(Warning: spoilers) It's probably always a bit unfair to compare silent movies with later versions of the same story that have sound. Without the existence of other versions of the 'Monte Cristo' story - e.g. those with Depardieu and Chamberlain - I would probably have given this version more points.
I liked some of the acting very much, especially the actors who played Benedetto and Caderousse. Benedetto (Robert Mérin) is vicious in the beginning, slimy when he pretends to be a prince, and moved to tears when he sees his mother for the first time (my favourite scene). The scene when Caderousse (Henri Debain) disguises as a black servant is really funny (it's a bit of comic relief added by the script writers; it's not from the novel). I also liked the scene when Mercedes meets the Count, recognizes Edmond and almost swoons. But I think some of the other actors didn't perform well, especially Bernhard Goetzke (Abbé Faria). Jean Angelo (Edmond / the Count) performed o.k., but in my opinion he was too old for the role.
(Warning: spoilers) The main reason I didn't give more points is that I didn't like some of the plot changes. Dumas's novel is very long, so changes are probably inevitable, but I think it could have been done better. The ending wasn't changed much, but it's still a bit too happy when you compare it with the ending of the novel. In my opinion, script writers should leave intact as much as possible of the originals when they adapt them as movie scripts. Changes are acceptable when they are well done and when they are necessary to keep the running time of a feature film below that of a mini-series, but the ending is so important that it should not be changed at all if possible. As to the other changes: Caderousse is the step-father of Benedetto (in the novel, Bertuccio is the step-father) and he is a witness in the trial of Benedetto. Some of the (too) lengthy sub-plots are left out, e.g. the episode in Rome (with the Count, Albert and Franz) and Madame de Villefort's poisonings. I think instead of leaving out Danglars (one of Edmond's main enemies), they should have left out Maximilien. (The novel was later made into a play by Dumas himself. I have to admit that I don't know this second version. Perhaps some of the plot changes in this movie (in comparison with the novel) are based on the play.)
All in all, I liked the movie, but there are better movie adaptations of the story, so I don't think I will watch this one again.
I liked some of the acting very much, especially the actors who played Benedetto and Caderousse. Benedetto (Robert Mérin) is vicious in the beginning, slimy when he pretends to be a prince, and moved to tears when he sees his mother for the first time (my favourite scene). The scene when Caderousse (Henri Debain) disguises as a black servant is really funny (it's a bit of comic relief added by the script writers; it's not from the novel). I also liked the scene when Mercedes meets the Count, recognizes Edmond and almost swoons. But I think some of the other actors didn't perform well, especially Bernhard Goetzke (Abbé Faria). Jean Angelo (Edmond / the Count) performed o.k., but in my opinion he was too old for the role.
(Warning: spoilers) The main reason I didn't give more points is that I didn't like some of the plot changes. Dumas's novel is very long, so changes are probably inevitable, but I think it could have been done better. The ending wasn't changed much, but it's still a bit too happy when you compare it with the ending of the novel. In my opinion, script writers should leave intact as much as possible of the originals when they adapt them as movie scripts. Changes are acceptable when they are well done and when they are necessary to keep the running time of a feature film below that of a mini-series, but the ending is so important that it should not be changed at all if possible. As to the other changes: Caderousse is the step-father of Benedetto (in the novel, Bertuccio is the step-father) and he is a witness in the trial of Benedetto. Some of the (too) lengthy sub-plots are left out, e.g. the episode in Rome (with the Count, Albert and Franz) and Madame de Villefort's poisonings. I think instead of leaving out Danglars (one of Edmond's main enemies), they should have left out Maximilien. (The novel was later made into a play by Dumas himself. I have to admit that I don't know this second version. Perhaps some of the plot changes in this movie (in comparison with the novel) are based on the play.)
All in all, I liked the movie, but there are better movie adaptations of the story, so I don't think I will watch this one again.