Little Dorrit (1987)

Arthur Clennam returns to London after working abroad for many years with his now deceased father. Almost at once he becomes involved in the problems of his mother's seamstress Amy Dorrit ... See full summary »

Director:

Christine Edzard

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel), Christine Edzard

Stars:

Derek Jacobi, Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Derek Jacobi	...	Arthur Clennam
Joan Greenwood	...	Mrs. Clennam
Max Wall	...	Flintwinch
Patricia Hayes	...	Affery
Luke Duckett	...	Young Arthur
Alec Guinness	...	William Dorrit
Cyril Cusack	...	Frederick Dorrit
Sarah Pickering	...	Little Dorrit
Amelda Brown	...	Fanny Dorrit
Daniel Chatto	...	Tip Dorrit
Miriam Margolyes	...	Flora Finching
Bill Fraser	...	Mr. Casby
Roshan Seth	...	Mr. Pancks
Mollie Maureen	...	Mr. F.'s Aunt
Diana Malin	...	Mr. Casby's Maid

Storyline

Arthur Clennam returns to London after working abroad for many years with his now deceased father. Almost at once he becomes involved in the problems of his mother's seamstress Amy Dorrit and of her father residing in the Marshalsea debtors' prison. Pursuing their cause Arthur comes across a successful business opportunity and also gains a number of new acquaintances, while his and Amy's paths continue to cross. A reversal of fortune lays him low, but to fully understand how, this story must now be seen through Little Dorrit's eyes.

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Plot Keywords:

british renaissance | character name as title | little dorrit character | two word title | title directed by female | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Little Dorrit's Story

Filming Locations:

Sands Films Studios, Rotherhithe, London, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,025,228

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sands, Sands Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

357 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final theatrical movie of Bill Fraser (Mr. Casby).

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Goofs

Near the end of part 1, Mr Pancks puts his finger through Arthur's coat's right lapel button hole and pulls him toward the stairs. In the next shot, at the bottom of the stairs, his finger is through a hole in the left lapel.

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Quotes

William Dorrit: Welcome to the Marshalsea, Sir. I have welcomed many gentlemen to these walls, please sit down Mr. Clennam. My daughter Amy may have mentioned that I am the father of this place. You'' excuse the primitive customs to which we are reduced here.

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Connections

Featured in The 61st Annual Academy Awards (1989)

User Reviews

One to watch over and over

"Little Dorrit" is hands-down the best movie I've ever seen. One of the best things about it is that it is two movies telling different sides of the same story. I enjoy watching it because I notice something new with every viewing. If you watch one scene in the first movie and watch it in the second movie (e.g., the "parricidal" scene), there are subtle differences based on the storyteller's perception. In "Nobody's Fault", when Amy comes to visit Clennam in the Marshalsea, he sees her wearing the flowered shawl that she always wore when she was poor; when we see the same scene in the second film, she is wearing a black shawl bought when she was wealthy.

The acting is top-notch. The set designs and costumes are the most authentic I have ever seen. The production worked hard to match the original drawings that accompanied the Dickens novel. A sheer delight!