistry behind the film and includes behind-the-scenes photos, interviews with the cast and crew and insight on how the film was brought from stage to screen. The six collectible postcards are of each of the main characters shot for Vogue magazine on the set at Pinewood Studios in London. Each card can fit into the front of the collectible packaging for a customizable look with your favorite character from Les Misérables.
o Les Misérables Blu-ray Combo Pack with bonus disc featuring 40 minutes of extra content that highlights “The Genesis of Les Misérables,” the rigors of playing Jean Valjean in “The Transformation of Hugh Jackman,” showcases the ensemble cast in “The Young Revolutionaries,” dissects what went into making the film in “Anatomy of a Scene: ‘Lovely Ladies’ & ‘Master of the House’” and finally the cast reflects on the musicals enduring themes in “Les Mis Lives On.” - Walmart - Les Misérables Limited Edition Gift Set with Blu-ray Combo Pack and 20 Song CD (includes such hits as “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Empty Chairs / Empty Tables,” “Master of the House” and Academy Award nominated “Suddenly”).
Canada
Release Date: March 22, 2013
- Best Buy - Les Misérables Deluxe Version Blu-ray Combo Pack with bonus disc, 32-page book and postcards all housed in a collectible packaging. The bonus disc features 40 minutes of extra content that highlights “The Genesis of Les Misérables,” the rigors of playing Jean Valjean in “The Transformation of Hugh Jackman,” showcases the ensemble cast in “The Young Revolutionaries,” dissects what went into making the film in “Anatomy of a Scene: ‘Lovely Ladies’ & ‘Master of the House’” and finally the cast reflects on the musicals enduring themes in “Les Mis Lives On.” The collectible book contains 32 pages of the artistry behind the film and includes behind-the-scenes photos, interviews with the cast and crew and insight on how the film was brought from stage to screen. The six collectible postcards are of each of the main characters shot for Vogue magazine on the set at Pinewood Studios in London. Each card can fit into the front of the collectible packaging for a customizable look with your favorite character from Les Misérables.
- Future Shop - Les Misérables Blu-ray SteelBook with DVD, Digital Copy and UltraViolet Digital Copy.
- Walmart - Les Misérables Limited Edition Gift Set with Blu-ray Combo Pack and 20 Song CD (includes such hits as “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Empty Chairs / Empty Tables,” “Master of the House” and Academy Award nominated “Suddenly”).
South Korea
Release Date: April 24, 2013
- Les Misérables Blu-ray Limited Digibook Edition with soundtrack.
Sweden
Release Date: May 22, 2013
- Les Misérables Blu-ray Limited Digibook Edition with soundtrack.
United Kingdom
Release Date: May 13, 2013
- Les Misérables Blu-ray Digibook with Digital Copy and UltraViolet Digital Copy.
Best Prices:
DVD - $15.99 at Toys R Us, $16.99 at Amazon.com, Best Buy, Target, $19.96 at Walmart.com
Blu-ray Combo Pack (includes DVD, Digital Copy and UltraViolet Digital Copy) - $19.99 at Amazon.com, Best Buy, Toys R Us, $22.99 at Target, $23.98 at Walmart.com
Best Buy exclusive Blu-ray SteelBook (includes DVD, Digital Copy and UltraViolet Digital Copy) - $19.99
Target exclusive Deluxe Version Blu-ray Combo Pack with bonus content, book and postcards in collectible packaging - $24.99
Target exclusive Blu-ray Combo Pack with bonus content - $22.99
Walmart exclusive Limited Edition Gift Set with Blu-ray Combo Pack and CD - $18.96 in-store, $24.96 online
Stores:
- Best Buy: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.
- BJ's Wholesale Club: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.
- Blockbuster: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.
- FYE: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.
- Kmart: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.
- Toys 'R' Us: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.
- Target: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.
- Walmart: Long Island locations or use the store locator for other areas.
- Amazon.com charges sales tax for all New York shipping addresses.
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