A gentle orphan discovers life and love in an indifferent adult world.
Director:
George Cukor
From metacritic.com
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Title: David Copperfield (1935)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Edna May Oliver | ... | Aunt Betsey | |
| Elizabeth Allan | ... | Mrs. Copperfield | |
| Jessie Ralph | ... | Nurse Peggotty | |
| Harry Beresford | ... | Dr. Chillip | |
| Freddie Bartholomew | ... | David - the Child | |
 |
Hugh Walpole | ... | The Vicar |
| Basil Rathbone | ... | Mr. Murdstone | |
| Herbert Mundin | ... | Barkis | |
|
|
John Buckler | ... | Ham |
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|
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 | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
When David's father dies, his mother remarries. His new stepfather Murdstone has a mean and cruel view on how to raise a child. When David's mother dies from grief, Murdstone sends David to London to work for a living. When David escapes to his aunt Betsey his life starts to get better. Written by Mattias Thuresson
Plot Keywords:
david copperfield character | twelve word title | blockbuster | period drama | stepfather |Taglines:
Glorious Romance Reaches Your Heart! See more »Parents Guide:
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David Copperfield as a child: I'll be happy Peggotty. And I'll see you sometimes.
[as Pegotty kisses David he notices Mr Barkis looking down at him from the cart]
David Copperfield as a child: Oh, but Peggotty, you haven't given Mr. Barkis his proper answer, you know.
Nurse Peggotty: Oh, bless the boy. Answer to what?
Barkis: Barkis is willing.
Nurse Peggotty: What would you say, darling, if I was to marry Mr. Barkis?
David Copperfield as a child: I should think it would be a very good thing. Then you would always have the horse and cart to bring you to see me in.
Nurse Peggotty: Oh, the sense of the boy!
See more »
(uncredited)
(aka "The Outlandish Knight" and other names)
Traditional
Sung a cappella by Hugh Williams
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
David Niven, Louis Hayward, Bramwell Fletcher, Leslie Fenton, Douglas Walton and Phillips Holmes tested for the role of David the adult. See more »Goofs
Mr Micawber chases away David's tormentors and puts his arm around him, but the arm is gone in the next immediate shot. In all scenes with W.C. Fields there are indeed continuity errors that editing does not mask. See more »Quotes
Nurse Peggotty: Don't be unhappy David.David Copperfield as a child: I'll be happy Peggotty. And I'll see you sometimes.
[as Pegotty kisses David he notices Mr Barkis looking down at him from the cart]
David Copperfield as a child: Oh, but Peggotty, you haven't given Mr. Barkis his proper answer, you know.
Nurse Peggotty: Oh, bless the boy. Answer to what?
Barkis: Barkis is willing.
Nurse Peggotty: What would you say, darling, if I was to marry Mr. Barkis?
David Copperfield as a child: I should think it would be a very good thing. Then you would always have the horse and cart to bring you to see me in.
Nurse Peggotty: Oh, the sense of the boy!
See more »
Crazy Credits
Film opens with the last sentence of Charles Dickens's preface to the original edition: "Like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts, a favourite child, and his name is David Copperfield." See more »Alternate Versions
Also shown in a computer colorized version. See more »Soundtracks
Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight(uncredited)
(aka "The Outlandish Knight" and other names)
Traditional
Sung a cappella by Hugh Williams
See more »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
20 June 1935 (Argentina) See more »Also Known As:
David Copperfield See more »Company Credits
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I've read "David Copperfield" at least a half dozen times. If it's not the greatest novel in the English language, then it's darned close to it. Like any Dickens work, there are plots within plots and scores of major and minor character. With the exception of excluding poor Traddles, this film catches the essence of the story better than any since--and I defy anyone to cite a better movie for casting the right actor with the right character. Of course, W.C. Fields' Mr. McCawber was superb and has been cited time and again as a great characterization, but it's also difficult to fault Basil Rathbone's Mr. Murdstone, Edna may Oliver's Aunt Betsy, Roland Young's Uriah Heep, Freddy Bartholomew's young David, Lionel Barrymore's Mr. Peggoty or Maureen O'Sullivan's Dora Spenlow. As well, George Cukor's direction and period details are top-notch, as is the screen adoption of a very complicated novel. It's simply one of the greatest movies ever made.