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The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

  • TV Movie
  • 2001
  • 3h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
James D'Arcy, Diana Kent, and Sophia Myles in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (2001)
ComedyDrama

A young, compassionate man struggles to save his family and friends from the abusive exploitation of his cold-hearted, grasping uncle.A young, compassionate man struggles to save his family and friends from the abusive exploitation of his cold-hearted, grasping uncle.A young, compassionate man struggles to save his family and friends from the abusive exploitation of his cold-hearted, grasping uncle.

  • Director
    • Stephen Whittaker
  • Writers
    • Charles Dickens
    • Martyn Hesford
  • Stars
    • John Dallimore
    • James D'Arcy
    • Sophia Myles
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stephen Whittaker
    • Writers
      • Charles Dickens
      • Martyn Hesford
    • Stars
      • John Dallimore
      • James D'Arcy
      • Sophia Myles
    • 26User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Photos96

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    Top cast49

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    John Dallimore
    • Vicar
    James D'Arcy
    James D'Arcy
    • Nicholas Nickleby
    Sophia Myles
    Sophia Myles
    • Kate Nickleby
    Diana Kent
    Diana Kent
    • Mrs. Nickleby
    Charles Dance
    Charles Dance
    • Ralph Nickleby
    George Innes
    George Innes
    • Newman Noggs
    Abigail McKern
    • Miss La Creevy
    Gregor Fisher
    Gregor Fisher
    • Mr. Squeers
    Archie Preston
    • Small Boy
    Berwick Kaler
    Berwick Kaler
    • Mr. Snawley
    Lee Ingleby
    Lee Ingleby
    • Smike
    Pam Ferris
    Pam Ferris
    • Mrs. Squeers
    Chris Roebuck
    Chris Roebuck
    • Wackford Squeers Jnr.
    Debbie Chazen
    Debbie Chazen
    • Fanny Squeers
    Tom Hollander
    Tom Hollander
    • Mr. Mantalini
    Marian McLoughlin
    Marian McLoughlin
    • Madame Mantalini
    Hannah Storey
    • Tilda Price
    Rosalind March
    • Miss Knag
    • Director
      • Stephen Whittaker
    • Writers
      • Charles Dickens
      • Martyn Hesford
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews26

    7.51.1K
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    Featured reviews

    10wjwolfe-1

    A profoundly engrossing and affecting movie of the novel.

    The leading roles of Nicholas, Kate, and Smike are performed with great empathy, wonderful naturalness, admirable restraint, and endearing conviction by their respective actors James D'Arcy, Sophia Myles, and Lee Ingleby. Charles Dance as Ralph Nickleby portrays an icily Dickensian villain, and Gregor Fisher an indeed despicable head of a school. Superb photography conveys the changing moods and varied scenes excellently. The smooth connectedness of the film easily allows the viewer to enter into and remain as an observer of the action. Scenes of merriment, tender affection, and gripping terror add up to a truly powerful dramatization on film.
    10moonlady

    Wonderful!

    I fell head over heels for this film! This movie made me laugh, cry, and had me glued to my seat for the entire 4-something hours it comprises. I love Dickens, but had not read NN prior to seeing this film. After watching it, however, it inspired me to read the book. I found it to be a very faithful adaptation of Dickens' huge novel. The acting is superb. Charles Dance is excellent in his subtly cold Ralph Nickelby. I love the way he lets just the slightest flicker of emotion register in his eyes or the set of his jaw, but no more, which is perfect for a character who detests any feeling but greed. Smike is also perfect in his emaciated, stuttering patheticness. And Nicholas! Well, he's not only beautiful, but is a wonderful actor as well. He has all the innocence and smoldering passion the character requires. This film clarifies some of the grim realities that the Victorian Dickens only hinted at, and while it has wonderful moments of humor and kindness, this is no glossy, fluffy caricature, like McGraw's Hollywood-pretty version, which I hated. The acting is infinitely superior too! A truly wonderful film.
    8obi-john

    A shiny NICKLEBY

    After suffering though the lackluster new theatrical film - poor Charlie Hunnam has to be the least talented young actor thrust into a lead role in a long, long time - I was more than grateful to catch the Company Television miniseries version on Bravo. Not only is this adaptation blessed with a Nicholas who really can act - James D'Arcy is particularly fine in the role - but director Stephen Whittaker and screenwriter Martyn Hesford have done a remarkable job of maintaining the sweep and period feel of Dickens' huge, slightly flabby novel. (Take that, Douglas McGrath!) Well cast over all - Charles Dance is wonderfully subtle as the greedy, coldhearted Ebeneezer Scrooge prototype, Uncle Ralph Nickleby - this made for television NICKLEBY stands high above McGrath's boneheaded, miscast (save for Jim Broadbent as a gleefully wicked Squeers) & period-challenged Cliff Notes-meets-Reader's Digest version. Skip that wee bit of Dickens Lite in favour of this robust, full strength version.
    10brokenjukebox

    Brilliant adaptation

    I've not read the book in ages and I haven't seen much of the 2002 film version, but I love this wonderful adaptation of Charles Dickens' "The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby".

    The acting is first rate for all involved. James D'Arcy as Nicholas Nickleby and Sophia Myles as Kate Nickleby both give a lot of strength and dignity to their roles. Although both characters are presented as quite pure and face a lot of adversity, they are played with such strength you know that they won't let anything destroy them. Charles Dance is compelling as the cold hearted Ralph Nickleby and the many comic grotesques are all very enjoyable and distinctly painted. The pig-like Squeers family in particular- Gregor Fisher, best known for playing Rab C. Nesbitt does fantastic as the monstrous one-eyed Wackford Squeers, Pam Ferris gives good value as drunken Mrs. Squeers, a pre-'Tittybangbang' Debbie Chazen is hilarious as Fanny Squeers- her argument after a game of cards to her much more attractive best friend Tilda is a highlight). The rather dopey Mrs. Nickleby, the air headed dressmakers, the fancy, flamboyant circus-like theatre troupe, the twin Cherrybles, the lecherous old man and the cackling old hag Peg Silderskew (played by the always brilliant Liz Smith) are all great.

    This is the first thing I saw Lee Ingleby in. I was very impressed. He does a remarkable job as the tragic Smike. He gives a very moving performance here, conveying the suffering and the innocence of the character very well.

    Everything works to set the scene. The scenery shows a lot of wild countryside, the costumes, which earned designer Barbara Kidd a BAFTA are particularly good- even the food used adds to the overall feel of the story. The biggest weakness is the bombastic incidental music. It often drowns the actors out and distracts from the events in the story. Background music should be just that- left in the background to enhance the feel of the scenes rather than dominate them.

    A brilliant adaptation by the late Stephen Whittaker as director and Martyn Hesford who adapted it as a script. A credit to TV drama.
    estelle_b

    A great Dickens adaptation

    I'm really really fussy about Dickens adaptations, Nicholas Nickleby has been a favourite book of mine for years and years. But this one was brilliant, James D'Arcy was the perfect Nicholas and Sophia Miles was a perfect Kate. James D'Arcy and Charles Dance really suit Period Dramas, they make them believable. The casting, the script and costumes = fabulous. It's turned into one of my favourite Period Dramas & frankly, compared to the newest Nicholas Nickleby (the film)...it's just a masterpiece. Give me ITV English Dramas any day!

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Liz Smith reprised her role as Peg Sliderscew from Nicholas Nickleby (1977), another BBC adaptation of the novel.
    • Connections
      Featured in Dickens (2002)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 29, 2002 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nicholas Nickleby
    • Filming locations
      • Osterley Park and House, Isleworth, UK
    • Production companies
      • Company Television
      • Nickleby TV Ltd.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 3h 20m(200 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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