The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger (1935)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
Hugh Walpole (adaptation)

Release Date:

13 October 1935 (Finland)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Metro·Goldwyn·Mayer's Greatest Motion Picture

Plot:

When David's father dies, his mother remarries. His new stepfather Murdstone has a mean and cruel view on how to raise a child...

Plot Keywords:

Aunt | Stepfather | Nurse | Children | Maturation

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Edna May Oliver	...	Aunt Betsey
Elizabeth Allan	...	Mrs. Copperfield
Jessie Ralph	...	Nurse Peggotty
Harry Beresford	...	Dr. Chillip
Freddie Bartholomew	...	David Copperfield - the child
Hugh Walpole	...	The Vicar
Basil Rathbone	...	Mr. Murdstone
Herbert Mundin	...	Barkis
John Buckler	...	Ham Peggotty
Fay Chaldecott	...	Little Em'ly, the child
Una O'Connor	...	Mrs. Gummidge
Lionel Barrymore	...	Dan Peggotty
Violet Kemble Cooper	...	Jane Murdstone
Elsa Lanchester	...	Clickett
Jean Cadell	...	Mrs. Micawber

Also Known As:

David Copperfield (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

130 min | Germany:124 min | UK:145 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

W.C. Fields' contract included a clause in which it was specified that he speak with a British accent. He didn't - and this may have been because he had difficulty memorizing Charles Laughton's dialogue and eventually had to read his lines off cue cards. Despite much controversy in the press about Micawber having a strong American accent, the director said he felt Fields was "born to play the part".

Goofs:

Continuity: Micawber folds the paper of accusation twice.

Quotes:

Barkis: No sweethearts I believe?
David Copperfield as a child: What?
Barkis: No person courting?
David Copperfield as a child: Oh. No, no.
Barkis: Ahhh. Well, when you is talking to her private, perhaps you'd tell her that Barkis is willing.
David Copperfield as a child: That Barkis is willing. Is that all the message?
Barkis: Well, y... y... yes. Barkis is willing.
David Copperfield as a child: Very well, Mr Barkis. I'll tell her.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Some of the Best (1949)

Soundtrack:

Good Christian Men Rejoice

Some amazing character actors!

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.