Casting Decision #1: Benedict Cumberbatch as Edmond
I chose Benedict Cumberbatch to play Edmond Dantés because Cumberbatch tends to act in roles of highly intelligent and sometimes even genius characters, such as Sherlock Holmes in the show Sherlock, the title role in the movie Doctor Strange, and Alan Turing in the movie The Imitation Game. This fits well with Edmond, as he shows his intelligence throughout the novel through his many different pathways to revenge. Dantés’ main drive in the novel is to get revenge on those who have wronged him, particularly the individuals responsible for his wrongful imprisonment as shown in the quote “He told himself that it was the hatred of men, not the vengeance of God, which had plunged him into the abyss where he now found himself. He doomed these unknown men to all the tortures his fiery imagination could contrive, but even the cruelest ones seemed too mild…” (page 42). Similarly, Cumberbatch plays the genius detective Sherlock Holmes in the television show Sherlock. In the show, Holmes uses his highly advanced intellect to solve crimes that have stumped even the best detectives, which can be seen as a method of getting revenge on criminals by catching them. During his process, Holmes usually astonishes others when he uses the most minute detail to uncover a sizable clue. In a similar manner, Dantés, known predominantly as his alias “The Count of Monte Cristo," amazes other characters in the novel because of his vast knowledge of subjects such as chemistry, and he stuns the reader with his elaborate plans and schemes to take down those who did him wrong.
Casting Decision #2: Robert Carlyle as Villefort
I chose Robert Carlyle to play Villefort because of his role in the television show Once Upon a Time. In the show, he portrays Mr. Gold, who is actually the fairy tale character Rumplestiltskin, but he has been turned into a human due to a curse cast by the Evil Queen. Rumplestiltskin is one of two people in this cursed land that is aware of what has happened, yet he does not mention anything to anyone. He does this solely for the reason that being in the cursed land benefits him, as he is the pawn shop owner, and therefore the richest man in the town, as compared to being a powerless prisoner in his homeland. This trait of acting for one’s own benefit is reflected in the personality of Villefort. Villefort could have saved Edmond when he first received the information, but he chooses to let Dantés be sentenced to prison due to the fact that he is scared that if anyone were to see the letter that Dantés was to deliver to Monsieur Noirtier, they may find out that Monsieur Noirtier is, in fact, Villefort’s father. If anyone were to realize this, Villefort would be reported to the authorities as a supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte and his career as a successful public prosecutor would be ruined, as stated in the quote “…if he ever learns that Noirtier is Villefort’s father, I’m ruined, ruined forever!” (page 29).
Casting Decision #3: Daniel Day-Lewis as Baron Danglars
I chose Daniel Day-Lewis to play Baron Danglars because of his role in the movie There Will Be Blood, where he portrays Daniel Plainview, a prospector from New Mexico. In the movie, Plainview drills oil from an area of land that he does not have permission to drill in through surrounding wells. Later, when the owner of that land dies, Plainview receives the land which is now worthless due to the fact that all of its oil is already gone because of him. A similar situation occurs when Baron Danglars uses a receipt of five million francs from the Count of Monte Cristo, which he considers to be as good as cash itself, to leave his life in Paris and go to Rome to start anew. Along his journey, Danglars is kidnapped by Italian bandits and they are unwilling to even give him any food unless he pays one hundred thousand francs. This is in order to make Danglars repent for everything wrong he has done in his life, as stated in the quote “Do you repent, at least?…Of the evil you have done” (page 521). Therefore, both Plainview and Danglars are forced to realize that their actions were wrong and immoral.
String Quartet Op. 59 #3 “Rasumovsky” by Beethoven for the scene “While in prison Edmond loses hope and begins to think of committing suicide” in Chapter 9:
In this scene, Edmond finally begins to lose all hope that he would somehow be saved from his horrible conditions in Château d’If. When he thinks about the fact that he will most likely end up dying in the prison, he begins to contemplate that if he just committed suicide, he would be rid of all of his pains and sorrows, as shown in the quote, “The thought that death brings release from suffering led him to the idea of suicide” (42). The piece “Rasumovsky” goes well with this situation as it starts with a melancholy but slightly more excited tempo, which represents when Edmond turns violent and begins to curse constantly. Then, the piece becomes more somber with a few moments of fast tempo music. The somber portion represents how Edmond has turned to the possibility of taking his life, which is tragic, but he sees it as his only remaining option. The brief moments of faster-paced music illustrate the positive aspects of suicide, in Dantés’ opinion. He sees suicide as an escape from his continuous suffering, as opposed to continuously suffering in the dungeon.
Piano Sonata Number 14 Op. 27 #2 “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven for the scene “Mercédès begs the Count not to kill her son Albert” in Chapter 51:
In this scene, Mercédès confronts Edmond about his plans to kill her son, Albert de Morcerf. She shows her motherly love in the sense that she suggests that the Count take revenge on her as opposed to Albert because she is willing to give her own life so that her son does not die. The Count continues to give reasons to justify his intent to kill Albert, but Mercédès then says, “…I’ve seen the man I loved ready to become the murderer of my son” (page 378). In response to
this, the Count agrees to not harm Albert. The piece “Moonlight Sonata” would be a fitting soundtrack for this scene because of its solemn tones, representing Mercédès’ despair because she knows that someone is out to murder her child. The piece also has parts in which it seems as though someone is completely hopeless, which is appropriate for this scene. Towards the end of the piece, there is a brief moment of louder music, which symbolizes Mercédès’ extreme joyfulness when the Count agrees that Albert will not be killed.
“La Gazza Ladra” by Gioachino Rossini for the scene “Haydée tells the Count that she loves him” in Chapter 73:
In this scene, when the Count is about to take his life, he requests Valentine to protect and take care of Haydée, as she would be alone in the world without the Count. Haydée hears this statement and is heartbroken because she does not want to live in a world without the Count in it. Upon hearing this the Count is taken aback by the fact that Haydée truly loves him, but she confirms it by saying, “I love you as I love my life, as I love my God…” (page 529). The Count is overcome with joy when he hears this statement. These sentiments are mirrored in the piece “La Gazza Ladra” which has an upbeat tempo throughout and a sudden outburst of loud and fast-paced music. This outburst represents when the Count realizes that God has sent Haydée in order for him to be happy, which relieves him because he knows that God has forgiven him for all of his mistakes. The piece also has a generally triumphant tone, which symbolizes that the Count is satisfied with the revenge he took on his accusers, and it also shows his delight at once again finding someone who cherishes him and loves him dearly.