USA: The cast of Les Miserables celebrate at the film's New York premiere

Record ID: 220962

  • Title: USA: The cast of Les Miserables celebrate at the film's New York premiere
  • Date: 11th December 2012
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 10, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIORS OF MOVIE THEATER
  • Embargoed: 26th December 2012 12:00
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  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA8KMX7XUAEFR6QAT4H1S7L67XB
  • Story Text: The star-sudded cast of the film version of "Les Miserables" hit the red carpet in New York on Monday (December 10) to celebrate the movie's opening.
    Based on the long-running stage musical and classic novel by Victor Hugo the film stars include Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France the epic story follows the plight of Valjean, played by Jackman, an ex-convict on the run after breaking his parole.
    Academy Award winner Tom Hooper directed the project but only under one condition.
    "I knew from the beginning I wanted to do the singing live and I was so passionate about it I wasn't willing to make the film unless I could do the singing live," said Hooper.
    The actors were outfitted with earpieces and sang live on set to a piano.
    "This is because I always find singing to lip-syncing to pre-record, however well it's done artificial. At its worse it makes you embarrassed, at its best you just have to forgive it. And in a lighter or comedic film it's easier to forgive. But I wanted there to be no barrier between the audience and the experience of those emotions," he added.
    Hooper won an Oscar last year when his film "The Kings Speech," a British historical drama, dominated the awards season. Although this movie transports him to France, Hooper said it was a very British production.
    "Internationalism was really in the cast because I wanted the best people in the world to do this. That doesn't mean that British people aren't the best singers, but you know, I needed to look a little further," he said with a smile.
    Anne Hathaway made a fashion statement on the red carpet. The actress proudly showed off her Tom Ford boots and dress before talking about the sacrifices she made for the role.
    "Any physical transformation that you undergo is obviously going to be difficult. But I couldn't take it too seriously because it was my idea to lose my hair and it was my idea to go to the extreme physical place that I did for this. And I did it for my job. And a lot of people don't have a choice about it, a lot of people get sick and they lose weight, they get sick and they have to lose their hair," Hathaway told Reuters.
    In 2011 Hathaway sang "On My Own" with Jackman while hosting the 83rd annual Academy Awards. Hooper has said that moment helped him decide to say yes to directing the film. On the red carpet Hathaway said the singing of the song was simply just part of the show.
    "When I sang at the Oscars I was just doing it because - well, I couldn't believe I was at the Oscars anyway, so I just kind of keep pushing the envelope weirder and weirder and weirder," she said.
    Amanda Seyfried scored the role of Cosette after a rigorous round of screen test: "So many auditions. Six in total, three on tape, three in person, two flights to London."
    Russell Crowe who plays police inspector Javert helped the cast bond by throwing parties at his London home. Samantha Barks, who portrays Eponine said it was a good way to break the ice.
    "It was a very embarrassing thing to actually sing to people. It's a very exposing thing to be like (sings) on set. And so we were allowed to get so relaxed around each other and learn to - you didn't feel awkward," said Barks.
    "He would have everyone over when we were in London. And it was great, because he had a very, very, great estate over there and it was a lot of fun. And it was nice after a long week for everyone to come together and do that and he's just a great guy," added Tveit.
    Actor Eddie Redmayne missed out on the fun do to his shooting schedule, but did reveal that the singing parties haven't stopped.
    "There has been subsequently some wild singing parties. We were down in a pub in New York the other day with Russell and Russell's mate with a guitar and we were all singing, singing songs. I never quite get over the fear factor of it, but it is quite entertaining," he said.
    "Les Miserables" is due to open in the U.S. on Christmas day and in the UK on 11 January 2013.
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