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

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
Hugh Walpole (adaptation)
(more)

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
W.C. Fields	...	Micawber
Lennox Pawle	...	Mr. Dick
Renee Gadd	...	Janet (as Renée Gadd)
Roland Young	...	Uriah Heep
Lewis Stone	...	Mr. Wickfield
Marilyn Knowlden	...	Agnes - the child
Frank Lawton	...	David - the man
Madge Evans	...	Agnes
Hugh Williams	...	Steerforth
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Dora
Florine McKinney	...	Little Em'ly - the woman
Ivan F. Simpson	...	Littimer (as Ivan Simpson)
Mabel Colcord	...	Mary Ann (as Mable Colcord)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marion Ballou	...	Dora's Aunt (uncredited)
Lionel Belmore	...	Old Bailey warden (uncredited)
Dennis Chaldecott	...	Micawber's son (uncredited)
E.E. Clive	...	Sheriff's man (uncredited)
Eileen Ingles	...	David Copperfield as an infant (uncredited)
Norman Phillips Jr.	...	Mealy (uncredited)
Sonny Ray	...	Mickey Walker (uncredited)
Margaret Seddon	...	Dora's Aunt (uncredited)
Yorke Sherwood	...	Mr. Quinion (uncredited)
Arthur Treacher	...	Donkey man (uncredited)

Directed by
George Cukor

Writing credits
Charles Dickens		(novel)
Hugh Walpole		(adaptation)
Howard Estabrook		(screenplay)
Lenore J. Coffee		uncredited

Produced by
David O. Selznick	....	producer

Original Music by
Herbert Stothart
William Axt		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Oliver T. Marsh		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Robert Kern		(as Robert J. Kern)

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph M. Newman	....	assistant director (uncredited)
John Waters	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Merrill Pye	....	associate art director
Edwin B. Willis	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director

Special Effects by
Slavko Vorkapich	....	special effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dolly Tree	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Wayne Allen	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
R.H. Bassett	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
R.H. Bassett	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Charles Maxwell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leonid Raab	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Leonid Raab	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Robert W. Stringer	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Jack Virgil	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1935) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1962) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• IC International Classics (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

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:

Freddie Bartholomew's first American film.

Goofs:

Continuity: Micawber folds the paper of accusation twice.

Quotes:

Aunt Betsy Trotwood: Now that there's a child coming, what will you call your girl?
Mrs. Clara Copperfield: Perhaps it will be a boy.
Aunt Betsy Trotwood: Don't contradict. I have a pre-sentiment that it will be a girl. And I shall be her godmother. She shall be christened Betsy Trotwood Copperfield. She must be well brought up, I shall see to that. Far better than my impractical nephew would have done.
Mrs. Clara Copperfield: Mr. Copperfield has been dead only six months. It is cruel of you to speak unkindly of him to me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Heaven Help Us (1985)

Soundtrack:

The First Noel

One of the best in Dickens films - a true classic.

Although I've seen the movie on TV a few times over the decades, today I received the DVD digital version of "David Copperfield", wonderfully restored, and I must admit that the subtitles were a tremendous help in catching every bit of the story.

To me Freddie Bartholomew as young David is the most moving character because as a sensitive, loving child he must endure so much injustice and heartache, what with the loss of his mother, the brutal treatment from his stepfather, and then being sent away to a workhouse, only to flee to the safety of his aunt in Dover, walking all the way by foot, in hopes of a better life to grow up in. The stark realistic atmosphere that envelops many of the episodic scenes draws one into the tale with captivating ease. I consider it even more convincing than the scenes from "Great Expectations", the version with John Mills in it.

W.C. Fields gives a remarkably sincere and fine portrayal of Mr. Macawber with all his many subtleties of speech. I couldn't picture it being performed as well by anyone else, and I think Ch. Laughton would not have been the right choice or as convincing.

I put this early film at the top of my list of great ones!