|
|
The Count Of Monte Cristo (1975)
STARS: Richard Chamberlain, Tony Curtis, Trevor Howard, Taryn Power, Louis Jourdan, Donald Pleasence.
DIRECTOR: David Greene. DURATION: 104 mins.
SYNOPSIS: Classic Alexandre Dumas tale of a wrongly imprisoned man who eventually escapes from jail, stumbles upon the treasure of Monte Cristo, which he uses to bring justice those who wronged him.
RC PLAYS: Edmond Dantes.
At last, a vehicle that could have been tailored especially for Richard Chamberlain. However, as we know it was written many years before by Alexandre Dumas - whose works were certainly important to the actor's career, providing him with some of his best roles.
The swashbuckler had been filmed several times: Including one starring Robert Donat, and another with Louis Jourdan, who also has a small role here. Chamberlain had no doubts why it's such a popular tale: "It's a great adventure story. You know, I chose not to see the previous movie versions - I didn't want to copy, even unconciously."
The actor certainly had no qualms about the changes made for the latest screen adaptation, which were necessary due to immense original text. "In the book," says Richard. "Monte Cristo has second thoughts about the mayhem he creates in the lives of those who tried to destroy him. He makes up for in some part at one point, but we don't have any of that in our version. Ours ends in a kind of retribution through loss for his own cruelty and vengefulness instead."
The length of the book meant that at first something other than a movie was planned, as Chamberlain reveals: "The producer tried to sell it as a mini-series at first. But nobody would buy that so we condensed it."
The production was shot in Italy with yet another all-star cast. The producers raised a budget of $1.5million - making it one of the most expensive TV movies ever made at the time, allowing the more lavish feel which fitted the period. In the end it also made much of its money back by having a cinema release in Europe.
Chamberlain particularly enjoyed working in Rome: "The city is the most theatrical place I've ever been in. Everyone is an actor. When I go to the Piazza Navona I keep expecting to hear a heavenly voice say, 'Cut!' In America, there's a fear of admitting the sensual side of interest. Here it's so blatant and wonderfully sexual."
Of course Rome is one of the world's most romantic cities, and probably part of Richard's enthusiasm for the area was because he had fallen for co-star Taryn Power (who played his love interest), daughter of Tyrone Power. However, it was a short-lived affair, perhaps due to the age difference - he was 38, she was 21.
The Count of Monte Cristo was a huge commercial and critical success on both sides of the Atlantic, which must have come as a relief to its star who hadn't had a 'hit' project for some time. The movie has dated quite badly, but still shows off to full advantage Richard's qualities as a period hero - so it's probably no surprise to learn that he gained his first Emmy nomination for his role.
MOVE TO:
HOME / PHOTO GALLERY / FILMOGRAPHY / BIOGRAPHY / NEXT TV MOVIE
