The Pickwick Papers (1952) User Reviews

A Good Adaptation

[theowinthrop · 8/10 · 20 March 2005]

Although he wrote "Sketches By Boz" (hence his lifelong nickname) before this novel, "Pickwick Papers" was the work which grounded Dickens reputation. His third book "Oliver Twist" cemented it - by showing him a perceptive social critic and serious (rather than comic) novelist. George Orwell, in his essay on Charles Dickens, says that many people regretted he never could have continued writing the pure comic novels like "Pickwick", but Orwell pointed out that no serious novelist can do that if they wish to show growth. It's true, although some (P.G.Wodehouse, for example) could continue to turn out successfully funny books all the time. But we would have missed "David Copperfield", "A Tale of Two Cities", and "Great Expectations" if Dickens just remained a funny writer.

"Pickwick" is about 850 pages long, and has a shaggy dog construction. Dickens wrote a picaresque novel here, with the Pickwick Club members exploring England, and falling into many misadventures. They are supposed to be sending papers back to their club about their adventures, for they are a learned society. In one great moment in the novel (but not in the movie, unfortunately), they think they find a curiosity - a stone with the words "Bilst umpshi mark +). Their paper on this gains them immense public adulation for their scholarship, but one critic (who is kicked out of the Pickwick Club) investigates and says it should say "Bill Stumps, his mark "+". Nobody cares about the nay-sayer.

One aspect of the novel that is not in the film was Dickens addition of about seven or eight short stories the group hears or reads while on their tours. Dickens wanted to vary his novel, and he would do this again in "Nicholas Nickleby" briefly at the start of that novel. In 1841 Dickens began a large scale literary project called "Master Humphrey's Clock" in which Master Humphrey and his friends (including Samuel Pickwick, Sam Weller, and Tony Weller) tell stories, but two of the stories expanded into full scale novels: "The Old Curiosity Shop" and "Barnaby Rudge". After "Master Humphrey's Clock" Dickens never again wrote a book of just short stories (his "Christmas Novels" were not written and published together but over the years). An occasional short story like "Hunted Down" was published on its own.

The film is a nice distillation of the best sequences in the novel, such as the great lawsuit of "Bardell v. Pickwick" (Dickens first magnificent swipe at British law). Of particular notice in the film is the performances of Nigel Patrick as the trouble making scamp Jingle, and James Hayter as Pickwick (his only real starring role). Jingle (who's dialog looks like a telegram in the novel)is played as a charming rogue by Patrick. When he nearly gets Mr. Winkle (James Douglas) into a duel with two dyspeptic military doctors (with the immortal names of "Dr. Payne" and "Dr. Slammer"), after one diatribe from them Patrick riffles a deck of cards like a "Bronx Cheer". Hayter, a popular character actor in British film and television, had a smooth and warm sounding voice, and (in observing prison conditions) makes the phrase "How pitiable" actually sound correct for the first time. It is not the complete novel - which you should read and enjoy - but it is a nice introduction to it.

"And now you all know each other, let's be comfortable and happy, that's what I say!"

[Terrell-4 · 8/10 · 22 April 2009]

The pleasures of The Pickwick Papers rest with the characters Charles Dickens created and the remarkable scrapes he puts them in. The pleasures of the movie rest with the actors who play the characters and their skill at comic invention. It's not an even contest, but even so the movie has the many delights of charm, clever innocence, friendly but sometimes pointed social criticism, misunderstood contrapulations and complexatory ambulations.

Dickens' good-natured appreciation of the members and purpose of the Pickwick Club are just about matched by two sterling performances, the first by James Hayter as Mr. Samuel Pickwick and the second by Nigel Patrick as Mr. Alfred Jingle. Hayter, a long-time and pleasantly rotund British character actor, immediately makes us welcome to the eccentric world of the Pickwickians, those four men who are members of the Pickwick Club, chaired, of course, by the kindly Mr. Pickwick. The purpose of the club? Why, to study human nature and to be of service to it. They do this by making note of and reporting back to each other at their meetings all the interesting things they observe and encounter. In just a moment they will embark on a journey from London to expand their field of observations. Very soon they will meet Mr. Jingle, who will provide them with much material. Nigel Patrick as Jingle nicely balances Mr. Pickwick. Mr. Jingle is a charlatan, a rogue, a traveling player, and an endlessly inventive and quick-talking scoundrel of almost genuine bonhomie. He is most likable, but never let your hand stray far from your purse. Patrick, who was a major British star in his time, gives one of his best performances as this scalawag and rogue.

On their journey, the Pickwick Club will encounter all manner of adventures and misunderstandings, a good deal of which is accelerated by themselves. Mr. Pickwick is the soul of good manners and well-meant intentions, but manages to bumble his way into the most unlikely situations. In support with their own serious bumblings are Mr. Nathaniel Winkle the others think of as a sportsman of sorts, Mr. Tracey Tupman, a plump fellow who finds inspiration and delusional hope with the ladies, and Mr. Augustus Snodgrass who, well, he takes many notes. They will encounter daughters, sisters, widows and aunts, along with misunderstood intentions of marriage, a literary and fancy dress party and, for Mr. Pickwick personally, the determination to refuse intimidation, two unscrupulous lawyers and a trial for breach of promise. Mr. Pickwick is unfazed. "I trust you are not nervous," says his lawyer as the trial begins. "I have never been more confidant, sir," replies Pickwick," that truth and justice will prevail." "It would make a nice change," says his lawyer. Mr. Pickwick, having lost the case, is now in debtor's prison. He refuses on principle to pay a jot of damages and cost.

Stirring the pot, poking the fire, kicking the curb, pocketing the odd guinea, setting up wonderful scams that invariably involve Mr. Pickwick, is Alfred Jingle and his clever stratagems. But even he, faced by a good man, can find himself finally at a loss for words. And let it be said that a kind man like Mr. Pickwick can always use the services of a resourceful valet. The Pickwick Club members, especially Mr. Pickwick now out of prison, have learned much about human nature, especially as reported by Charles Dickens. All ends right with their Pickwickian world. As Mr. Pickwick says in a toast of benevolent cheer, "To those feelings which repose, however remotely, in the human breast, awaiting only encouragement to awaken: Good will, good hope, good nature."

So relax, sit back and enjoy yourself. Take your time, too. The book is best enjoyed leisurely. The movie is, too, because it does go on a bit. However, you're in good company with Mr. Pickwick, not too mention all those superb British character actors, among whom are Joyce Grenfell, Hermione Baddeley, Harry Fowler, Donald Wolfit, Hermione Gingold, Athene Seyler, William Hartnell, Max Adrian, Noel Purcell and even Hattie Jacques. Most especially, along with James Hayter, is Nigel Patrick. He was one of those lead actors who radiated confidence. He could fight the Nazis, solve a murder, cuckold a fellow fifth form teacher, be a know-it- all, break the sound barrier...and still could be, when needed, likable and even sympathetic. His style didn't transfer well to American movies, although he toned it down some for his role in Raintree County. In my view, he was the best thing in that long, pretentious attempt to make a movie from a long and shapeless book. If you have the opportunity, also watch him at his versatile best in The Browning Version, Encore, Breaking the Sound Barrier, Sapphire and The League of Gentlemen.

A superior movie version of the comic Dickens novel

[tparis-2 · 8/10 · 15 January 2012]

I remember this movie with great affection from the days of my childhood when it was broadcast several times on the CBC. When it became available on DVD I had to purchase it if only to mark Dickens bicentennial year of 2012. All the major comic episodes of the novel are covered with the exception of the Eatanswill election and the cricket match between Dingley Dell and All-Muggleston. As noted by another reviewer the movie by necessity omits the rather gloomy moral tales that Dickens chose to insert at intervals. The movie is further enlivened by the presence of a roster of great British character actors - Hattie Jacques, Hermione Gingold and James Hayter as Mr. Pickwick. Canadians will know him best as Mr. Tebbs, the senior salesman in the Mens Department, on the sitcom Are You Being Served. I notice that the actor who played Sam Weller died in January 2012 just a few days before I purchased the DVD - he was the last survivor among core cast.

Enjoyable Adaptation of the Story

[Snow Leopard · 19 September 2002]

This enjoyable adaptation of the Dickens story "The Pickwick Papers" captures the atmosphere and characters of the book rather well. While it of necessity leaves out some large portions of the book, they did quite a good job of selecting some of the portions that would work well in a movie, and these are filmed faithfully. Even with the omissions, there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but the cast of character actors, led by James Hayter as Pickwick, generally do a good job of making each one distinctive.

The story of Pickwick and his friends traveling about England is a more light-hearted look at Dickens's society than are most of his later stories, but even so, the few scenes of serious social commentary, such as those in the debtors' prison, are pretty effective. This is true also of the movie version. The production is not anything especially fancy, but it seems quite efficient, and it keeps moving at a good pace. Anyone who enjoys Dickens should find this film version worth watching.

Fairly diverting Dickens adaptation

[didi-5 · 6/10 · 29 October 2006]

James Hayter is most likely remembered in the UK as the voice of Mr Kipling in the TV advertisements, but here he is an excellent Mr Pickwick, the lead character in this adaptation of 'The Pickwick Papers' by Charles Dickens.

Not in the same league as the David Lean-directed 'Great Expectations' and 'Oliver Twist' which preceded it, this film, directed by Noel Langley, is nevertheless not bad. It is entertaining, with an excellent cast ranging through character actors such as James Donald, Hermoines Baddeley and Gingold, Nigel Patrick, and William Hartnell; through to scene stealers like Joyce Grenfell.

It distills rather a wordy novel well, and provides it with the language of cinema to get the point across. Not an expensive production, but with some nice touches, such as Kathleen Harrison's twitchy Rachel; Mr Jingle's deck of cards; the runaway horse; and an early display of outraged bluster from Hattie Jacques, which she would repeat two decades later as a member of the Carry On team.

Tavern Tales

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 27 November 2013]

I saw The Pickwick Papers on television some decades ago as a child and recently encountered a poor colourized version of the film. They should had kept the film in black and white.

This film is adapted from the Dicken's source novel and restricts itself to some of the best sequences from the long tome.

You have the caddish Mr Jingle getting others in all sorts of scrapes including getting Mr Winkle involved in a duel. There are scenes of elopements and nearly elopements again with Mr Jingle trying to get away with the loot.

A misunderstanding leads to a court case involving a supposed broken promise of a marriage leading Dickens to have a swipe at lawyers and a sequence in a debtor's prison which suddenly switches the film from its comic mode to serious social issues of Victorian Britain.

James Hayter is very good as Pickwick, Nigel Patrick is a hoot as Jingle, Harry Fowler is memorable as Weller.

It is not the best adaptation of a Dickens novel from that era being rather low budget but amusing enough.

Almost more Dickensian than Dickens in a highly inspired phantasmagoria of caricatures in a stew of Dickensian splendor

[clanciai · 10/10 · 25 March 2017]

Splendid adaptation of Dickens at his most hilarious, a kaleidoscopic odyssey around old England with a potpourri of intrigue and adventure squeezed into 100 minutes of virtuoso entertainment of English theatrical art at its best. Every single character is absolutely perfectly Dickensian and convincing as such, and it's a miracle to observe how such an extensive novel of so many characters and complicated intricacies of unexpected turns of events at every corner has been so successfully concentrated in Dickensian essence, which will certainly keep you busy through every minute of it, with even some human pathos to it - the prison scene with Mr. Jingle's change of fortune is perhaps the most impressive part. It's even impossible to say who is the best of all these acting paragons of excellence, but dominating are certainly James Hayter as Mr. Pickwick, Nigel Patrick as Mr. Jingle, James Donald as the besotted Mr. Winkle and Harry Fowler as Sam Weller, the most pleasurable character of them all, but Donald Wolfit crowns them all as Sergeant Buzfuz. It's as superb as a Dickensian entertainment as it was 65 years ago, it hasn't grown one day older but instantly established itself in the timeless zone of cinematic literary classics. It was about 50 years since I last saw it, and although I remembered it well, it was all perfectly fresh again as if it was an entirely new movie. These films cannot age.

Don Quixote in Early 19th Century England

[robertguttman · 7/10 · 12 September 2016]

First off, let it be understood that this film is not a complete version of The Pickwick Papers. But then, nobody could possibly fit a novel of some 600 pages into a movie of less than 2 hours without making a considerable number of cuts. That being said, however, it is a very good condensation of Charles Dickens's first novel.

The Pickwick Papers was not only Dickens' first novel, it was among his lightest and funniest. Those who know Dickens only from his heavy, dark novels, such as of Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby will find herein a much lighter and merrier Dickens, for The Pickwick Papers is very definitely a comedy

Nevertheless, however, Dickens' eye for characters and scenes is fully in evidence. Few novels can boast of so many memorable characters as The Pickwick Papers, and this film version certainly does them all justice. Nobody films Dickens like the British, and they've certainly done themselves proud here. The original Pickwick Papers was published as a magazine serial and came lavishly illustrates, and all of the actors have gone the extra mile to depict, as faithfully as possible, the characters as set down in the original novel.

The story is of a naive old gentleman who sets off to discover England, accompanied by three equally naive members if his club and his worldly Cockney valet. The misadventures of Mr. Pickwick and his friends, among the plethora of colorful characters whom they encounter, form the basis of the book. The production is not the most lavish, but the performance of every one of the large cast is spot-on perfect, and that more than makes up for a lack of budget. Those who have read the novel will love this version, even if is abridged. This who have not read the novel can still enjoy it for its many colorful characters and hilarious situations.

Being the despatches from the travels of the Pickwick Club.

[ianlouisiana · 10/10 · 6 September 2006]

Travellers'Tales can make fascinating reading.Titles like "My journeys through the veldt" and "In search of the tiger" enthralled Victorians in their safe,comfortable parlours.Mr Charles Dickens,however,chose England with its wayside inns,gentle rivers and village churches as a setting for his picaresque masterpiece "The Pickwick Papers". His travellers encountered not ferocious beasts or exotic natives but an extraordinary gallery of ordinary and immediately recognisable English people. Mr Dickens loved humankind but he was not sentimental about it. He created some of the most memorable villains in literature as well as its most enduring heroes. His better - known novels have been turned into films with varying degrees of success - "The Pickwick Papers" of 1952 being one of the most pleasing. With Mr James Hayter triumphant as a compassionate and jolly Pickwick -from a time when being fat was not a federal offence -the film presents Mr Dickens' vision of Victorian England from elegaic to tragic. All your favourite stalwarts from 1950s British Cinema fill the supporting cast.I would make special mention of Mr Nigel Patrick as Jingle,a performance he never bettered in a long successful career. With "Great Expectations" and "Oliver Twist","The Pickwick Papers" completes a trilogy of early post-war movies based on Mr Dickens' works,each of which was made with respect for the original material, creativity,vision and exuberance,the transition from one art form to another superbly accomplished.

British Talk-fest

[cstotlar-1 · 6/10 · 13 April 2012]

This film doesn't comfortably fit in any American format of humor. There's a tiny bit of slapstick but not much, it's not screwball, it's not a situation comedy or a sophisticated one, it's not particularly visual...The Brits had their sparkling Ealing comedies, beloved around the world, tightly directed by some great people. These comedies were brilliantly written and wonderfully acted. And they all had places to go. This is a roller-coaster ride of words following words, non-stop. The comedy is broad to say the least - no subtlety here - and I found myself waiting it out until the end. No, it's not Lean, of course, but the Pickwick Papers couldn't match David Copperfield either I wish I could find something positive to say. The "Carry On" series had the public in Great Britain begging for more. They flopped here so maybe that's the answer - the cultural approach to humor that works better for some countries than others.

Victorian melodramatic acting at its worst

[howardmorley · 5/10 · 22 December 2015]

Although www.IMDb.com gives this a good user rating, I cannot say I enjoyed the experience hence my personal rating of 5/10.I watched the first 15 minutes but just saw professional actors posing and saying their lines in a third rate amateur fashion so I skipped to the final 10 minutes to see whether the acting had "picked up" but was again disappointed.I can only take Dickens on the screen in small doses anyway.Obviously in the 1830s melodramatic acting was in vogue but we viewers have progressed since natural styles were adopted by modern directors & actors to produce a more naturalistic effect.I particularly dislike it when ladies "swoon", apparently passing out when incurring the slightest shock to their delicate systems.One character actor I noticed was the rotund man who played Friar Tuck in the ITV 1950s children's production of Robin Hood starring Richard Greene.

Great movie, must see for fans of British films.

[barbara2 · 10/10 · 26 June 1999]

I saw this movie many years ago when my literature teacher arranged for it to be shown at school. I loved the characters and thought the actors were wonderful in the roles. I finally had the chance to tape it and have brought my family in as fans of the movie. A must see for students of British films in that time period.

A delightful film

[peterwburrows-70774 · 7/10 · 16 May 2021]

Not one of the best adaptations of Dickens work, you would have needed about 5 hours at least, but it is enjoyable. Harry Fowler's best role and Nigel Patrick perfectly cast as Jingle and ably supported by many fine actors and actresses.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

[adamjohns-42575 · 5/10 · 8 November 2023]

The Pickwick Papers (1952) -

Having not read the original book yet, I didn't know how well this film translated from Dickens original work, but I would say that it definitely paled in comparison to 'A Christmas Carol' and 'Great Expectations'.

However, although it was almost like pantomime in the way that it was delivered, I did enjoy the comedy aspect. The fisticuffs and duelling were particularly amusing. Sadly though, the whole cast were all such fast talkers that it was difficult to keep up with them at times.

I also felt that it was quite an old fashioned style and production of a film from 1952 and it could almost have been from at least two or three decades before, because there was a sort of Gilbert & Sullivan-esque performance about it and less of the finesse that a lot of films that I've seen from the 1950's have had. Using my litmus test film 'The Wizard Of Oz' (1939) this one was positively archaic in its delivery, by comparison.

My only other notes were that the women were very shrill and Mr Pickwick, played by James Hayter had some very snug strides on. His tailor wouldn't have to ask which side HE dressed.

Apart from that I wasn't sure how a 21st century cast and crew might make this today, because the story was just a bit too twee and 'Victorian', with a slapstick style that I personally didn't think new audiences would necessarily get, let alone appreciate. And I didn't feel that it could even be updated for our time or interpreted in to modern setting. I felt that it would take someone very clever and be a tough ask to make it without too much daftness.

I would watch it again, but I'd be glad that I knew what I was getting in to, without worrying about pausing it to make a cup of tea or perhaps I might complete a jigsaw puzzle whilst it was on in the background.

511.95/1000.

The Joys Of Pickwick

[mnkim · 21 September 2011]

Pickwick Papers exemplifies the joys of the Dickens film series made by David Lean. While not the best it is thoroughly entertaining and the characters are marvellous. Childhood memories of those familiar faces among the actors who took part and appeared in so many other British classics. Last but not least the most wonderfully rich tones of James Hayter. His was a voice you heard and loved on TV and film and never forgot from the moment he spoke.If you have only heard about this film and never seen it then do you very best to obtain a copy (if possible) for it is in its own way a minor classic. For British TV followers who were children during the fifties another regular and lovable character is Harry Fowler.

Enjoyable - some excellent performances

[DowntonR1 · 7/10 · 26 July 2018]

Having never read the book - I can say I enjoyed this film adaptation- aside from the odd bit of knockabout humour, which was not to my taste. James Hayter was made for the title role, but nearly has his thunder stolen by Harry Fowler as Sam Weller and Nigel Patrick as Alfred Jingle. Despite the scrapes Pickwick gets into the film often has a heartwarming tone. My final observation is the debtors prison- something from Dickens life - as his father spent time in one.

If you can't beat em', spoof em'!

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 7 July 2015]

British filmmakers had a delightful way of taking polite pot-shots at themselves, especially in the late 1940's and 50's with the Ealing comedies. While the first sound film version of "The Pickwick Papers" was not made by Ealing, it certainly has the same mood, and even shares some of the familiar character actors who delightfully made fun of their own kind as they set out to take certain archetypes down a peg or two. James Hayter is excellent as the title character, a sort of bumbling older gentleman who is chosen as head of the Pickwick Club, a social group made up of upper middle-class and a few upper class gentlemen interested in literature who get together to discuss the odd events of their individual lives and their encounters with people in public whom us Americans would call either "eccentric" or "droll". There's enough material for two movies in the book, but for a 90 minute movie, only the choice morsels have been left in, resulting in a truly delightful period comedy.

The first half involves a series of unrelated events which shows Hayter involved in the troubles of various members of the group, caused by their apparent nosiness. First, a cabbie accuses one of the members of being "an informer"; Next, a jealous husband demands another member either apologize or face a duel over an alleged unwanted pass at the man's wife, and finally, a weekend in the country causes all sorts of issues over the accusations that one of the men is a gold-digger after the hand in marriage of their host's spinster sister. It finally comes down to Pickwick himself getting into trouble and facing debtor's prison after a breech of promise suit brought on him by his dithering housekeeper (Hermoine Baddeley). Along the way, there are some delightful cameos and a view into 1800's English society and class distinction that made for wonderful reading for which became Charles Dicken's first novel.

Among the other standouts are Joyce Grenfell as a delightfully toothy society matron who creates laughs just by opening her mouth, Hermoine Gingold as a prickly school girl's matron (one scene only, but what she does with that cameo...), Kathleen Harrison as the silly spinster, tickled to death that any man would look at her, Mary Merrall as Harrison's deaf as a post mother, Gerald Campion as a nosy servant boy, and Alexander Gauge as one of the members of the society, a rather vain fat man who considers himself a lothario with the women. Director Noel Langley (one of the head screenwriters for "The Wizard of Oz" and the 1951 "A Christmas Carol") gives this a very lavish period look. This made me curious to see the rarely produced musical version "Pickwick" which starred Dickens veteran Harry Secombe who highly resembles James Hayter in playing the character.

Dickensian joy

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 4 February 2019]

'The Pickwick Papers' is not one of my favourite Charles Dickens works, speaking as someone who appreciates him highly and completely understands his importance in literature. It is though a very colourful and entertaining read, one of Dickens' most accessible with a lighter tone than most of his work even if some of the story structure is sprawling in places, with some of the great man's most memorable characters.

Dickens has been variably adapted on film and television, though will say that even the misfires/disappointments (and there are nearly as many of those as there are classics) deserve a little credit for even taking on the challenge of adapting the work of one of the (from personal perspective) most difficult to adapt authors. This 1952 film version of 'The Pickwick Papers' may not be one of the definitive adaptations of any of Dickens' work, and there is a slight preference for the 1985 mini-series with Clive Swift and Patrick Malahide. It is though very, very good, with many great qualities, and as good a film version of this particular story as one can make do with. As an adaptation it is a very solid and respectful one, with the spirit certainly intact and lots of recognisable elements. There are omissions/abridgements, but they were tasteful and didn't affect the coherence of the storytelling at all and it is completely understandable as to why there would be some condensation with literature as lengthy and complicated as that of Dickens.

It, the film that is, may be on the slightly primitive side visually, though the production and particularly costume designs are handsome enough.

Some parts are played a little too broadly, such as the romantic misadventures.

However, as said, a nice job is done with the production design and the costumes. Antony Hopkins' music score has an appealing jauntiness that matches the atmosphere and spirit of the storytelling to a tee. 'The Pickwick Papers' is from start to finish directed with precision and class by Noel Langley, who allows the story to have plenty of momentum without rushing, letting parts breathe when necessary too without grinding things to a halt.

On a writing and acting level, 'The Pickwick Papers' is pretty much a triumph. A great job is done with the adapting of the material, it is episodic (so is the book) but it doesn't read too much of a series of highlights which can be a danger with Dickens. Another danger is keeping sprawling and complicated storytelling coherent and not disjointed or choppy, 'The Pickwick Papers' to me suffered from neither of those two things and had no issues following what was going on (one could argue though that familiarity with the source material may be in order). The script is literate and thought-provoking, as well as wonderfully witty, Dickens' prose really shines here. The script and film have been criticised for being talky and wordy, don't consider them fair criticisms as Dickens is talky and wordy and am not saying that in a bad way despite how that sounds.

James Hayter is the full embodiment of Pickwick, while Nigel Patrick is similarly on superb form as a deliciously rouguish Jingle. Harry Fowler is a memorable Weller, James Donald is appealing as Winkle and Kathleen Harrison is especially excellent of the female cast.

All in all, very good film and adaptation. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Brilliant

[twistedink-14766 · 10/10 · 19 October 2020]

This film is very funny, very quirky and very entertaining! Great family viewing. I can't actually fault it at all. It's just a great comedy.

great fun

[gilleliath · 9/10 · 26 July 2020]

It's not as celebrated as the two David Lean films, and perhaps not as artistic, but this is still one of the best screen versions of Dickens. It's impossible, of course, for it to reproduce the richness of the book, and as a result it suffers more than the book from the inconsequential story. But it captures Dickens' exuberant, quixotic comic spirit better than any other film.

Pure Energetic (Wery English) Delight

[poetcomic1 · 9/10 · 23 January 2019]

Astonishing how much of the novel makes it on the screen with humor and Dickensian plot twists intact. Hardly a moment goes by without some rollicking line, some absurd twist, The telegraphic and addictive clipped speech of Mr. Jingles done to perfection by the dashing Nigel Patrick. A wealth of English character actors fill out the scene, for instance BOTH Hermiones (Gingold & Baddeley) and my favorite little moment, the inimitable Joyce Grenfell, dressed as Brittania reciting her poem The Expired Frog. Henry Fowler got his best role ever as Sam Weller: the lean live wire cockney and the rotund, mild-natured Pickwick are a visual treat together. It is a sort of hobby of mine to find forgotten 'small' post war English film delights. This is near the top of the list.