The original prison break movie with a side of buried treasure and very justified rage.
Edmond Dantes is falsely accused by those jealous of his good fortune, and is sentenced to spend the rest of his life in the notorious island prison, Chateau d'If. While imprisoned, he meets the Abbe Faria, a fellow prisoner whom everyone believes to be mad. The Abbe tells Edmond of a fantastic treasure hidden away on a tiny island, that only he knows the location of. After many years in prison, the old Abbe dies, and Edmond escapes disguised as the dead body. Now free, Edmond must find the treasure the Abbe told him of, so he can use the new-found wealth to exact revenge on those who have wronged him.
Acting
Pierre Richard-Willm's smoldering transformation from naive sailor to ice-cold schemer.
Production
Gloomy Chateau d'If sets that practically smell of damp stone and desperation.
Director
Ferruccio Cerio
Pierre Richard-Willm
Edmond Dantès / Le Comte de Monte Cristo
Michèle Alfa
Mercédès
Aimé Clariond
Monsieur de Villefort
Marcel Herrand
Bertuccio
Ermete Zacconi
L'abbé Faria
Alexandre Rignault
Caderousse
Henri Bosc
Fernand, le comte de Morcerf
Jacques Baumer
Noirtier
André Fouché
Benedetto
René Bergeron
Le policier
Marie-Hélène Dasté
Madame de Villefort
Yves Deniaud
Pénélan
Fred Pasquali
Joannès
Jean Joffre
Dantès père
Paul Faivre
Emmanuel Brissard
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was actually Part 1 of a two-film adaptation shot back-to-back in occupied France, with production wrapping just months before the Allied invasion.
Released during WWII, Edmond's false imprisonment and elaborate escape resonated deeply with French audiences living under occupation — the revenge fantasy was almost too real.
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