The Count of Monte Cristo

Released Aug 29, 1934

1h 53m

Adventure

List

88%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

77%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

In the midst of the tumultuous Napoleonic era, Frenchman Edmond Dantes (Robert Donat) is charged with a trumped-up crime and sent to prison. But after years of confinement, he escapes, and in the process secures a vast fortune hidden away on the island of Monte Cristo, off the Italian coast. Rebranding himself as a man of nobility and means, Edmond aims to settle scores with traitorous former friend Mondego (Sidney Blackmer) and the others who took his freedom and his fiancée (Elissa Landi).

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Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

The picture would have been stronger if both the story and the whole company had been better: as it is, I cannot think of faults without remembering that while the thing was going forward I was sitting up in my seat hoping for him to soak them plenty.

Jan 23, 2024

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Aug 1, 2003

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Unfortunately, many of the finer degrees of avengement aren't translated to the screen with the finesse or components necessary to create cinematic splendor.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 26, 2020

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Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

The Dumas story very much as Dumas wrote it: which leaves nothing to complain about.

Aug 1, 2019

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Charles Davy

The Spectator

This is a picture for those whom like their full money's worth of solid entertainment.

Oct 4, 2018

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Sean Axmaker

Parallax View

... slow and static and creaky, stopping dead for monologues and exposition to explain what the film can't afford to show.

Feb 19, 2012

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john g

excellent entertainment - Donat does a great job

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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william d

I think Robert Donat is an outstanding actor, but I must admit he seems a bit off his game here. Still, this is a decent retelling of the Dumas classic, and Donat on a bad day is still better than most actors' best.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It’s hard not to get excited about any version of The Count of Monte Cristo. It is a classic novel for a reason, because this might be one of the most satisfying revenge stories of all time. After watching friends and enemies bring Dantes down despite the fact that he did nothing wrong, you want to see all of them taught a lesson. Robert Donat does a good job of playing the character differently prior to his imprisonment with a certain innocence, and then switching to bold confidence after his escape. He also looked different, so I can commend the makeup and hair people for pulling that off, and forgive them for how humorously bad his beard looked when he was in prison. I will say, I wanted something more from the entire time in prison. Perhaps a better montage establishing how he was learning so much, and still had the time to dig his escape route would have helped. I think this classic version of Dumas’ novel suffers a bit for me because I enjoyed the 2002 version so much, and did find myself comparing the two occasionally. There are some tweaks made in that adaptation which change the story slightly, and I thought they worked quite well. Also, with a more modern style of film-making they were able to add more action and exciting effects that simply weren’t possible in the 1930s. That doesn’t change the fact that the story was still effective in this version. In fact, purists who want a fully accurate presentation of the story would probably prefer this film. While I might not lean towards watching Rowland V. Lee’s The Count of Monte Cristo, it is a solid film and I wouldn’t mind watching it again.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/07/20

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Audience Member

Although not outstanding, a good adaptation of the original work. As a curiosity, it is the version V watchs on screen in "V for Vendetta".

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

Personally I loved the story line and redemption of the pure hearted ! And to think these things could've happened to anyone in this time period is just astonishing and to see a gentleman prevail in the face of death like that time after time is just amazing

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

The best thrilling movie ever made! With the best movie character ever portrayed: Robert Donat as Edmond Dantes!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Rowland V. Lee

Director

Robert Donat

Edmond Dantes

Elissa Landi

Mercedes

Louis Calhern

De Villefort Jr.

Sidney Blackmer

Mondego

Raymond Walburn

Danglars

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Synopsis

In the midst of the tumultuous Napoleonic era, Frenchman Edmond Dantes (Robert Donat) is charged with a trumped-up crime and sent to prison. But after years of confinement, he escapes, and in the process secures a vast fortune hidden away on the island of Monte Cristo, off the Italian coast. Rebranding himself as a man of nobility and means, Edmond aims to settle scores with traitorous former friend Mondego (Sidney Blackmer) and the others who took his freedom and his fiancée (Elissa Landi).

Director: Rowland V. Lee
Production Co: Edward Small Productions
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 29, 1934, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 17, 2020
Runtime: 1h 53m

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