The Old Curiosity Shop
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Movie Reviews of The Old Curiosity Shop
Movie Review: Colorful bad-guys carry the story. Intriguing.
Summary: 4 Stars
This 1994-version with Peter Ustinov as the grandfather is the best version. 3-hours, in color. The appeal of this film is the colorful and interesting bad-guys scheming against the grandfather and each other, and the perils of sweet, young, Nell. Up until 1869, a few years after the American Civil War, there really were debtors'-prisons in England. If you could not pay your debt; your creditor could have you dragged off to prison. This is a story about a vindictive creditor who wants to throw the grandfather in debtors' prison or worse, and the grandfather trying to elude him.
In this version, Mr. Quilp, the creditor, steals the show as the petty, vindictive, scheming, bad-guy, who enjoys doing evil. No one could play this bad guy better. A nice young woman twenty years younger than Mr. Quilp, who was poor and destitute, marries him to escape poverty, but brings her mother along to live with them.
There are several other colorful characters, such as Mr. Swiveller, the lazy bum gentleman suitor wanting to marry Nell. There is the crooked, obsequious, lawyer Mr. Brass and his icy sister who conspire with Mr. Quilp to harm the grandfather. There is the mysterious, dignified, wealthy, gentleman, making inquiries about the grandfather.
This film is intriguing from beginning to end. Some glimpses of beautiful scenery as they travel the countryside. Some sarcasm and humor from Mr. Quilp.
A good ending is critically important. I removed 1-star for a lackluster ending. The script-writer should have re-written Mr. Dickens' ending, which would have required re-writing the relationship between Nell and her grandfather, which I detail under the "comment" button below.
The characters of the other, 2007 abd 1979 versions are not as colorful. The 1979-version is a slower pace. They are watchable; not bad if you watch them before seeing this better version, 3-stars.
Movie Review: Not the BBC Bleak House '86 or '06 yet surprisingly good
Summary: 4 Stars
Firstly, this film (like any other OCS adaptation) does not fully and sufficiently develop the cast of characters. For some reason, no one seems to want a 500 minute adaptation of "The Old Curiosity Shop" where a lot of Dickens' original dialogue is kept.
Having qualified myself, this is my favorite adaptation of "The Old Curiosity Shop" by Charles Dickens.
To contrast this adaptation with those of the BBC:
1.
This film emphasizes Nelly and her grandfather, especially her grandfather's addiction to gambling. BBC emphasizes the villainous Mr. Quilp and his insatible desire for revenge.
2.
This film does contain at least as many of the minor characters as the BBC adaptations. While the minor characters are not developed very well (Kit's character for example), they developed almost as well as in the BBC.
3.
One of the worst things about this film is the piece-working together of scenes. In 2006 BBC, music in front of large houses signifies a shift in residence. In this Disney adaptation, you must watch carefully or become confused (especially if you have not read the novel.)
BOTTOM LINE:
I could not give the film 5 stars because of its compression of plot and underdevelopment of characters. However, I know of no other adaptation that is better than this one.
Also, I would warn you that the aspect ratio is 4:3, just in case you only enjoy widescreen productions.
Movie Review: consider the unabridged audio
Summary: 4 Stars
The movie is much condensed, and although it's lovely, it just isn't as exquisite as taking the time (26 hours) to listen to the unabridged Audible.com version with George Hagan as narrator.
The movie leaves out several characters, two of whom are extraordinary: a servant and a pony. The character Quilp is even more grotesque in the print or unabridged audio version than in the movie.
Give up an hour of t.v. each night for a month and listen to the Audible version. Hagan is amazing with the character voices. I found that I needed to listen intently to the audio to follow the story as my simple little self needed to concentrate to stay with the story, both with the Dickens' language and the character accents.
One more plug for the pony ----such a charming character. It's really worth listening to the unabridged audio version for the pony alone.
Movie Review: Excellent entertainment
Summary: 4 Stars
I never thought I would enjoy this story as I did when I watched this version of the movie... I had never read the book in its entirety, but I did know the story - having been brought up reading Dickens and Shakespeare at school. I never thought I would enjoy Mr. Quilp, but I did, and I wish I could shake Tom Courtenay's hand - I thoroughly enjoyed Quilp - he was the best of all!! I felt sorry for him in the end. Kit was a delight. The scenery was beautiful, the sets excellently put together..
I can't impose on people that the size of the book should not alarm them, as originally these were written in weekly sections. I do think we should all read at least one of Charles Dickens' books (apart from A Christmas Carol) and get the feeling of Victorian England and its effect on children especially, as Mr. Dickens so keenly addresses and describes..
Movie Review: Period Movies
Summary: 4 Stars
Like all Dickens stories, this makes you realize how lucky you are to live now, but with a happy ending it's also enjoyable to watch. There's romance and the sense of good eventually triumphing over evil.