David Copperfield (1999) (TV)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Simon Curtis

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
Adrian Hodges (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Charles Dickens' haunting semi-autobiographical tale of a boy who is sent away by his stepfather after his mother dies but manages to triumph over incredible adversities.

Plot Keywords:

Semi Autobiographical | Stepfather | Dickens | Playing Footsie | Clerk

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Emilia Fox	...	Clara Copperfield
Pauline Quirke	...	Peggotty
Maggie Smith	...	Betsey Trotwood
John Normington	...	Dr. Chillip
Daniel Radcliffe	...	Young David Copperfield
Trevor Eve	...	Murdstone
Michael Elphick	...	Barkis
James Thornton	...	Ham Peggotty
Alun Armstrong	...	Daniel Peggotty
Patsy Byrne	...	Mrs. Gummidge
Laura Harling	...	Little Emily
Zoë Wanamaker	...	Miss Murdstone
Jacqueline Tong	...	Lady in Coach
Karl Johnson	...	Tungay
Ian McKellen	...	Creakle

Runtime:

185 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | UK:PG | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Blackfriars, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Harry Lloyd (Young Steerforth) is the great-great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, who wrote the novel on which this production is based.

Quotes:

Barkis: [repeated] Barkis is willin'!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#31.14)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Newcastle

Wonderful, unforgettable adaptation of Dickens.

I have yet to read the book, so I don't know how faithful this film was to the original novel, but I really don't care. When you have such a fine cast and such a great production overall, who cares about being faithful? Bob Hoskins as the eccentric, debt-ridden Mr. Micawber, the inimitable Maggie Smith as Aunt Betsey Trotwood, and Ian McKellen as the sinister headmaster Creekle head the wonderful cast, which includes other great performances from Trevor Eve as evil stepfather Mr. Murdstone, Claire Holman as tortured Rosa Dartle, Pauline Quirke as the beloved nurse Peggoty, and Nicholas Lyndhurst, truly terrifying as the "'umble" clerk Uriah Heep. Not to be left out, Daniel Radcliffe and Ciaran McMenamin are fine as young and old David Copperfield himself, respectively, though as Russell Baker noted in his "Masterpiece Theater" introduction, David is the least interesting character; the others are whom we remember. The production also looks great, from the seaside to the drawing rooms to the offices. Fine direction, script, everything. The BBC and Masterpiece Theater have done it again!