jotix100 George Cukor, one of the best American master directors, orchestrated one of the best screen adaptations of one of the most beloved novels in the English language. "David Copperfield", the 1935 MGM treatment of the classic, is still one of those pictures that will always be enjoyed by movie fans of all ages.The ingredients that went into the production of Charles Dickens' novel could only have been done by the studio with vast resources as it was the case with MGM. From the superb art direction of the legendary Cedric Gibbons to the Oliver Marsh cinematography and the musical score of Herbert Stothart, all the elements under director George Cukor fell in the right place.The superb casting adds to the glory of the end product. Freddie Bartholomew was one of the best child actors of that era and in his effortless appearance as the young David, set the right tone for the staging of the novel. Add to that the impressive Edna May Oliver who practically steals the first part of the film. W.C. Fields made a wonderful Micawber and the supporting roles were played by a fabulous array of actors not easily matched then, or now. Lionel Barrymore, Frank Lawton, Basil Rathbone, Roland Young, Lewis Stone, Madge Evans, Margaret O'Sullivan, Elsa Lanchester, and the rest, contributed to bring Dickens' immortal story to life.A film to cherish thanks to the vision of George Cukor.

st-shot Dead for some time, Charles Dickens was easily the hottest writer in Hollywood in 1935 with four major releases of his works. Tale of Two Cities, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Old Curiosity Shop and David Copperfield were all released in that year and along with Two Cities Copperfield are the two finest American productions of the famed authors work. Smoothly directed by George Cukor and acted by a cast of rich character actors where even a subdued WC Fields does a commendable job as Micawber.The loving household young David enjoys as a child takes ugly turn when his widowed mother marries the cold and callous Murdstone who brings his equally humorless sister along. Battering and badgering both mother and son matters become unendurable when the mother succumbs and Murdstone and sis hammer David even more. David takes to the road and encounters a variety of challenges eventually making his way to an aunt who had rejected him as a child for not being a girl but embraces him now and is more than well prepared to take on the Murdstones.As David the magnificent child actor Freddie Bartholmew is mature and responsive beyond his years carry the lead throughout. As the aunt Edna Mae Oliver dominates her scenes in the same way she did in Tale of Two Cities, ditto for the villainous styling of Basil Rathbone who matches his callous and venal Evermonde to the equally vile Murdstone. Elizabeth Allan as David's mother is the one glaring misstep in the cast with her mannered fretting stifled and erratic.Cukor for his part moves things along at a breezy enough pace re introducing characters and building on the plot in a seamless relaxed fashion ably working the constraints of the medium to give a lush interpretation of this classic novel.

wes-connors Producer David O. Selznick gives this version of Charles Dickens' classic "David Copperfield" the red carpet treatment, with MGM employing its considerable resources. It was a guaranteed success, and still serves as a satisfying addendum to the novel. Sharing the lead role are relative (to the rest of the cast) unknowns Freddie Bartholomew and Frank Lawton; they seem enough alike to ease a startling age gap. It's too bad MGM didn't find a mid-period "David" suffer through the missing "boarding school" segments. This film made Mr. Bartholomew an immediate star, with assured performances in the coming years; here, he is obviously learning. Mr. Lawton enters the picture after we've seen Bartholomew for over an hour; thus put in a difficult position, he is anticlimactic.Note the opening credits' "Christmas caroling" subliminally suggesting "David Copperfield" as Christ-like.The film is chock full of illustrious supporting characterizations. There is, however, no "ensemble" acting; characters seem to strut and fret their minutes on the stage, and exit. Sometimes, they seem lost, as there is no overall, unifying style to the acting. Then and now, the most memorable individual segments include W.C. Fields' "Micawber" getting the best of Roland Young (as Uriah Heep), Bartholomew's long walk to Dover, and Edna May Oliver's "Aunt Betsey" wresting control of young "David" from Basil Rathbone (as Murdstone). Despite her lowly placement in the opening credits, the most consistent performance is delivered by Jessie Ralph (as Peggotty); if the Oscar's "Best Supporting Actress" award had started a year earlier, Ms. Ralph might have taken the prize.******** David Copperfield (1/18/35) David O. Selznick : George Cukor ~ Freddie Bartholomew, Frank Lawton, W.C. Fields, Jessie Ralph

malvernp I agree with the commentator who offered an opinion that given the length and density of the novel, it should have been filmed in two parts. Alas, the courage to do such a thing would have to wait for 40 years and Francis Ford Coppola in "Godfather I" (1972) and "Godfather II" (1974). Still, what we do have in this film is an extraordinary ensemble of superb actors doing their very best to deal with an abridged screenplay of a much read and highly acclaimed novel.While watching this film recently, I started to remember where I had seen these folks before, and began to free-associate about some of the celebrated members of this all-star cast. The following personal observations are reflections from that viewing experience: Violet Kemble-Cooper (Jane Murdstone)---am I the only person who thinks that she is a dead ringer for the American character actor, Mary Nash, who also tended to terrorize children (the nemesis of Shirley Temple in "Heidi" (1937) and "The Little Princess" (1939)? Basil Rathbone ((Mr. Murdstone)---funny, but I saw Raymond Massey as a more effective villain in this part.Roland Young ((Uriah Heep)---to the best of my recollection, this is the only downright nasty part this comic actor ever played on the screen.Hugh Williams (Steerforth)---he gave us an even more repulsive character as Hindley in "Wuthering Heights" (1939).Jesse Ralph (Nurse Peggotty)---one year later, she played Jack Holt's mother and Jeanette MacDonald's confidant in "San Francisco" (1936).John Buckler (Ham Peggotty)---did you know that he was the son of actor Hugh Buckler, who delivers the moving final speech in Frank Capra's classic, "Lost Horizon" (1937)?Edna May Oliver (Aunt Betsey)---it sure looks like this role was a reprise of her Aunt March portrayal in "Little Women" (1933) also directed by George Cukor.Elizabeth Allan (Mrs. Copperfield)---she was seen to better advantage with less histrionics in "A Tale of Two Cities" as Lucy Manette (1935).Jean Cadell (Mrs. Micawber)---best remembered as Henry Higgins' housekeeper, Mrs. Pearce, in "Pygmalion" (1938).Una O'Connor (Mrs. Gummidge) and Elsa Lanchester (Clickett)---these two great actors had very little to do in "David Copperfield"---but a great deal more to do in "The Informer" ((1935) and "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935) respectively! Ms. O'Connor's hysterical Minnie also appears on display in "Bride."What a treat to watch this group of stellar players! Their likes will never be seen again!