Victor Hugo's unforgettable novel, Les Miserables, comes to life in this 1978 adaptation. Jean Valjean (Richard Jordan, Captains and the Kings) is a handsome young woodcutter cruelly sentenced to jail for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family. Javert (Anthony Perkins, Psycho), the ice-cold Inspector of Prisoners, relentlessly persecutes Valjean, and is determined to keep him imprisoned for life. Valjean's struggles and quest for redemption form the nexus of a series of interactions and events that span nearly twenty years, impacting history itself.

Set against the backdrop of the 1832 Paris Uprising, Les Miserables is truly a masterpiece of production. Extravagant European locations and an excellent supporting cast (including John Gielgud, Ian Holm, Celia Johnson and Flora Robson) further illuminate Hugo's classic tale of courage, escape, and the indomitable human spirit.