Les Miserables

Robert Farrell

(4.5 stars; 15 reviews)

Les Misérables is a seven-part radio series broadcast July 23–September 3, 1937 (Fridays at 10 p.m. ET), on the Mutual Network . Orson Welles adapted Victor Hugo 's novel , directed the series and starred as Jean Valjean . The 22-year-old Welles developed the idea of telling stories with first-person narration on the series, which was his first job as a writer-director for radio. Les Misérables was one of Welles's earliest and finest achievements on radio, and marked the radio debut of the Mercury Theatre . The production co-starred Martin Gabel as Javert , Alice Frost as Fantine , and Virginia Nicolson, Welles's first wife, as the adult Cosette . The supporting cast included Ray Collins , Agnes Moorehead , Everett Sloane , Betty Garde , Hiram Sherman , Frank Readick, Richard Widmark , Richard Wilson and William Alland .

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

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