"David Copperfield" (1974) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 December 1974 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Compassion | Victorian Era | Orphan | 19th Century | TV Mini-Series

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

David Yelland	...	David Copperfield (5 episodes, 1974-1975)
Patience Collier	...	Betsey Trotwood (5 episodes, 1974)
David Troughton	...	Ham Peggotty (5 episodes, 1974)
Ian Hogg	...	Daniel Peggotty (5 episodes, 1974)
Lala Lloyd	...	Mrs. Gummidge (4 episodes, 1974)
Arthur Lowe	...	Wilkins Micawber (4 episodes, 1974)
Timothy Bateson	...	Mr. Dick (4 episodes, 1974)
Martin Jarvis	...	Uriah Heep (4 episodes, 1974)
Beth Morris	...	Dora Spenlow (4 episodes, 1974-1975)
Gail Harrison	...	Agnes (4 episodes, 1974-1975)
Pat Keen	...	Clara Peggotty (3 episodes, 1974)
Edward Sinclair	...	Mr. Barkis (3 episodes, 1974)
Anthony Andrews	...	James Steerforth (3 episodes, 1974)
Patricia Routledge	...	Mrs. Micawber (3 episodes, 1974)
Liz Smith	...	Mrs. Heep (3 episodes, 1974)
Sheila Keith	...	Mrs. Steerforth (3 episodes, 1974)
Jacqueline Pearce	...	Rosa Dartle (3 episodes, 1974)
Peter Bourke	...	Tommy Traddles (3 episodes, 1974)
Jonathan Kahn	...	Young David Copperfield (2 episodes, 1974)
Gareth Thomas	...	Mr. Murdstone (2 episodes, 1974)
Oscar Quitak	...	Quinion (2 episodes, 1974)
Katharine Levy	...	Little Emily (2 episodes, 1974)
Anne Ridler	...	Jane Murdstone (2 episodes, 1974)
Godfrey Kenton	...	Mr. Wickfield (2 episodes, 1974)
Anthony Sharp	...	Mr. Spenlow (2 episodes, 1974)
Melanie Hughes	...	Emily (2 episodes, 1974)
Joseph Wise	...	Stranger (2 episodes, 1974)

Runtime:

300 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

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

A first rate cast- this deserves to be released on video at least!

This production attempts to efface the Hollywood version of more than thirty years before. Arthur Lowe and Martin Jarvis are wonderfully effective as Wilkins Micawber and Uriah Heep - avoiding too close a resemblance to W.C. Fields and Roland Young. Mrs Micawber is hilariously overblown, played by Patricia Routledge, and Patience Collier, the battily eccentric Aunt Betsey Trotwood, seems to live the part. In fact Patience Collier seems to have stepped straight out of the 19th century. Her magnificent impatience with Heep and her stoicism in the face of adversity are beautifully modulated. Unfortunately, the IMDB cast list leaves out Mrs Steerforth and Rosa Dartle - I can't remember the names of the actors but they brought out a feature of the book which is often glossed over in productions because studios want to make it family viewing. This series didn't make that mistake although it was designed for Sunday teatime viewing. The sado-masochistic relationship between Rosa Dartle and Steerforth (and, to some extent his mother) and the suggestion of prepubescent homosexual attachment of David to Steerforth are implied. In fact, the scenes between Rosa and Steerforth/Mrs Steerforth, and between David and James Steerforth are the most realistic parts of the book and this film. A BBC dramatisation that ought to be better remembered.