Les Miserables film breaks UK box office record
Tom Hooper’s acclaimed film version, which stars Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter and Samantha Barks, recorded three-day takings of £8.13 million, beating Mamma Mia!‘s figure of £5.2 million.
Les Miserables, which opened in the US on Christmas Day, has now taken more than £124.6 million worldwide. It recently won Best Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes, with Jackman and Hathaway claiming acting awards. It’s also predicted to convert several of its eight Oscar and nine Bafta nominations.
Working Title’s Eric Fellner said: “We’re incredibly proud that
this film, like the stage play, is proving to be a truly global
phenomenon.”
Les Miserables had its world premiere at the
Barbican on 8 October 1985. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic humanitarian
novel set in 19th-century revolutionary France, the musical has a book
by Alain Boublil, music by Claude-Michel Schonberg and lyrics by Herbert
Kretzmer.
After its premiere at the Barbican, the landmark Royal Shakespeare
Company production, adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John
Caird and designed by John Napier, transferred, care of Cameron
Mackintosh, to the West End’s Palace Theatre where it ran for 18 years
before moving down the road on 3 April 2004 to the Queen’s.
Several previous cast members, including original company members Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle, appear in the film version.
Tom Hooper, who also directed Oscar-winner The King’s Speech, used an innovative technique whereby he filmed the actors singing live on set, rather than adding a recorded track later.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh said of Hooper’s technique: “We have found an amazing group of actors who
are completely at home acting through music, and the only way you can
make that work is by capturing it in the moment.”
Following Les Miserables’ success Mackintosh is now rumoured to be planning a film adaptation of another of his hit Boublil and Schonberg collaborations, Miss Saigon.
