Although this made for TV movie has been overshadowed by the other, more famous and lavish versions, this particular adaptation happens to be the most faithful to Dumas' novel.
Richard Chamberlain is quite effective as Edmund Dantes, the sailor who is wrongfully imprisoned by three of his former friends who happens to escape many years later to find the lost treasure of Monte Cristo- he dons a new identity as the Count and unleashes a complex but highly satisfying revenge on his enemies.
Because of its short running time, it dispenses with many of the novel's subplots but it actually makes this film better because it focuses on Dantes' revenge and does it quite well. The ending is ironic and it seems, the only version that keeps Dumas' original plot intact unlike the big Hollywood version with Jim Caviezel that was made in 2002.
Excellent supporting performances by Louis Jourdan as De Villefort (Jourdan actually starred as the Count in a 1961 version of this same movie!), Trevor Howard as the Abbe Faria and Donald Pleasance as the slimy Danglars while Tony Curtis hams it up a bit as the evil Mondego- but his exposure is limited and he is still quite good. Highly recommended.
Richard Chamberlain is quite effective as Edmund Dantes, the sailor who is wrongfully imprisoned by three of his former friends who happens to escape many years later to find the lost treasure of Monte Cristo- he dons a new identity as the Count and unleashes a complex but highly satisfying revenge on his enemies.
Because of its short running time, it dispenses with many of the novel's subplots but it actually makes this film better because it focuses on Dantes' revenge and does it quite well. The ending is ironic and it seems, the only version that keeps Dumas' original plot intact unlike the big Hollywood version with Jim Caviezel that was made in 2002.
Excellent supporting performances by Louis Jourdan as De Villefort (Jourdan actually starred as the Count in a 1961 version of this same movie!), Trevor Howard as the Abbe Faria and Donald Pleasance as the slimy Danglars while Tony Curtis hams it up a bit as the evil Mondego- but his exposure is limited and he is still quite good. Highly recommended.