The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger (1935)

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
Hugh Walpole (adaptation)

Release Date:

13 October 1935 (Finland)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Metro·Goldwyn·Mayer's Greatest Motion Picture

Plot:

When David's father dies, his mother remarries. His new stepfather Murdstone has a mean and cruel view on how to raise a child...

Plot Keywords:

Aunt | Stepfather | Nurse | Children | Maturation

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Edna May Oliver	...	Aunt Betsey
Elizabeth Allan	...	Mrs. Copperfield
Jessie Ralph	...	Nurse Peggotty
Harry Beresford	...	Dr. Chillip
Freddie Bartholomew	...	David - the child
Hugh Walpole	...	The Vicar
Basil Rathbone	...	Mr. Murdstone
Herbert Mundin	...	Barkis
John Buckler	...	Ham
Fay Chaldecott	...	Little Em'ly - the child
Una O'Connor	...	Mrs. Gummidge
Lionel Barrymore	...	Dan Peggotty
Violet Kemble Cooper	...	Jane Murdstone
Elsa Lanchester	...	Clickett
Jean Cadell	...	Mrs. Micawber

Also Known As:

David Copperfield (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

130 min | Germany:124 min | UK:145 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Canada:G (video rating) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Re-released in the USA in 1962.

Goofs:

Continuity: Micawber folds the paper of accusation twice.

Quotes:

Mr. Micawber: [to young Copperfield] Boy, as I have frequently had occasion to observe, "When the stomach is empty, the spirits are low."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Biography: Jennifer Jones: Portrait of a Lady" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Good Christian Men Rejoice

Masterpiece of film-making brings Dickens' novel to life...

Of all of the films directed by George Cukor, I think this is his finest achievement, helped in no small measure by the perfect casting of all the Dickens characters.

Freddie Bartholomew is flawless as the young David. Edna May Oliver as his stern but loving Aunt Betsy Trotwood gives her usual sharp characterization and nearly steals the first half of the movie. As for Mr. Murdstone, Basil Rathbone is the perfect embodiment of that brutally wicked man. Born to play Mr. Micawber is W. C. Fields, so uncannily right that it almost seems as if Dickens had him in mind when he wrote the character!

Very atmospheric, so much so that it seems almost incredible that an American movie company could have crafted this gem. One would think the British would have beat us to it--but Dickens would have approved of this version, I'm sure.

The only drawback is the length and the scenes involving David's wife, Dora, as played by Maureen O'Sullivan with a saccharine sweetness that becomes cloying at times. (Thank God she didn't play Melanie in 'GWTW'). Some of the acting is a bit florid but to be expected when you consider this was made in 1935. Roland Young is well cast as Uriah Heep.

Highly recommended. Anyone who cherishes the Dickens novel will not be disappointed. The only flaw is that the story has been compressed in order to limit the running time to two hours and ten minutes and it shows. All the essential characters remain but some of them have little dimension because of time constraints.