The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)

A modern take on Charles Dickens's classic tale of a young orphan who is able to triumph over many obstacles.

Director:

Armando Iannucci

Writers:

Simon Blackwell (screenplay by), Charles Dickens (novel)

Stars:

Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 7 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fisayo Akinade	...	Markham
Nikki Amuka-Bird	...	Mrs Steerforth
Albie Atkinson	...	Mealy Potatoes
Aneurin Barnard	...	Steerforth
Tuwaine Barrett	...	Referee Boy
Nigel Betts	...	Creditor
Ruby Bentall	...	Janet
Darren Boyd	...	Murdstone
Peter Capaldi	...	Mr Micawber
Gwendoline Christie	...	Jane Murdstone
Morfydd Clark	...	Clara Copperfield / Dora Spenlow
Daisy May Cooper	...	Peggotty
Matthew Cottle	...	Mr Spenlow
Faisal Dacosta	...	Mick Walker
Glen Davies	...	Coalman

Storyline

A fresh and distinctive take on Charles Dickens' semi-autobiographical masterpiece, The Personal History of David Copperfield, set in the 1840s, chronicles the life of its iconic title character as he navigates a chaotic world to find his elusive place within it. From his unhappy childhood to the discovery of his gift as a storyteller and writer, David's journey is by turns hilarious and tragic, but always full of life, color and humanity.

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Plot Keywords:

1800s | fate | kite | orphan | child labour | 

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Taglines:

From rags to riches... and back again

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic material and brief violence.

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kingston Upon Hull's old Town in Yorkshire, England was used for a large part of location work.

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Goofs

Early in the film, the young David sees the gravestone of his father, stating that he died in 1841, some months before David's birth. Although no exact dates are given in the novel, David is supposed to be writing his memoirs in 1850, at a time when he is the father to at least four children born after the events of the last chapter. This implies that David was born (and his father died) somewhere around 1815, possibly earlier.

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Quotes

[First lines]
[Applause from the audience as David Copperfield appears on the stage]
David Copperfield: Thank you. Whether I turn out to be the hero of my own story or whether that station will be held by anybody else these moments must show.

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Crazy Credits

The end credits are supposed to be listed in alphabetical order, however, Paul Whitehouse is billed above Ben Whishaw whereas they should be the other way around.

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Connections

Referenced in CTV News at 11:30 Toronto: Episode dated 5 September 2019 (2019)

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Soundtracks

The Madman
Traditional

User Reviews

Vibrant and fun.

Based upon Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield (1850), this latest adaptation starring Dev Patel as the titular lead chronicles Copperfield's erratic life from rags to riches. Set during Victorian-era England, The Personal History of David Copperfield commences with his idyllic childhood living on a beach in an overturned boat through to early adulthood after a somewhat turbulent string of events. Being a fan of Dicken's works (as well as having written and starred in the 2012 TV film Armando's Tale Of Charles Dickens), Iannucci appeared to be an appropriate choice to adapt Dicken's 600+ page behemoth for the screen. Along with co-writer and regular collaborator Simon Blackwell, Iannucci found himself drawn towards the comedy featured within the novel. Dev Patel shines as David Copperfield, and he's joined by a magnificent ensemble cast comprised of some of Britain's finest. Peter Capaldi (a previous collaborator of Iannucci's, most notably known for his work on The Thick Of It) features as the scheming Mr. Micawber, and Hugh Laurie delivers a wonderfully mad performance as Mr. Dick; a frantic, paranoid man plagued with what seems to be a loose form of schizophrenia. Tilda Swinton is another fantastic addition as Betsy Trotwood, and Ben Whishaw's performance as the seedy Uriah Heep lends a slightly more antagonistic presence to a storyline largely lacking such a component. It is evident both Iannucci and Blackwell are fans of the source material they're adapting, as The Personal History of David Copperfield is a vibrant, charming piece of work that is irresistibly fun. Driven by a wonderful cast and a fast-paced storyline spanning many years, it is a film made with affection that is an absolute joy to watch.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Instagram

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 August 2020 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Personal History of David Copperfield

Filming Locations:

King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$15,600,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,368,877

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film 4, FilmNation Entertainment, Searchlight Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39:1