Watching Charles Dickens
I do not claim knowing and having seen all movies based on Charles Dickens’ books, neither do I set the goal of listing each and every version ever released. The purpose of this guide is to share with you what I’ve found, and what I personally like. I will provide Amazon’s ASIN number for each movie I mention so that you can easily find them on that website. Unless stated otherwise, the ASIN numbers are for the DVD version.
“A Christmas Carol”
A Christmas Carol is probably the most famous work of Charles Dickens, and in my opinion the best. The most acclaimed movie version of it is, of course, the 1951 black & white British production starring Alastair Sim (ASIN B00000JT8Z). However, my personal favorite is the 1984 made-for-TV film with George C. Scott (ASIN B00000K3CJ). George Scott’s outstanding performance creates the best Scrooge ever. He lives through the transformation from a hardened cynic to a happy redeemed soul, brilliantly marking the steps of the journey. The supporting cast is also excellent, with Roger Rees as Scrooge’s nephew Fred, David Warner as Bob Cratchit, and Susannah York as Mrs. Cratchit.
The 1999 version with Patrick Stewart (ASIN 0780623746) has left me a bit disappointed, although it does follow the story pretty well. I have not seen the 1935 movie starring Sir Seymour Hicks (ASIN B0002W4UCK and B0002W4UCK), the first sound version of A Christmas Carol that some reviewers state is one of the best adaptations. I didn’t really like the 1938 version with Reginald Owen (ASIN B00000JKNK, VHS), I thought it lacked intensity.
There are several musical versions of this classic, the 1970 Scrooge with Albert Finney (ASIN B0000AQS5D) where you will get to see Scrooge in hell, something Dickens never wrote, and the latest one with Kelsey Grammer, filmed in 2004 in Hungary (no DVD yet available). I am not a big fan of musicals, but I loved The Muppet Christmas Carol, 1992, starring Michael Caine (ASIN B000065V41). In fact, I would place his performance, unexpectedly serious for a funny muppet version, above many others and next to George Scott’s.
“Oliver Twist”
Oliver Twist is another famous work of Charles Dickens filmed so many times that it is easy to lose count. The 1948 British version (released in 1951 in the US) directed by David Lean (ASIN B00000F17A) is called by many the unsurpassed classic. 1500 boys had been auditioned before the 8 year old John Howard Davis was selected to play the perfect Oliver. Alec Guinness creates a remarkable Fagin, and Robert Newton gives excellent performance as Bill Sikes. This movie is rather dark and gloomy, but so was the life in the Victorian England slums. The two miniseries versions are the 6 hour long 1999 piece starring Sam Smith (ASIN B0001WTUJE) and the lesser known 1985 version with Ben Rodska (ASIN B0009PVZLY). Fans of Elijah Wood will enjoy the 1997 Walt Disney version (ASIN B0001I55TC) where he steals the show as Artful Dodger and, according to some reviewers, saves the otherwise weak movie. The 1982 made-for-TV version (ASIN 6303094929, VHS) is worth watching just because of the great George C. Scott, who plays Fagin in it.
“David Copperfield”
My favorite movie version of this classic is the 1999 BBC version with Daniel Radcliffe (ASIN B00006HAZG), who I first thought was a miscast due to his straight dark hair, but he does a great job and makes a wonderful young David. Maggie Smith shines as Aunt Betsy Trotwood, and Agnes, one of my favorite female characters in all classic literature, is portrayed wonderfully by Amanda Ryan.
I would call the 1935 movie starring Freddie Bartholomew and Frank Lawton (ASIN 6301967801, VHS) the second best, it is true to the book, well-written and well-acted. The 1969 version with Robin Phillips (ASIN B0006JJNXK or B00005B6JT) and Lawrence Olivier as Mr. Creakle suffers, in my opinion, from the fact that it begins with the grown-up David, showing his childhood story in a series of flashbacks.
“Nicholas Nickleby”
There are three movie versions of this story that I know of. My favorite is technically not a “movie,” it is the 1982 theatrical presentation by Royal Shakespeare Company, starring Roger Rees (ASIN B000068QOG). This 8 hour long production with 39 excellent actors playing 150 parts is amazing. It might take you some time to “tune in” due to the specifics of a theatrical presentation, and the fact that it is done on stage puts obvious limits on settings, but the acting is brilliant.
Alun Armstrong is outstanding as Squeers, he has managed to make this rather unpleasant character so fascinating that I found myself rewinding the tape to watch his performance once more. David Threlfall creates an unforgettable Smike, John Woodvine is perfect as Uncle Ralph, and of course Roger Rees is a wonderful Nicholas. I could go on and on, all the actors involved in this production have done a great job.
The 2001 mini-series with James D’Arcy (ASIN B00005RIWX) is a good adaptation, well-directed and well-acted, although I don’t think Mr. Dickens would have appreciated how sexual context was emphasized in certain episodes. The 2002 version starring Charlie Hunnam (ASIN B00009MEJ4) is better in that aspect, it handles the story with enough decency to allow your children to watch.
“Great Expectations”
The 1946 black & white version directed by David Lean (ASIN B00000F17E) is generally considered the best adaptation. John Mills is very convincing as the adult Pip despite being a bit too old for the part, Martita Hunt’s is unforgettable as mad Miss Havisham, stuck in the day of her wedding that never took place, and Jean Simmons gives outstanding performance as young Estella. Magwitch the convict is played to perfection by Finlay Currie. Unfortunately, the creators of this movie couldn’t resist the temptation of bringing the story to a happy end and uniting Pip and Estella.
The 1974 version starring Michael York as the grown-up Pip (ASIN B0000065UI) changes the ending in the same way, plus makes the mistake of casting the same actress to play the young and the grown-up Estella. In my opinion, that did not work very well. Orlick is totally gone from this film. The 1999 made-for-TV BBC version with Ioan Gruffudd (ASIN B0002XVRGG) is a fairly good adaptation, although it takes some liberties with the story.
The 1989 Disney version (ASIN 6301788486) with Anthony Hopkins as Magwitch is very true to the book. Jean Simmons, the young Estella from the 1946 version, plays Miss Havisham in this one and, once again, does a great job. The 1981 mini-series directed by Julian Amyes (ASIN B0009PVZK0) is another good production.
I do not like modernizations of classic stories, especially those of Charles Dickens, so I would leave out the 1998 movie version that takes the story to modern day New York and transforms Pip the blacksmith into Finn the painter. This is not Dickens, and the movie makers should not have used his title.
“Little Dorrit”
I was a bit confused when I had found these two titles on Amazon: Little Dorrit – Part One: Nobody’s Fault (ASIN 6301383877, VHS) and Little Dorrit Story (ASIN 6301383869, VHS), both filmed in 1988. Is “Little Dorrit Story” a prequel? Or are these two different editions of the same movie? And what about Part 2, was it ever released? The answer is, “Little Dorrit Story” is the Part 2. I don’t know why the creators of this movie had done it this way, and why these two titles are not being sold together as a set. As to the movie itself, it is a very good adaptation.
“Bleak House”
Up until recently, this detailed, 6 hour long production was only available used, as a boxed set of 3 video tapes. Not anymore! I am happy to share that a DVD edition of it is finally coming out in September 2005. You can purchase it separately (ASIN B0009PVZIW) or as a part of a beautiful set with 5 more Dickens-based movies (ASIN B0009PVZMS).
“Old Curiosity Shop”
I was able to find two movie versions of this novel, the 1934 production directed by Thomas Bentley (ASIN 6303002811, VHS) that, unfortunately, shows its age, and the 1995 Disney made-for-TV film starring Peter Ustinov as Grandfather and Sally Walsh as Little Nell (ASIN 6303487645, VHS). Peter Ustinov may not be skinny enough for the part, but his great performance will soon make you forget about it. The drawback of this version is that it leaves out the character of “Marchioness,” a small servant girl abused by her masters, without whom another major character loses half of his charm.
“Martin Chuzzlewit”
The 1994 BBC movie based on this novel (ASIN B0009PVZL4) is called by some one of the best Dickens film adaptations. Both Martins, the old one and the young one, are well portrayed by Paul Scofield and Ben Walden accordingly. The whole cast is good, and so are the costumes, hairstyles, and settings. The creators of this mini-series have definitely captured the spirit of the book.
“Our Mutual Friend”
The 1999 BBC production (ASIN B0009PVZM8) is a delight. Some parts of the story had to be left out, but I guess it is inevitable with Dickens, his 800+ pages novels are not easy to turn into screenplays. Even if you make a 6-hour-long adaptation like this one, some things will have to go. In this case, the script writer had done a good job, as so did all the cast. All characters are believable and truly Dickensian. Multiple plotlines are carefully dealt with and neatly tied together. The trademark Dickens wit and humor are there as well.
“The Mystery of Edwin Drood”
The Mystery of Edwin Drood is Charles Dickens’ last novel that remains unfinished. Dickens suddenly died after completing about two thirds of the book, leaving a literary puzzle that fascinates his fans to this day. The story behind Edwin Drood’s disappearance suggests a possibility of murder, suicide, or some kind of an accident. We don’t know which one Dickens had in mind. Interestingly, both the 1935 movie version directed by Stuart Walker (ASIN 6304119011, VHS) and the 1993 British remake (ASIN 6303477208, VHS) offer the same solution, sticking with the murder idea and picking the same character as the murderer.
***
