Javert Appearances
Les Miserables is a monster of a book. Personally, I know the story from the musical, but this is a major work of fiction that has permeated popular culture for well over two centuries. This was among the stories they were using to make films for the very beginning of the idea of film. We're not going to be able to get even close to all of them. but we can at least get the ones that are the most relevant to GND.
While there have been film versions of Les Misérables dating back to 1909, the first film actor that really stands out is Anthony Perkins from 1978. Its a very cool, intimidating performance that just happens to be by Norman Bates himself.
Perhaps one of the best known depictions of Javert comes from the 1998 Liam Neeson film, where he was played quite ominously by Geoffery Rush.
The four-part french television miniseries from 2000 was actually referenced by Pika in GND 011 when she temporarily gave Javert a different appearance to mimic John Malkovitch.
Russell Crowe played the part in the 2012 Tom Hooper film, extreme close ups and all. From a purely a performance standpoint, he was an inspired choice and he really delivered.
Of course, our Javert is clearly based on the character from the musical. While a LOT of people have played the part over the decades, it's difficult to find any part so thoroughly owned by a single actor than the way Phillip Quast has owned Javert. He started in the 1987 Australian production, and then went on to play the character on the west end. It's hard to argue with the idea that Philip Quast IS Javert.