David Copperfield

This is a beautifully scripted and acted version of the Dickens novel. The mini-series form allows the most detailed and complete rendition yet. Performances are especially fine, with three fine young Davids (though none to compare with the definitive Freddie Bartholomew), and a Mr. Macawber by Simon Callow to rank with the classic W.C.Fields. This is the only adaptation I've seen to rival the wonderful David O. Selznick Hollywood B&W film. This surely will sound like heresy to many British folk, but Selznick's film sets the stage for his masterful paring-down of Gone With the Wind, and gives the essentials for our enjoyment. Still, I wish this BBC mini-series would be issued for home video (ONE multi-layered DVD would do it). Then I could play it for my bright young nieces. Such exposure MIGHT even lead them to read the book when they get a little older, just as the Selznick did for me. Top marks all round!!

I remember watching this adaptation of Dickens'masterpiece "David Copperfield" on BBC back in 1986, and I had fond memories of it. Therefore I was exited when I found the DVD of this series in a shop this December. Now watching the whole series again after so many years, I'm still pleased to see how 'complete'the story is. Many adaptations of DC leave out some characters from the original novel or skip some episodes. The classic adaptation with W.C. Fields leaves out the whole Salem House school episode, thus robbing the viewer of one of the more memorable character Mr. Creackle; and I still don't see why they decided to do it that way for it forced the scriptwriter to find a new way to introduce Steerforth into the story. And poor Tommy Traddles! Always a sort of underdog in the novel and obviously regarded as an insignificant figure by many who adapted DC for the screen, as his character is mostly dropped. it's so good that this series does not follow that trend and show Traddles 'in his full glory'. Overall the acting is excellent;it's also good that the grown David looks convincingly like David as child. Heartily recommended!

In short, skip this version as it offers nothing that the 1974 version only 12 years prior does much better. The casting is terrible, so much so that a day after having seen it I can scarcely remember the faces of the actors. The production is low budget and clunky, worse than the 1974 earlier version. It is however a thorough adaptation and was a little clearer on some details over the 1974 version in regards to locations and how the many characters timelines interweave in the middle 3rd of the novel. But ultimately it's not worth buying the dvd (it's not available online legal or otherwise as of 2021) to invest the time in this one when if you are looking for a thorough adaptation the 1974 version is superior in every sense. And The 1999 version is much more watchable if you don't mind some things being abridged for the sake of brevity.

I definitely agree with the previous previewer. In my opinion, this is the absolute best David Copperfield production ever. Paul Brightwell is just great as Uriah Heep. Dora's character was played just as Charles Dickens depicted her. Davie, Aunt Betsy, Mr. Dick, Really, all of the actors' performances were wonderful.

I have enjoyed most of them since the 1935 edition with W.C. Fields as Mr. McCawber. But this mini-series is the best, hands down. I have searched all over the internet for a copy of the series, but to no avail. I too hope they release it someday for purchase. Or, if they would run it again on TV, I could tape it.

Like another person who posted here, I have a fond memory of this BBC miniseries presented here in the States on Masterpiece Theater on PBS. I have been hoping that it will pop up on home video at some point. I see IMDB doesn't have complete cast/crew details for this one and I'm hoping that someone will supply them eventually. It's great to see another person remembering and requesting this fine adaptation, which as I recall appeared on PBS just after another treat, the "Fortunes of War" miniseries that brought Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson together for the first time.