David Copperfield

I looked for this for many years and finally was able to buy it through Amazon in the U.K. I believe this was originally a BBC and Masterpiece Theater production. While they sell DVDs of many of their shows, they have for some reason never sold this show. My wife and I had great memories of this series and were shocked it was never shown again. It was just as amazing as we remember. Simon Callow is unforgettable as Wilkins Micawber. Paul Brightwell as Uriah Heep is absolutely oozing. The characters are fantastic. There were several choices for sellers. I bought it from a seller called The Best of DVD. It is a Dutch produced DVD, but I easily turned off the Dutch subtitles and it was perfect. Here in the U.S. I had to have a DVD player which plays for international zones. Many do that, but mine didn't, so I picked up a very inexpensive one on Ebay. All well worth it. Enjoy!

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 remember this adaptation from the 80's. I saw it on Masterpiece Theater when I lived in the US. I had it in my personal video collection and watched it over and over again. I thought it was perfect. Simon Callow as Macawber was brilliant. I would love to see it again. I wonder if writing to the BBC would help.

Because it was 10 episodes long, it was very faithful to the book and the attention to detail was excellent.

Every characterization was spot on from Aunt Betsy Trotwood and Mr Dick to the vile Murdstone. The acting was superb.

I also think that the BBC's adaptation of Oliver Twist from around the same time was the best.

I enjoyed this production so much I am still seeking a copy of it 20 years later. Simon Callow's portrayal was the best Wilkins Micawber ever! What a thrill to hear him shout,"You,you, Heep of infamy!" I have yet to find another production of David Copperfield that I like as much as this one from 1986. The musical score was so appealing. The entire cast was exceptional. I just finished watching the 1999 ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theater production with a very young Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)and it was also very excellent. This version includes a masterful performance by Maggie Smith as Aunt Betsey Trotwood. However, I still find myself longing to watch this 1986 version again. Colin Hurley will always be my favored vision of Mas'r Davy. Thorley Walters will always be my Mr. Dick. I do hope the BBC will release this on DVD. I would buy it in a heartbeat!

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!!