New 'Les Miserables' Featurette Teases Original Song!
by Shannon KeirnanIf you’re as excited as I am about the upcoming Christmas release of “Les Miserables,” then every little teaser for the movie is already bookmarked on your computer.
Well, here’s another to add to the collection. Get the tissues ready.
The short featurette deals with the construction of an all-new, original song that will be appearing in the movie.
“Suddenly,” sung by Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, deals with his adoption of the heart-rending, pathetic-looking baby Cosette, played endearingly by the very muddy Isabelle Allen.
Director Tom Hooper says, “When I read the novel of ‘Les Miserables,’ I felt the one thing missing from the musical was the acknowledgement of how central falling in love with little Cosette was to Jean Valjean and what it’s like to become a father in an unexpected way.”
Thus, the song was added to give depth to a portion of the novel that would have otherwise been glossed over.
“There is a broken child, who has never known love, and there is Jean Valjean that has never known love,” producer Cameron Mackintosh explains of the meeting of the two characters.
Screenwriter Claude-Michel Schonberg notes with a distant smile, “The first day that Hugh Jackman did this song was a beautiful day. Beautiful day.”
The song is designed to “catch the intimacy” of the developing love between Jean Valjean and his young charge. Hugh Jackman sings gently behind the interviewees, and quick clips show the two characters smiling trustingly at one another, and Jean Valjean looking a little overwhelmed by his new responsibilities.
As if the musical wasn’t already promising to make you bawl, now they’re adding extra sob-inducing original songs?
Awesome!!
I, for one, can't wait!