The Old Curiosity Shop

It is almost three hours long but well worth every minute of it. Seldom has a novel by Dickens been so meticuliysly broght to life on film with such faithful adherence to the text. Dickens is always good if not outstandingly excellent, you can always rely on his stories, and therefore there are only successful screenings of his novels - they are like Shakespeare's plays impossible to fail in. The question is who makes the best performance here, as they are all excellent, but I think the price still goes to Tom Courtenay as the terrible Quilp, whom he succeeds in rendering even more ghastlty and abominable than he is already in the novel, as Courtenay adds so much to the character with his hypocrisy and cringing manners of outrageous guile that the interpretation becomes a masterpiece of acting. Peter Ustinov as the grandfather addicted to card gambling is also outstanding, like of course Sally Walsh as little Nell. All the other characters are more than execellent also. To this comes the heart-warming photography following the pilhgrims on their wanderings all over western England, choosing all the finest villages and landscapes on the way, to culminate in reaching the sea. It is an all around exquisite film and certanily one of the best Dickens adaptations ever, even if it is only for television.

Everything about this Movie version is superb! Actors, Scenics, Dialogue, Costumes and sets is is of top quality. While all the characters are excellent, Tom Courtenay's Quilp is the show stopper! This has got to be the very pinnacle of Dickens Film productions.

This is one of the most charming and family-friendly Dickens adaptations I have ever seen, and I have seen almost all of them over many years of effort. The only other Dickens which have this family movie type atmosphere are versions of Oliver Twist and Christmas Carol, most of his others don't get such a treatment. But I think Old Curiosity Shop works so well in a family oriented version. It has the lovely young girl (Nell) and her grandfather for young people to get behind, and an abject and characitaured villain in Quilp who everyone loves to see the downfall of. In reality though the novel ends quite tragically, showing the audience the harsh realities of the times in which the story is set. This version does partially romanticise the ending and cuts a little out. This is fine for what else it has achieved.

For anyone who loves Dickens, this is going to be a surprise of the best kind. Few productions can capture the details that make Dickens' words come alive. This version of The Old Curiosity Shop does more with an empty set than most do at full steam. The set design strengthens every performance, adding nuance and flavor to actors who are already working at the peak of their craft.

If this seems like slavering, it's only because something of this quality comes maybe once a decade. The cast is a director's dream, and each member delivers just the right spice to this dish.

With so much excellence, it would seem incongruous to isolate any single aspect as standing out, but Tom Courtney, as the menacing Quilp becomes the very heart of Evil around which all this revolves. And a more entertaining Evil you will never see. He makes Quilp a fascination first to last.

This is a recommendation for anyone; and a must-see for Dickens fans.

This is a great movie. Very well acted by all the main characters, and the setting is superb. A wonderful story of human tragedy and triumph. Anyone who is a fan of Charles Dickens will love this movie. The attention to period detail in the costumes and scenery is very good. Some lessons can be learned about human nature as well from this story. Highly recommended.