David Copperfield (BBC)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Colette O'Neil, David Yelland, John Gill (IV), Pat Keen, Patience CollierBrand: Koch International
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 325 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-04-04
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Koch Vision
Product features:
- In this definitive BBC adaptation of Charles Dickensic, David Copperfield struggles to fulfill his potential after enduring the hardships of cruelty, poverty and injustice. Starring David Yelland, Arthur Lowe, Martin Jarvis, Liz Smith, Patricia Routledge. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR Age: 741952638292 UPC: 741952638292 Manufacturer No: KOCDV6382
Movie Reviews of David Copperfield (BBC)
Movie Review: My Favorite David Copperfield Adaptation
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my favorite David Copperfield color adaptation. Its main competitor is the Daniel Radcliffe/Maggie Smith Masterpiece Theatre adaptation from the 1999. Unfortunately, at 185 minutes, the Masterpiece Theatre adaptation fails to really convey the intricacies of Dickens' 600 plus page novel. Now, I am not slandering the 1999 adaptation. I am just saying I do not believe it is nearly as powerful as the 1974 BBC adaptation, especially if you are a Victorian loyalist. (If you are just want to watch a David Copperfield adaptation with a good picture quality, the 1999 Masterpiece will certainly suffice. It is a good story and relatively loyal, although the acting leaves something to be desired.)
However, enough about the 1999 adaptation. This is a review of the 1974 adaptation.
What I liked about this 1974 adaptation:
- Develops the plot well. Of course, a number of subplots are omitted. However, the main plots of the story remain, including Traddles' character, who receives considerable air-time. [Traddles' character is omitted from the Masterpiece Theatre adaptation.] Additionally, Dora Spenlow's character is really well-developed in this adaptation.
- Keeps a large amount of Dickens' dialogue, which any Victorian scholars knows, is quite distinct from other writers. This dialogue is especially significant in developing Wilkins Micawber's character.
What some might dislike about this 1974 adaptation:
- Is very stage-like. Certainly because of Dickens' language is kept (although true loyalists will say not enough), it requires concentration to follow what the characters are saying, at time. Therefore, individuals who just want to know the skeleton of the story (i.e. pleasure viewing), might be disappointed at the length of the film - 5 minutes of dialogue shot in the same room, which looks a little like a stage.
- Some people believe this adaptation maintains too unbelievable characters. Of course, Dickens' characters were always caricatures, especially in his early novels, yet even in the later ones. Therefore, some people might take offense as how 'stupid' Dora Spenlow is portayed or how cruel Rosa Dartle's character is portrayed. Many adaptations (I believe the 1999 included, omit Rosa's character.)
In short:
This film is wonderful for Charles Dickens' enthusiasts, who might even question whether it is loyal enough. It is certainly not like a 21st century American cinema production. The language is complex in terms of sentence structure. Many times, characters are portrayed too much like in the novel, and it makes people angry. However, if you want the most loyal adaptation, I believe this is it.
Note about other adaptations:
I have not mentioned anything about the 1986 BBC adaptation at 300 minutes starring Colin Hurley as David Copperfield because I have not viewed the adaptation. While I probably would be able to find a copy somewhere if one is available (through college connections), because the 1986 adaptation is not currently readily available on amazon, I do not want to mention anything more about it. You can find stills on-line by typing 'David Copperfield 1986.'
As for the Hallmark 2000 adaptation, I am familiar with it. It is available on that wonderful site that commences with 'y' and contains many films, although I do not believe it is readily available on amazon under region 1. It is available under region 2. However, the Hallmark adaptation is 4:3 aspect ratio and really does not tell the story much better than the 1999 adaptation starring Maggie Smith and Daniel Radcliffe. At 180 minutes, the Hallmark adaptation is about as long as the 1999 Masterpiece adaptation. Therefore, I really have nothing I can say to recommend the 2000 Hallmark over the 1999 Masterpiece.
However, both adaptations are interesting and take a different view of the Copperfield story. It would be interesting to watch the 1999 adaptation and then the 2000 adaptation because they are both very similar in many aspects.
Summary of David Copperfield (BBC)
David Yelland stars as David Copperfield in this superb BBC adaptation of one of Charles Dickens? best-loved and most autobiographical of novels.Torn from his loving mother and devoted maid by his wicked step-father, David is abandoned into a cruel boarding school where beatings are the order of the day. When his mother is taken from him, he is sent to work in a bottle-cleaning factory and forced to live with the Micawbers. Fleeing to the protection of his eccentric Aunt Betsy, David at last starts to escape his past and fulfill his potential as a man.
Capturing many of the hardships Dickens himself endured ? from abject poverty to cruelty and injustice at school ? David Copperfield is a bittersweet but ultimately triumphant and uplifting masterpiece.
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