The moment I saw the news feed that one of my most anticipated films of 2012 finally has an official teaser trailer out I knew that my expectations would only grow with each viewing.
Tom Hooper doesn’t go for small in following up his Academy Award-winning directing work in The King’s Speechby adapting the hugely popular and beloved stage musical Les Misérables which in itself was adapted from the classic Victor Hugo novel of the same name. The cast stars Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in the roles of Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert. Anne Hathaway comes away with the role of the tragic Fantine with Amanda Seyfried taking on the role of Fantine’s grown-up daughter Cosette. In what could be a star-making turn, Samantha Barks gets the coveted role of Eponine which was the same role she played as part of the musical’s 25th Anniversary Concert.
Details about this film musical has been scarce, but it’s already been reported that every actor in the cast does their own singing and done so live in front of the camera. This stylistic choice may keep some of the songs from reaching epic levels, but should do well in better conveying the emotional impact for some of the more personal character songs in the musical. In fact, the song that Anne Hathaway sings in the trailer, “I Dreamed A Dream”, is one of those character songs that seem to sound much better with it being less is more style.
Les Misérablesis set for a December 14, 2012 release date.
This coming December 2012 will see another stage musical make it onto the big screen. It was in 2004 that Joel Schumacher first brought The Phantom of the Operato the big-screen as a musical. For 2012, it will be Academy Award-winner Tom Hooper who will be bringing the musical Les Misérables to the big-screen with a star-studded cast that includes Hugh Jackman in the role of Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe as his arch-nemesis Inspector Javert. It’s also from this musical that I chose the latest “Song of the Day” with the ensemble piece that ends Act 1: “One Day More”.
It was Les Misérables the musical that first introduced me to the world of musicals. Prior to having seen the touring production which stopped over in San Francisco during the late 80’s and early 90’s I always thought of musicals as just not my thing even though I never truly witnessed one. All that changed when I saw Les Misérables and I have been hooked since.
One of my favorite songs from the musical was the ensemble piece that ends Act 1 and brings together all the players introduced in the first act. It wasn’t just the whole cast singing but how they sang as each character were given voice and as the song reaches an epic crescendo to curtains closing everyone joins in a rousing chorus with overlapping lyrics from different main players that at first sounded confusing to follow, but was still understandable.
Most musical nowadays rarely go for such grand closing before intermissions. Listening to “One Day More” shows me that its a lost art but when done well it comes off as amazing.
One Day More
VALJEAN One day more! Another day, another destiny. This never-ending road to Calvary; These men who seem to know my crime Will surely come a second time. One day more!
MARIUS I did not live until today. How can I live when we are parted?
VALJEAN One day more.
MARIUS & COSETTE Tomorrow you’ll be worlds away And yet with you, my world has started!
EPONINE One more day all on my own.
MARIUS & COSETTE Will we ever meet again?
EPONINE One more day with him not caring.
MARIUS & COSETTE I was born to be with you.
EPONINE What a life I might have known.
MARIUS & COSETTE And I swear I will be true!
EPONINE But he never saw me there!
ENJOLRAS One more day before the storm!
MARIUS Do I follow where she goes?
ENJOLRAS At the barricades of freedom.
MARIUS Shall I join my brothers there?
ENJOLRAS When our ranks begin to form
MARIUS Do I stay; and do I dare?
ENJOLRAS Will you take your place with me?
ALL The time is now, the day is here!
VALJEAN One day more!
JAVERT One more day to revolution, We will nip it in the bud! We’ll be ready for these schoolboys They will wet themselves with blood!
VALJEAN One day more!
M. & MME. THENARDIER Watch ’em run amuck, Catch ’em as they fall, Never know your luck When there’s a free for all, Here a little `dip’ There a little `touch’ Most of them are goners So they won’t miss much!
Students (2 Groups)
1: One day to a new beginning
2: Raise the flag of freedom high!
1: Every man will be a king
2: Every man will be a king
1: There’s a new world for the winning
2: There’s a new world to be won
ALL Do you hear the people sing?
MARIUS My place is here, I fight with you!
VALJEAN One day more!
MARIUS & COSETTE I did not live until today.
EPONINE One more day all on my own!
MARIUS & COSETTE How can I live when we are parted?
JAVERT(overlapping) I will join these people’s heros I will follow where they go I will learn their little Secrets, I will know the things they know.
VALJEAN One day more!
MARIUS & COSETTE Tomorrow you’ll be worlds away
EPONINE What a life I might have known!
MARIUS & COSETTE And yet with you my world has started
JAVERT (overlapping) One more day to revolution We will nip it in the bud We’ll be ready for these
Schoolboys
THENARDIERS (overlapping) Watch ’em run amok Catch ’em as they fall Never know your luck When there’s a free-for-all!
VALJEAN Tomorrow we’ll be far away, Tomorrow is the judgement day
ALL Tomorrow we’ll discover What our God in Heaven has in store! One more dawn One more day One day more!
Through the Shattered Lens 