The film emphasizes the theme of revenge and manipulation of characters by Dantès until the final swordfight with Mondego. The courtroom scene in which Dantès brings down crown prosecutor De Villefort is a highlight of the film, as is the scene between Dantès and Mercedes when he reveals Mondego's treachery to her. However, important characters are omitted and several scenes differ from the novel. Villefort's wife for instance, never appears, and there is no mention of her ever having poisoned anyone. In the novel, it is Mondego rather than Danglars who commits suicide, and Dantès and Mondego do not engage in a swordfight. As in the novel, Dantès loses Mercedes because of his vengeful bitterness. Haydee has only a minor role in the film, and there is no indication that she and Monte Cristo become lovers as in the book.
The following participants in major sub-plots of the Dumas novel are not portrayed in the film:
Luigi Vampa
Maximilian Morrel
Hermine Danglars
Eugenie Danglars
Lucien Debray
Beauchamp
Heloise Villefort
Edouard Villefort
Marquis Saint-Méran
Marquise of Saint-Méran
Production
The film was produced by Norman Rosemont, who originally tried to do it as a mini series but could not sell it. Instead he signed a deal with NBC to make it as a TV movie, although the film would be released theatrically in Europe. The budget was one and a half million dollars. Bell Telephone Company sponsored and Richard Chamberlain agreed to star. It was part of the Bell System Family Theatre. Rosemont remembered "grave doubts were expressed by the networks about whether there was a mass audience for period* pieces. They were in costume, there was the worry about accents and inevitably they would cost more than a period* drama." Filming took place in Rome starting in August 1974. There was location filming outside Marseilles. The cast included Taryn Power, the daughter of Tyrone Power and Linda Christian. "We tried to stick as closely as possible to the novel," said Rosemont. "And with Chamberlain in the lead I've got to say the show worked out better than anyone could want." Chamberlain called it "a great story" and said he chose not to see the previous movie versions because "I didn't want to copy even unconsciously."
Reception
The show received good ratings. Market research showed the program had good "commercial recall" and reflected well on sponsor Bell, so they wanted more. Rosemont went on to make adaptations of The Man in the Iron Mask, Captains Courageous and The Four Feathers.
Performance awards
The film was nominated for two Emmys: Richard Chamberlain for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Special Program – Drama or Comedy, and Trevor Howard for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Special. Later it was remade in Telugu Movie as Veta
