David Copperfield (1969 film)

Last updated

David Copperfield
David Copperfield FilmPoster.jpeg
Directed by Delbert Mann
Written by Jack Pulman
Based on David Copperfield
1850 novel
by Charles Dickens
Produced byFrederick H. Brogger
Starring Robin Phillips
Ralph Richardson
Ron Moody
Laurence Olivier
Cinematography Ken Hodges
Edited byPeter Boita
Music by Malcolm Arnold
Distributed by 20th Century Fox Television
Release dates
  • 2 January 1970 (1970-01-02)(UK)
  • 15 March 1970 (1970-03-15)(US)
Running time
118 minutes
120 minutes (US)
CountriesUnited Kingdom
United States
LanguageEnglish

David Copperfield is a 1969 British-American international co-production television film directed by Delbert Mann based on the 1850 novel of the same name by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jack Pulman. The film was released in the UK in 1970. It stars Robin Phillips in the title role and Ralph Richardson as Micawber, and features well-known actors Richard Attenborough, Laurence Olivier, Susan Hampshire, Cyril Cusack, Wendy Hiller, Edith Evans, Michael Redgrave and Ron Moody.

Contents

Plot

Charles Dickens's story of a young man's journey to maturity. This version finds David Copperfield (Robin Phillips) as a young man, brooding on a deserted beach. In flashback, David remembers his life in 19th century Britain, as a young orphan, brought to London and passed around from relatives, to guardians, to boarding school. He relives his struggle to overcome the loss of his idyllic childhood and the torment inflicted by his hated stepfather after his mother's death. Then virtually abandoned on the streets of Victorian London, David Copperfield is flung into manhood and contends bravely with the perils of big-city corruption and vice; hardships which ultimately fuel his triumph as a talented and successful writer.

Cast

Production

It was made in the UK for 20th Century Fox Television with some exteriors filmed in Suffolk, [1] and interior scenes filmed at The Swan Hotel in Southwold.

The music score was the last Malcolm Arnold wrote for a film.

Release

The film was made to be shown on television in the United States, but was released to cinemas in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

The film had its premiere at the Carlton Haymarket in London on 2 January 1970. It opened at Studio One and on the Rank Organisation's circuit in North London on 4 January 1970. [2]

Home media

The film is available on a variety of budget label DVDs, but all of them are very poor-quality transfers.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uriah Heep (character)</span> Fictional character created by Charles Dickens in his novel David Copperfield

Uriah Heep is a fictional character created by Charles Dickens in his 1850 novel David Copperfield. Heep is the primary antagonist during the second part of the novel. His character is notable for his sycophancy.

<i>David Copperfield</i> (1935 film) 1935 film by George Cukor

David Copperfield is a 1935 American film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer based upon Charles Dickens' 1850 novel The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger.

<i>David Copperfield</i> 1849–1850 novel by Charles Dickens

David Copperfield is a novel by Charles Dickens, narrated by the eponymous David Copperfield, detailing his adventures in his journey from infancy to maturity. As such, it is typically categorized in the bildungsroman genre. It was published as a serial in 1849 and 1850 and then as a book in 1850.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilkins Micawber</span> Fictional character from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Wilkins Micawber is a fictional character in Charles Dickens's 1850 novel David Copperfield. He is traditionally identified with the optimistic belief that "something will turn up."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Copperfield (character)</span> Fictional character created by Charles Dickens

David Copperfield is the protagonist after which the 1850 Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield was named. The character is widely thought to be based on Dickens himself, incorporating many elements of his own life.

<i>David Copperfield</i> (2000 film) 2000 American-Irish drama film

David Copperfield is a 2000 American-Irish made-for-television film adaptation of Charles Dickens's 1850 novel of the same name. It was filmed in Ireland, and broadcast on TNT as a Hallmark Entertainment production on 10–11 December 2000.

<i>David Copperfield</i> (1999 film) 1999 British television drama

David Copperfield is a two-part BBC television drama adaptation of Charles Dickens's 1850 novel of the same name, written by Adrian Hodges. The first part was shown on Christmas Day 1999 and the second part the following day.

David Copperfield is a 1993 Canadian traditionally animated film adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic 1850 novel of the same name. Produced for NBC, the film is directed by Don Arioli and features the voices of Sheena Easton, Julian Lennon, Howie Mandel, Andrea Martin, Kelly Le Brock, Michael York and Joseph Marcell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Murdstone</span> Fictional character

Edward Murdstone is a fictional character and the primary antagonist in the first part of the Charles Dickens 1850 novel David Copperfield, secondary to Uriah Heep in the second part.

Copperfield is a 1981 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, who were nominated for the 1981 Tony Award for Best Original Score. It is based on the classic 1850 novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.

Peggotty is the name of a character and family in Charles Dickens's 1850 novel David Copperfield.

<i>David Copperfield</i> (1974 TV serial)

David Copperfield is a British six-part television serial of the 1850 novel by Charles Dickens adapted by Hugh Whitemore, directed by Joan Craft and first shown on BBC 1 in weekly parts from 1 December 1974 to 5 January 1975. It was a co-production with Time-Life Television Productions. It is the earliest BBC adaptation to exist in its entirety. The 1956 adaptation is completely lost, whilst only four of the 1966 adaptation's episodes are known to exist.

<i>David Copperfield</i> (1913 film) 1913 British film

David Copperfield is a 1913 British black-and-white silent film based on the 1850 novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. It is the second-oldest known film adaptation of the novel. Running six reels, it is significant as a very early British feature film at a moment when the world film industry was beginning its move away from traditional short films towards longer and more ambitious works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bransby Williams</span> British actor, comedian and monologist

Bransby Williams was a British actor, comedian and monologist. He became known as "The Irving of the music halls".

<i>David Copperfield</i> (1966 TV serial) British TV series or programme

David Copperfield is a BBC television serial starring Ian McKellen in the title role of the adaptation of Charles Dickens's 1850 novel that began airing in January 1966. It also featured Tina Packer as Dora Flora Robson as Betsey Trotwood, Gordon Gostelow as Barkis, and Christopher Guard as young David. The screenplay adaptation was written by Vincent Tilsley, who had previously helmed the 1956 adaptation almost a decade prior.

<i>David Copperfield</i> (1986 TV serial) British TV series or programme

David Copperfield is a 10 episode BBC serial broadcast between 19 October and 21 December 1986 and based on the 1850 novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. The series was written by James Andrew Hall and directed by Barry Letts. It was produced by Terrance Dicks.

David Copperfield is a 1922 Danish drama film directed by A.W. Sandberg and starring Gorm Schmidt, Martin Herzberg and Margarete Schlegel.

<i>The Personal History of David Copperfield</i> 2019 film directed by Armando Iannucci

The Personal History of David Copperfield is a 2019 comedy-drama film written and directed by Armando Iannucci, based on the 1850 novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. It stars Dev Patel as the title character, along with Aneurin Barnard, Peter Capaldi, Morfydd Clark, Daisy May Cooper, Rosalind Eleazar, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Ben Whishaw and Paul Whitehouse.

<i>David Copperfield</i> (1956 TV serial) British TV series or programme

David Copperfield is a 1956 BBC TV adaptation of Charles Dickens's 1850 novel, serialised in 13 episodes. No recordings of this production are known to exist.

<i>Demon Copperhead</i> 2022 novel by Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead is a 2022 novel by Barbara Kingsolver. It was a co-recipient of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and won the 2023 Women's Prize for Fiction. Kingsolver was inspired by the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield. While Kingsolver's novel is similarly about a boy who experiences poverty, Demon Copperhead is set in Appalachia and explores contemporary issues.

References

  1. "David Copperfield". Old City. 8 November 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  2. "'Copperfield' kicks off well with gala premiere". Kine Weekly . 10 January 1970. pp. 6–7.