Afterstealingaloafabreadtofeedastarvingfamily,JeanValjeanissentencedtotenyearsathardlaborasagalleyslave.ThereheistaughttoreadandwritebyanotherprisonerandmeetsJavert,anobsessivepolicemanwhowashimselfborntoconvictparentsaboardaprisonship.Afterhisrelease,Valjeanistreatedasapariahbutfinallyfindsshelterinthehomeofakindlybishop.Valjeanrepaysthe…Afterstealingaloafabreadtofeedastarvingfamily,JeanValjeanissentencedtotenyearsathardlaborasagalleyslave.ThereheistaughttoreadandwritebyanotherprisonerandmeetsJavert,anobsessivepolicemanwhowashimselfborntoconvictparentsaboardaprisonship.Afterhisrelease,Valjeanistreatedasapariahbutfinallyfindsshelterinthehomeofakindlybishop.Valjeanrepaystheclergyman'sgenerositybystealinghissilverplate.Heisapprehendedbytheauthoritiesandreturnedtothebishopbutisamazedwhenthekindlyoldpriesttellsthemthatthevaluableplateswereagift.Thisbecomesatransformingexperiencefortheex-convict,whoestablisheshimselfunderanassumednameinasmallcountryvillageasfactorymanagerandultimatelymayor.Unfortunatelythenewly-promotedJavertisassignedthereaschiefinspector.Althoughhedoesn'trecognizehisoldnemesisatfirst,thetwoclashoverJavert'soverzealousprosecutionoftheletterofthelaw.WhenamentallychallengedhomelessmanisarrestedandaccusedofbeingValjean,theconscience-riddenparoleviolatorrevealshistrueidentitytothecourtandthealreadysuspiciousJavert.ValjeanisforcedtoabandonhispropertyandwithhisadopteddaughteragainfleetherelentlesspursuitofJavert.