David Copperfield (TV 1999)

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.

Director:

Simon Curtis

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel), Adrian Hodges (screenplay)

Stars:

Emilia Fox, Pauline Quirke, Maggie Smith

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

David Copperfield lives a nearly idyllic existence with his beautiful mother Clara and their housekeeper Peggotty. His life changes forever when his mother re-marries. Mr. Murdstone is a no-nonsense businessman and a strict disciplinarian who believes in corporal punishment. David is soon sent to a strict boarding school but when his mother dies, his stepfather sends him to London to work in a foul smelling factory. He forms a close friendship with Mr. Micawber and moves in with the man and his loving family but as the Micawbers are forced by circumstance to relocate, he seeks out his aunt Betsey Trotwood. She sends him to fine school and he lodges with Mr. Wickfield and his daughter Agnes. As he grows older David is apprenticed to a law firm where he soon meets the senior partner's daughter, Dora. Life's challenges continue to confront him but with the help of friends and family, he overcomes adversity including his aunt's loss of her savings, the death of his wife and the ...

---

Plot Keywords:

school | disciplinarian | charles dickens | housekeeper | boy | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [us]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 April 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Copperfield Dávid

Filming Locations:

The Square, Great Tew, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£4,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

185 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The straw bonnet with a pale blue ribbon worn by Maggie Smith (Betsey Trotwood) is the same costume worn by Kate Winslet (Marianne Dashwood) at Barton Cottage in Sense and Sensibility, and by Judi Dench (Miss Matty) in Cranford.

---

Quotes

Murdstone: This boy, you should know, Miss Trotwood, has a sullen, rebellious spirit, a violent temper and an intractable disposition.
Miss Murdstone: Of all the boys in the world, this is the worst boy.
Betsey Trotwood: Strong, Miss Murdstone.
Miss Murdstone: But not at all too strong for the situation.
Betsey Trotwood: Indeed? Well, sir?
Murdstone: I placed this boy in a respectable business. He ran away from it. The facts, I propose, speak for themselves.
Betsey Trotwood: About this respectable business, a blacking factory, I believe. If he had been your own boy, you would have put him to it ...
[...]

---

Connections

Version of David Copperfield (1993)

---

Soundtracks

"Newcastle"
Traditional
From John Playford's 'The English Dancing Master', First Edition (1651)

User Reviews

None better

There is little point in outlining the story. Everyone in the world except the very young and the gaga must know it, and there have been numerous great movie adaptations of the Dickens classic. This 1999 production must be one of the very best.

Bob Hoskins as one of Dickens's most loved characters, Wilkins Micawber, was just about perfect. Likewise Dame Maggie Smith as Betsey Trotwood. And who could have portrayed Uriah Heep (with obvious relish) more cringingly 'umble than Nicholas Lyndhurst? (Years of practise as the under sibling in "Only Fools & Horses" paying off at last no doubt.) It was a lovely evil performance by him, and delightfully (I suspect deliberately) just a smidgen over the top.

Apart from the above, who was the most outstanding in the impressive cast? Answer...no-one. They all were. Every individual contribution was magnificent.

It is difficult to fault this two-part production of "David Copperfield" in any way. Acting, interpretation, sets, casting, music, cinematography, script, pace and direction. All were equally superb, and I think it will be a long time before it is even remotely bettered by any future one.