The Count of Monte Cristo (2002 film)

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The Count of Monte Cristo
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKevin Reynolds
Screenplay byJay Wolpert
Based onThe Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAndrew Dunn
Edited by
Music byEdward Shearmur
Production
companies
Distributed byBuena Vista Pictures Distribution
Release date
  • January 25, 2002 (2002-01-25) (United States)
Running time
131 minutes
Countries
  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$35 million
Box office$75.4 million[1]

The Count of Monte Cristo is a 2002 American

Dagmara Dominczyk, Luis Guzmán and Henry Cavill
in one of his earliest roles. It follows the general plot of the novel, with the main storyline of imprisonment and revenge preserved, but many elements, including the relationships between major characters and the ending were modified.

The Count of Monte Cristo was released in North America on January 25, 2002 to generally positive reviews from critics. It was commercially successful, grossing $75 million.

Plot

The Azure Window of Gozo appears in the background of some scenes (picture from 2003).[2]

In 1815,

first mate
Danglars, who had given Edmond explicit orders not to land at Elba. Edmond thereafter states his intention to marry his girlfriend, Mercédès, whom Fernand lusts after.

Envious of Edmond’s good fortune, Fernand and Danglars inform on Edmond regarding Bonaparte's letter, which reveals information that could be used to aid Bonaparte's escape from Elba. Villefort, the city's chief magistrate, has Edmond arrested, but initially prepares to exonerate him until he learns the letter is addressed to his own father, Monsieur Clarion, a

Bonapartist. He burns the letter and orders Edmond imprisoned in the Château d'If
. Edmond escapes from Villefort and goes to Fernand for help, but Fernand instead turns him over to the pursuing gendarmes. Edmond is consigned to the island prison and its sadistic warden, Armand Dorleac. In exchange for persuading Mercédès that Edmond has been executed for treason and that she should take comfort in Fernand, Villefort has Fernand assassinate his father.

Six years later, Edmond is startled in his cell by an eruption in the ground revealing another prisoner, Abbé Faria, who has been imprisoned for 11 years after refusing to tell Bonaparte the whereabouts of the treasure of the Spada family. Faria has been digging an escape tunnel, but upon seeing that he is in Edmond's cell, he realizes he dug in the wrong direction. In exchange for Edmond's help digging a new tunnel, Faria educates him in a wide array of academic and martial disciplines. Faria is fatally injured in a tunnel cave-in, but before dying he gives Edmond a map to the treasure and implores him to use it only for good. Edmond escapes the prison by taking Faria's place in the disposal of his corpse, and is thrown into the sea, pulling Dorleac along with him and drowning him.

Wading ashore, Edmond encounters a band of pirates preparing to execute one of their own, Jacopo. Their leader, Luigi Vampa, decides justice and entertainment would be better served by pitting Edmond against Jacopo in a knife fight. Edmond wins but spares Jacopo, who swears himself to Edmond for life. They both work with the pirates until they arrive in Marseille. Edmond learns from Morrell, who does not recognize him, that Fernand and Danglars were complicit in his betrayal, his father committed suicide out of grief, and that Fernand and Mercédès wed shortly after Edmond was imprisoned. With Faria's map, he and Jacopo locate the treasure on the island of Montecristo. With his newfound wealth and comprehensive education, Edmond establishes himself in Parisian society as "The Count of Monte Cristo" with Jacopo as his manservant, and swears vengeance on those who conspired against him.

Edmond ingratiates himself to the Mondegos by staging the kidnap and rescue of their son, Albert. He lures Fernand, Villefort, and Danglars into a trap by letting slip the notion that he has located the treasure of Spada, and is shipping it through Marseille. His plans result in Danglars being caught red-handed in the act of theft, and Villefort being tricked into revealing his role in his father's death; both are arrested. Fernand is brought to financial ruin as Edmond has his gambling debts called in. Even though his appearance has changed dramatically, Edmond is recognized by Mercédès. Eventually, she softens him, and they rekindle their relationship. As Fernand prepares to flee the country, Mercédès reveals the only reason she married him was that she was pregnant with Albert, who is actually Edmond's son.

Edmond ambushes Fernand in the ruins of his family's country estate, having led him to believe that the treasure of Spada would be waiting for him. Albert intervenes when Edmond attempts to kill Fernand, but Mercédès tells him of his true parentage. Fernand attempts to flee, but changes his mind upon realizing he has nowhere to go, and challenges Edmond to a fight to the death; Edmond prevails.

Edmond purchases Château d'If, intending to raze it, but instead leaves it standing as he swears to Faria to use his vast resources for good and departs with his new family.

Cast

Production

Most of filming took place on the island of

Fort St Elmo featured specifically in the "Marseilles" scenes.[4] The Grand Harbour had the added advantage of being one of a very few ports deep enough to allow the huge period sailing ships brought from the UK to dock.[3] Saint Mary's Tower on the island of Comino was used for the exteriors of the Château d'If; the Azure Window of Gozo also makes an appearance in the scenes set on the island of Montecristo.[5][2]

In Ireland, locations included

Kilruddery House appears as Mondego's home early in the film.[6][7] The climactic fight scene between Dantès and Mondego was filmed near Slane in County Meath.[7]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 73% based on 143 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Though it may not reach for any new artistic heights, The Count of Monte Cristo is an old-fashioned yet enjoyable swashbuckler."[8] At Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[9] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.[10]

Roger Ebert gave the film 3 stars out of 4, writing: "The Count of Monte Cristo is a movie that incorporates piracy, Napoleon in exile, betrayal, solitary confinement, secret messages, escape tunnels, swashbuckling, comic relief, a treasure map, Parisian high society and sweet revenge, and brings it in at under two hours, with performances by good actors who are clearly having fun. This is the kind of adventure picture the studios churned out in the Golden Age—so traditional it almost feels new."[11]

Soundtrack

The Count of Monte Cristo OST
Soundtrack album by
Edward Shearmur
ReleasedJanuary 25, 2002 (2002-01-25)
Recorded2001
GenreSoundtrack
Length53:03
LabelRCA

The official soundtrack for the film was composed and conducted by

London Metropolitan Orchestra.[12]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
SoundtrackNet
 link

References

  1. ^ "The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Khomami, Nadia (March 8, 2017). "'It's heartbreaking': Maltese mourn collapse of Azure Window arch". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Producers' Creative Partnership (November 14, 2010). About Malta and the Making of "The Count of Monte Cristo". Vimeo. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  4. ^ a b www.visitmalta.com. "Filming Locations". Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  5. ISBN 9781783204984. Archived
    from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "Movies". powerscourt.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "The Count of Monte Cristo". visitwicklow.ie. April 9, 2015. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  8. ^ The Count of Monte Cristo at Rotten Tomatoes Edit this at Wikidata
  9. ^ "The Count of Monte Cristo Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  10. ^ "Find CinemaScore" (Type "Count of Monte Cristo" in the search box). CinemaScore. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  11. ^ Roger Ebert (January 25, 2002). "The Count Of Monte Cristo". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  12. ^ "The Count of Monte Cristo (Soundtrack)". Amazon. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2009.

External links

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