“The Count of Monte Cristo.” The title alone conjures up an early-day cape-wearing, sword-fighting superhero, right?

Of course, “The Count of Monte Cristo,” or in French “Le Comte de Monte-Cristo,” is a romantic novel by French author Alexandre Dumas père (possibly

in collaboration with Auguste Maquet), published serially in 1844-46 and in book form in 1844-45. The work is set during the time of the Bourbon Restoration en France and tells the story of an unjustly incarcerated man who escapes to find revenge.

Chances are likely that you have read the novel in school, whipped through the Cliff Notes or watched the movie at some point. But what movie version and what year?

The first time eso appeared in film was a silent movie made in 1908 starring actor Hobart Bosworth with some scenes shot in La Jolla, according to various websites.

At the time, an article in Moving Picture World, (15 Feb. 1908) read: “The ingenious plot involves concealment and revelation, use of poisonous herbs, and all manner of other things. Beyond the exciting narrative, Dumas focused on the corrupt financial, political, and judicial world of France at the time of the Bourbon Restoration as well as on the marginal figures, such as convicts, who inhabited it. Unfolding gradually, The Count of Monte Cristo offers an unusual reflection on happiness and justice, omnipotence, and the sometimes fatal haunting return of the past.”

There was also a full-page ad in the publication prior to its release date of Jan. 30, 1908.

FIRST FILM IN HOLLYWOOD

The 1908 version is also considered the primero film completed in Hollywood although production began in Chicago.

It is also referred to as the oldest known film of “The Count of Monte Cristo” and depicts the oldest known film of the San Diego Coast, according to IMDb.

It all began with the Chicago-based Selig Polyscope Co., one of the first studios to send a company of filmmakers to the West Coast.

In late 1907 or 1908, director Francis “Frank” Boggs and cameraman Thomas Persons, left behind the cold Chicago winter to finish the exterior scenes for Monte Cristo. 

They traveled by train to Los Angeles and constructed a temporary Selig set on the roof of a building on Main Street between 7th and 8th streets where much of the film was shot. Again, this stage is generally considered the first movie studio on the West Coast.

El ocean scenes for Monte Cristo were filmed in Venice Beach, Laguna Beach, and La Jolla.
“…The movie makers apparently “found a” hungry hypnotist” who had never heard of the movies and cast him as the West Coast Count. After some shooting behind a laundry in downtown Los Angeles, the troupe traveled down to La Jolla,” according to historian Terry Ramsaye’s... “rather whimsical view, Persons fitted the hypnotist with a white wig, and then a great La Jolla wave tossed him in the ocean. Boggs and Pearson jumped in the water to save the wig and later the hypnotist. From all appearances, the La Jolla segment of the first feature film made in California was filmed near the La Jolla Cave’s “White Lady” rock sculpture …”

El short silent film in black and white was released on Feb. 15, 1908, in the United States and had a runtime of 14 minutes as a one-reeler.

MORE COMMENTARY

Others have had their say about the original film such as this summary: “An interesting fact about this unobtainable film is that it is the first filmed on the North American West Coast, where some producers — who called themselves “independents” and would end up being the founders of the great production companies of the following decades (Warner, Fox, MGM, etc.) — began to flee so as not to have to deal with the monopoly operations of Thomas Alva Edison … In the words of Roman Gubern:

As the artillery of the trust continued to produce victims among these pioneers, under the pretext of “offending morals” or patent litigation, some of them began to move away from the big cities of the East to seek refuge in the less populated regions of the West.

The producer who inaugurated this route was the so-called “Colonel” Selig, a former upholsterer from Chicago and specialist in westerns, who in search of a suitable climate moved to Los Angeles to shoot the exteriors of “The Count of Monte Cristo” (The Count of Monte Cristo, 1907), by Francis Boggs, while discreetly moving away from Edison’s headquarters (although he later became associated with the trust). 

“The place chosen by Selig had optimal conditions for shooting outdoors: a variety of landscapes and a bright sky almost all year round. In addition, the proximity of the Mexican border offered unbeatable protection against the incursion of the New York detectives.

“Selig’s example was soon imitated by other producers, who took refuge in the suburbs of Los Angeles, especially one called Hollywood, an old stronghold of the Cahuenga and Cherokee Indians (…). ”

Boggs is said to have later returned to LA where he would construct a larger temporary studio behind a Chinese laundry at the corner of Olive and 8th Streets. By fall 909, Boggs secured a bungalow in Edendale, the first permanent motion picture studio on the West Coast.

BIG NAME

Since then, “The Count of Monte Cristo” has been adapted for the screen at least 50 times and in numerous languages around the world.

Several big-name actors have played the leading roles, including:

Richard Chamberlain, in a 1975 made-for-TV movie. Gerard Depardieu, in a 1998 miniseries. Jim Caviezel, in the 2002 feature film, co-starring Guy Pearce as Fernand Mondego.

In addition, there have been countless variations including a Venezuelan telenovela called “La dueña,” featuring a female character in the lead, and the film “Forever Mine,” loosely based on Dumas’ novel.

A SANDWICH, TOO

Besides the novel being adapted to the Silver Screen many times over there’s also a sandwich called the Monte Cristo — think an egg-dipped or batter-dipped ham and cheese sandwich that is pan o deep-fried.

It has a lengthy history from its creation to its possible connection to Disneyland believe it or not. Perhaps, you can read more about the sandwich while watching one of the many versions of this beloved film and take in La Jolla from its early days.