This Count of Monte Cristo is all anyone could wish for

It’s possible that The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is the most filmed novel in history. There have been countless versions, several TV series, even one set on the moon.

But the last French film of the great ripping yarn was made 50 years ago. No wonder the new one has been such a smash hit at home.

Ten million tickets sold, 14 nominations at this year’s French Oscars, the Césars, this Count of Monte Cristo is clearly something special.

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It was adapted and directed by the team who made another recent Dumas film, the two-part Three Musketeers. And it looks just as sumptuous.

It opens with a bang. A shipwreck, a damsel in distress and a heroic sailor - young Edmond Dantès - diving to her rescue.

Edmond’s brutal captain Danglars, furious his trip has been interrupted, claps him in irons.

But when the chivalrous ship-owner learns of Edmond’s heroism, he fires Danglars and makes Edmond Captain.

The delighted Edmond can now afford to marry his aristocratic fiancée, Mercedes – despite the objections of her snobbish cousin, Fernand. But on the day of the wedding – disaster.

Edmond is arrested on charges trumped up by his former captain, Danglars, abetted by a corrupt prosecutor called Villefort. And confirming those charges is the testimony of wicked cousin Fernand.

Stitched up by the villainous trio, Edmond is tossed into an oubliette in that notorious prison, the Chateau d’If.

Four years pass – and you’d better get used to this. Before the story is over, we’ll flash forward ten years, then another year, then a few more years.

Forget Aristotelian unity. Dumas clearly thought that if s story’s worth telling it’s worth taking time over.

But before all this, Edmond makes a friend in the next door cell. The Abbé Faria.

The Abbé has not only started to dig a tunnel out of the Chateau. He’s got an incentive waiting when he and his new friend get out. There’s hidden treasure on a little island called Monte Cristo.

Sadly, the Abbé dies before he can cash in, but he gives Edmond a map and a warning. Will he do good works with the treasure, or spend it all on revenge?

No prizes for guessing which way Edmond is heading. There’s no rip-snorting adventure in dishing out money to the poor. But there’s plenty in chasing down the three swine who blighted his life.

In fact, it’s worse than he thought, when he finally escapes and makes it back to the old homestead.

Edmond’s beloved Dad died of grief and shame after his son was convicted, and fiancée Mercedes ran off to Paris to marry - wait for it – none other than her treacherous cousin Fernand.

So, our now unbelievably wealthy hero swears eternal vengeance, adopting a new name – the Count of Monte Cristo.

Needless to say, there’s a lot more to the story than this. Every step of its telling is so gripping that the nearly three hours race by - from the fiery shipwreck at the start to the five-minute sword fight at the end.

Brooding star Pierre Niney is perfectly cast, and this Count of Monte Cristo is all anyone could wish for, surely.

Nitpicking purists have complained – and there are no complainers as vociferous as French Dumas fans, apparently – that occasionally this production plays a little fast and loose with the source material.

But what of it? To amend the famous quote, 10 million French audience members can’t be wrong. And the copious subsequent accolades can only confirm that this is the version of the classic swashbuckler approved of by the home crowd.

So, who am I to disagree?

Listen to Simon Morris review the latest films in At The Movies, available here or on Sundays at 1.30pm on RNZ National.