The Count of Monte Cristo [PG]

Edmond Dantes comes home from Africa in high spirits: he’s about to become a Captain in the navy as well as marry Mercedes, the love of his life. But shortly after his return he is falsely accused of conspiracy and sent to a hellish island fortress. Fourteen years pass and Dantes escapes carrying with him the map to the lost treasure of Monte Cristo and a promise to a dying friend. Upon finding the treasure, he assumes the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo and fulfils his promise. Now he has but one cause, to extract his revenge upon the four perpetrators of the horrible injustice and suffering brought upon him. 

Based on Alexandre Dumas’ timeless tale or romance, revenge, and retribution, The Count of Monte Cristo stands up as a classic. There have been a few versions of Dumas’ classic tale, this being one from the 70s and the first one that I’ve seen to be honest. Aside from the questionable fact that none of the characters within France have a French accent, this movie harbours everything needed to make an enjoyable film. Not necessarily a brilliant film, but a very enjoyable one. 

Edmond Dantes comes home from Africa in high spirits: he’s about to become a Captain in the navy as well as marry Mercedes, the love of his life. But shortly after his return he is falsely accused of conspiracy and sent to a hellish island fortress. Fourteen years pass and Dantes escapes carrying with him the map to the lost treasure of Monte Cristo and a promise to a dying friend. Upon finding the treasure, he assumes the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo and fulfils his promise. Now he has but one cause, to extract his revenge upon the four perpetrators of the horrible injustice and suffering brought upon him. 

There is something irresistible about revenge stories. Even when the events of them are horrible, on both sides: good and bad, you cannot help but take sides. I’m yet to see a revenge movie that can be watched passively and without character support. It’s because they play to the audience’s binary senses and the need for balance. It was anthropologist, Claude Levi-Strauss, who proposed the theory that humans perceive the world in a binary structure e.g. good-bad, right-wrong, hot-cold etc, so right from the off this movie is going to draw the audience’s focus and emotional support because there is a longing to see balance regained: an eye for an eye. 

The second brilliant thing about revenge stories is how the purpose of revenge becomes all consuming and eventually there ceases to be a way in which the revenge seeker can return to normal life. Look at the story of Benjamin Barker a.k.a. Sweeney Todd! 

As I mentioned before, this movie contains everything that is needed to make an enjoyable movie. The story itself is powerful and engaging: a stable foundation on which to build. The screenplay is written very well: it’s consistent, not too wordy, and succeeds in holding the audience’s attention. There are good action sequences and swordfights, exceptional costume design, and solid performances from all the cast. 

Starring Richard Chamberlain, Trevor Howard, Louis Jourdon, Donald Pleasence, Kate Nelligan, Taryn Power, Alessio Orano, Harold Bromley, George Willing, Dominic Guard, Anthony Dawson, and Tony Curtis, The Count of Monte Cristo is a very enjoyable movie filled with action, drama, injustice, revenge, suspense, and romance. It’s not a remarkable movie, but aside from the lack of French accents there is nothing in it that lets it down. I found it quite enjoyable.