David Copperfield (1999) (TV)

Director:

Simon Curtis

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
Adrian Hodges (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Charles Dickens' haunting semi-autobiographical tale of a boy who is sent away by his stepfather after his mother dies but manages to triumph over incredible adversities. |

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Orphan | 19th Century | Benefactor | Clerk

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Emilia Fox	...	Clara Copperfield
Pauline Quirke	...	Peggotty
Maggie Smith	...	Betsey Trotwood
John Normington	...	Dr. Chillip
Daniel Radcliffe	...	Young David Copperfield
Trevor Eve	...	Murdstone
Michael Elphick	...	Barkis
James Thornton	...	Ham Peggotty
Alun Armstrong	...	Daniel Peggotty
Patsy Byrne	...	Mrs. Gummidge
Laura Harling	...	Little Emily
Zoë Wanamaker	...	Miss Murdstone
Jacqueline Tong	...	Lady in Coach
Karl Johnson	...	Tungay
Ian McKellen	...	Creakle

Runtime:

185 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | UK:PG | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Blackfriars, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Harry Lloyd (Young Steerforth) is the great-great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, who wrote the novel on which this production is based.

Quotes:

Barkis: [repeated] Barkis is willin'!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Dickens" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Newcastle

None better

There is little point in outlining the story. Everyone in the world except the very young and the gaga must know it, and there have been numerous great movie adaptations of the Dickens classic. This 1999 production must be one of the very best.

Bob Hoskins as one of Dickens's most loved characters, Wilkins Micawber, was just about perfect. Likewise Dame Maggie Smith as Betsey Trotwood. And who could have portrayed Uriah Heep (with obvious relish) more cringingly 'umble than Nicholas Lyndhurst? (Years of practise as the under sibling in "Only Fools & Horses" paying off at last no doubt.) It was a lovely evil performance by him, and delightfully (I suspect deliberately) just a smidgen over the top.

Apart from the above, who was the most outstanding in the impressive cast? Answer...no-one. They all were. Every individual contribution was magnificent.

It is difficult to fault this two-part production of "David Copperfield" in any way. Acting, interpretation, sets, casting, music, cinematography, script, pace and direction. All were equally superb, and I think it will be a long time before it is even remotely bettered by any future one.