The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947)

Nineteenth century England. When Nicholas Nickleby's father dies and leaves his family destitute, his uncle, the greedy moneylender, Ralph Nickleby, finds Nicholas a job teaching in a ... See full summary »

Director:

Alberto Cavalcanti

Writers:

Charles Dickens (by), John Dighton (screenplay)

Stars:

Derek Bond, Cedric Hardwicke, Mary Merrall

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Derek Bond	...	Nicholas Nickleby
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Ralph Nickleby
Mary Merrall	...	Mrs. Nickleby
Sally Ann Howes	...	Kate Nickleby
Bernard Miles	...	Newman Noggs
Athene Seyler	...	Miss La Creevy
Alfred Drayton	...	Wackford Squeers
Sybil Thorndike	...	Mrs. Squeers
Vida Hope	...	Fanny Squeers
Roy Hermitage	...	Wackford Squeers Jnr.
Aubrey Woods	...	Smike
Patricia Hayes	...	Phoebe
Cyril Fletcher	...	Mr.Mantalini / Alfred Mantalini
Fay Compton	...	Mme Mantalini / Madame Mantalini
Cathleen Nesbitt	...	Miss Knag

Storyline

Nineteenth century England. When Nicholas Nickleby's father dies and leaves his family destitute, his uncle, the greedy moneylender, Ralph Nickleby, finds Nicholas a job teaching in a repulsive school in Yorkshire. Nicholas flees the school taking with him one of the persecuted boys, Smike, and they join a troop of actors. Nicholas then has to protect Smike, while trying to stop his Uncle Ralph taking advantage of his sister Kate, and later his sweetheart, Madeline Bray, whose father is in debtors prison.

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Plot Keywords:

uncle | debtor's prison | actor | yorkshire | parrot | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nicholas Nickleby

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite his prominent billing, Cyril Fletcher only appears in one scene, and is on screen for only three minutes.

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Connections

Version of Nicholas Nickleby (2002)

User Reviews

Definitely a Dickens movie

The mood is dark, just like the movie itself. I can't imagine that the new one will be able to set the mood as this one does: the trailer looks like it's a musical. Let's laugh through our betrayals. The villain's son as a twisted abused boy is a perfect portrayal, as he falls in love with the heroine. Naturally, all inconvenient characters must die, as they most conveniently do. But the Dickens of old seems to be cognizant of our own DDS, our own Welfare services that split families and allow abuse of all types......not because of the incompetence of the social workers but because of the understaffing. While of course the chief state beaurocrats on patronage receive absolutely MAHVELOUS salaries!!! Dicken's heart would be warmed to see how we in America ape everything English, even their abuse of the poor.

Well, it's off to see the new MUSICAL technicolor Nathan lane treatment of this jolly tale.