David Copperfield

source: David Copperfield

This version of David Copperfield is a little disappointing in that the lead characters (David, Agnes, Steerforth, Little Em'ly) are somewhat bland and don't reveal their depth of feeling or passion. But the actors who play the supporting characters are so superb that this version is worth seeking out for those who love Dickens' work. Aunt Betsy, Uriah Heep, Mr. Dick, Mr. Micawber, Dan Peggotty and Ham are fleshed out by actors who have true spark and understand that their characters are supposed to be a little larger than life. W.C. Fields can act- he's not just playing himself here. Although Mr. Micawber is a somewhat Fields-ish fellow, Fields adds a touching sincerity to Micawber's belief that he will come out ahead someday to everyone's benefit. Micawber's denunciation of Uriah Heep is both fun and close to what one can picture from the novel. A lot of plot is left out, since you can't really cram an epic like that into a 2 hour film- the BBC miniseries is better for depth of character and filling in plot holes- but this 1935 version can be considered a classic for those looking for a nice large-screen adaptation with some incredibly good character actors.

I just kept marveling at the constant parade of major stars who appeared in this movie. I will go into this dance now, and maybe not in any particular order: Lionel Barrymore, Maureen O'Sullivan, Basil Rathbone, Arthur Treacher, W.C. Fields, Freddie Bartholomew, Elsa Lanchester, Una O'Connor. Others are Jessie Ralph and Lennox Pawle. Mr. Pawle was even funnier than W.C. Fields. It was amazing how Aunt Betsy always let Mr. Dick make the major decisions, with his "common sense", LOL. For those who say that the actor portraying Davy as an adult is quite bland, I felt that this was the director's way of introducing us to Davy's adult self gradually. Davy was a boy whose parents had died young. He was later abused and then raised by good family and friends, and when he grew up he had the good judgment of someone who has been 'through the fire'. His adult character was rather like a steel that been made stronger by going through the flames. He was able to help expose the villainy of Urian Heap (rhymes with creep). I felt that W.C. Fields made a dramatic role quite comedic; I feel that in this movie the roles were one and the same. I never tire of seeing Edna May Oliver. 12/10.

The artistry of George Cukor as director I suggest is everywhere in evidence in this long, faithful and artistically admirable presentation of Charles Dickens' most-esteemed work. All the author's qualities are faithfully interpreted here, I assert--a realistic British Empire background of class snobbery, long-suffering underclass humor and sublimated desperation, mawkish sentimentality and well-earned dramatic moments. David Copperfield (1935) . The script was adapted from the Dickens novel in 1935 by Hugh Walpole, with aid from Howard Estabrook and Lenore J. Coffee (uncredited). B/W Cinematography was done by Oliver T. Marsh and award level art direction by Cedric Gibbons. In the Art Department, Merrill Pye and Edwin B. Willis are billed as associate art directors, referring to fantastically complex period settings they provided. Douglas Shearer's difficult work as recording director was handled brilliantly, I suggest; Dolly Tree was credited as wardrobe head. Herbert Stothart composed the film's music, with uncredited aid from William Axt and R.H. Bassett. The long and involved story begins with young David, played by Freddie Bartholemew being born six months after his father's death to a weak, sickly woman. She is compelled for financial reasons to remarry, her choice being one Murdstone, Basil Rathbone, who with his abominable sister's help drives Davy's mother to her grave rapidly. At the mercy of his cruel stepfather, Davy is sent to work in a factory. He finally escapes this life by running to his gruff but kindly Aunt Betsy Trotwood played by Edna May Oliver. His mother's maid, Peggotty, played by Jessie Ralph and her family whom he comes to know, well form a portion of his milieu, in their home by the unrelenting sea; the other parts are his adventures in the city of London, and his school days with friends such as Steerforth, Tommy Traddles and other familiar characters from the novel; and the last, his courtship of a young woman after tragedy has struck the Peggotty family. Among the cast, Lionel Barrymore as the Peggotty patriarch, Rathbone, Roland Young as unctuous Uriah Heep. Ralph and Oliver come off best. W. C. Fields has a showy part as ne'er-do-well Mr. Micawber, and Violert Kemble-Cooper brings Jane Murdstone to life. Others in the huge cast include Freddie Bartholemew, who is fine as young Davy, Lewis Stone, Lennox Pawle, Elizabeth Allen, Elsa Lanchester, Herbert Murdin, Una O'Connor, Herbert Murdin, Hugh Williams, Frank Lawton and Madge Evans. This is a very well-made film, absorbing and cruel, tender and interesting. It is Dickens' most- respected work, and dated, in my opinion, only by his use of a child as the victim of British imperial oppression. This is a very fine early David Selznick achievement in both purpose and detail; also, I credit this film with helping to cause Hollywood producers to make many Victorian films thereafter.

I agree with the commentator who offered an opinion that given the length and density of the novel, it should have been filmed in two parts. Alas, the courage to do such a thing would have to wait for 40 years and Francis Ford Coppola in "Godfather I" (1972) and "Godfather II" (1974). Still, what we do have in this film is an extraordinary ensemble of superb actors doing their very best to deal with an abridged screenplay of a much read and highly acclaimed novel. While watching this film recently, I started to remember where I had seen these folks before, and began to free-associate about some of the celebrated members of this all-star cast. The following personal observations are reflections from that viewing experience: Violet Kemble-Cooper (Jane Murdstone)---am I the only person who thinks that she is a dead ringer for the American character actor, Mary Nash, who also tended to terrorize children (the nemesis of Shirley Temple in "Heidi" (1937) and "The Little Princess" (1939)? Basil Rathbone ((Mr. Murdstone)---funny, but I saw Raymond Massey as a more effective villain in this part. Roland Young ((Uriah Heep)---to the best of my recollection, this is the only downright nasty part this comic actor ever played on the screen. Hugh Williams (Steerforth)---he gave us an even more repulsive character as Hindley in "Wuthering Heights" (1939). Jesse Ralph (Nurse Peggotty)---one year later, she played Jack Holt's mother and Jeanette MacDonald's confidant in "San Francisco" (1936). John Buckler (Ham Peggotty)---did you know that he was the son of actor Hugh Buckler, who delivers the moving final speech in Frank Capra's classic, "Lost Horizon" (1937)? Edna May Oliver (Aunt Betsey)---it sure looks like this role was a reprise of her Aunt March portrayal in "Little Women" (1933) also directed by George Cukor. Elizabeth Allan (Mrs. Copperfield)---she was seen to better advantage with less histrionics in "A Tale of Two Cities" as Lucy Manette (1935). Jean Cadell (Mrs. Micawber)---best remembered as Henry Higgins' housekeeper, Mrs. Pearce, in "Pygmalion" (1938). Una O'Connor (Mrs. Gummidge) and Elsa Lanchester (Clickett)---these two great actors had very little to do in "David Copperfield"---but a great deal more to do in "The Informer" ((1935) and "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935) respectively! Ms. O'Connor's hysterical Minnie also appears on display in "Bride." What a treat to watch this group of stellar players! Their likes will never be seen again!

Watching the classic MGM version of David Copperfield, I couldn't help but feel that too much was cut out of this film. It would have been better done in two parts with one part strictly dealing with David's childhood up to the point where he comes into the custody of his great aunt Betsy Trotwood. Another film would then pick up the slack and follow him through adulthood. MGM did it that way several years later in their life of Thomas Edison, it should definitely have been done for David Copperfield. Too much of the story is left out and it's assumed since David Copperfield was and is required reading in most high school literature courses that the audience would be familiar with the story. Certainly the fine group of players that George Cukor gathered all do their best and are well cast in their parts. For the one and only time in his career W.C. Fields played someone other than W.C. Fields on screen. Borrowed from Paramount, Fields is cast as the ever expectant Mr. Micawber who proves to be David's salvation both as a child and as an adult. He also indulges in a little bit of Fields like physical comedy, please note that walk on the roof to enter his dwelling. Still in the key moments you do realize he's Micawber and not Fields in the film. Freddie Bartholomew followed up his first noticed screen role in Anna Karenina with a winning portrayal as young David the child. I'm sure that Frank Lawton might not have gotten the part had he had to carry a whole film as an adult. Still he's not bad as the adult David for his half of the film. Dickens's villains are as black as they come in literature and Basil Rathbone and Violet Kemble Cooper as the Murdstone brother and sister are as coldblooded a pair as you'll ever find. And Roland Young as Uriah Heep is one oily insinuating dude. Rathbone as Murdstone is young David's father who was cruel to his mother Elizabeth Allan who was a kindly, but weak soul. When David grows up he remembers what happened and when another kindly, but weak and also airheaded soul in the person of his first wife Dora comes into his life, his protective instincts are aroused and he marries her. Maureen O'Sullivan who would usually be playing upper crust types plays the simple lisping airhead, Dora. It's an unusual turn for her and a good one. Funniest moment in the film when she invites Edna May Oliver as Aunt Betsy and Lennox Pawle as Mr. Dick over and the meal is a disaster. I liked the film, liked everybody in it. But MGM and George Cukor would have been better off doing it in two parts. Still it's a classic, though don't use it as a substitute for reading the book or Cliff's Notes if you have to do a book report.

Although I've seen the movie on TV a few times over the decades, today I received the DVD digital version of "David Copperfield", wonderfully restored, and I must admit that the subtitles were a tremendous help in catching every bit of the story. To me Freddie Bartholomew as young David is the most moving character because as a sensitive, loving child he must endure so much injustice and heartache, what with the loss of his mother, the brutal treatment from his stepfather, and then being sent away to a workhouse, only to flee to the safety of his aunt in Dover, walking all the way by foot, in hopes of a better life to grow up in. The stark realistic atmosphere that envelops many of the episodic scenes draws one into the tale with captivating ease. I consider it even more convincing than the scenes from "Great Expectations", the version with John Mills in it. W.C. Fields gives a remarkably sincere and fine portrayal of Mr. Macawber with all his many subtleties of speech. I couldn't picture it being performed as well by anyone else, and I think Ch. Laughton would not have been the right choice or as convincing. I put this early film at the top of my list of great ones!

I've long been a fan of Dickens, and I usually prefer the old films to the new adaptations, but I'm afraid this one just doesn't work. Clara Copperfield is played with extreme melodrama -- much better suited for the stage. Perhaps as a result of sharing the screen with her, young Freddie Bartholomew is extremely painful to watch in most of the early scenes. Little Em'ly is played as a cute, talent-free toddler. Least over-blown of the child actors was the girl who played Agnes -- but she only had one scene! Most of the relationships between characters in this film are glossed over to such an extent that you simply must read the book in order to keep up. Steerforth comes in from nowhere, since the entire school situation is omitted. Barkis comes and goes in much the same way, and we don't really know why Mr. Micawber matters at all, except that he's W.C. Field. The most redeeming scenes are those with Betsey Trotwood, who is thoroughly eccentric and enjoyable to watch. Her characterization allows Mr. Dick and young Freddie to sparkle in a way most of the film lacks. I don't know the other film versions, or whether or not to recommend them, so I can merely suggest your time is better spent reading the book.

This version of David COPPERFIELD is quite a good one, in that it does trim the 800 plus page novel down to reasonable coherence. There are some characters that one misses, but they are understandably cut due to length considerations. While Steerforth and his betrayal of the Peggoty Family is in the film (including the dual tragedy at it's conclusion), the sub-story of Little Em'ly's friend Martha and the business regarding Steerforth's mother, Rosa Dartle, and Mrs. Mowcher were dumped (Mrs. Mowcher would have been hard to cast). Pity, Mrs. Mowcher's famous speech to David about not confusing her physical attributes with her mental ones is missing. Also Steerforth's butler Littimer appears once, but the film does not get into the ironic coda of his imprisonment. While Uriah Heep's villainy against Mr. Wickfield and his clients is shown, his willingness to dig up dirt against other "enemies" is not shown. In particular his treatment of Dr. Strong (David's second schoolmaster), his young wife, and Jack Dalton is not developed (which is sad as it proves Mr. Dick is not simple minded). But those are minor points really. The best jobs in the film are the work of the performers under George Cukor's direction: Edna Mae Oliver as the crusty, wise Aunt Betsy; Roland Young as the evil, greasy Uriah Heep (his best villain part); and W.C.Fields as Wilkins McCawber (Dicken's tribute to his lovable but improvident father) is superb - the one time his comic personae met the proper dramatic role; and Lionel Barrymore as Dan Pegotty determined to find his lost, ruined niece. Freddy Bartholemew's performance as young David is wonderful. But I must admit that Frank Lawson is a trifle colorless as the grown up David (although he has a funny moment at a dinner that Dora (Maureen O'Sullivan) tries to prepare). It is a weakness but a small weakness in a nearly perfect film.

Of all of the films directed by George Cukor, I think this is his finest achievement, helped in no small measure by the perfect casting of all the Dickens characters. Freddie Bartholomew is flawless as the young David. Edna May Oliver as his stern but loving Aunt Betsy Trotwood gives her usual sharp characterization and nearly steals the first half of the movie. As for Mr. Murdstone, Basil Rathbone is the perfect embodiment of that brutally wicked man. Born to play Mr. Micawber is W. C. Fields, so uncannily right that it almost seems as if Dickens had him in mind when he wrote the character! Very atmospheric, so much so that it seems almost incredible that an American movie company could have crafted this gem. One would think the British would have beat us to it--but Dickens would have approved of this version, I'm sure. The only drawback is the length and the scenes involving David's wife, Dora, as played by Maureen O'Sullivan with a saccharine sweetness that becomes cloying at times. (Thank God she didn't play Melanie in 'GWTW'). Some of the acting is a bit florid but to be expected when you consider this was made in 1935. Roland Young is well cast as Uriah Heep. Highly recommended. Anyone who cherishes the Dickens novel will not be disappointed. The only flaw is that the story has been compressed in order to limit the running time to two hours and ten minutes and it shows. All the essential characters remain but some of them have little dimension because of time constraints.