Search Results

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:

After the death of his mother (Elizabeth Allan), young David Copperfield (Freddie Bartholomew) endures harsh treatment at the hands of his stepfather, Mr. Murdstone (Basil Rathbone). Discouraged, David first seeks refuge in the home of Mr. Micawber (Fields), a kind-hearted man who, though overextended in financial matters, adopts the boy as his own. Eventually, David journeys to the estate of his Aunt Betsey (Oliver), where he meets a range of kind and spirited characters. But Murdstone soon arrives to demand the boy's return, and we realize Aunt Betsey's decision will help chart the course of young David's life.

WHY I LOVE IT:

Cukor's sensitive, ennobling version of this Dickens classic was sumptuously produced for the big screen by producing titan David O. Selznick. A box-office smash when it was released in 1935, "Copperfield" is eminently faithful to the spirit of the Victorian-era novel, tracing the hardships of Bartholomew's orphan hero as he bounces from home to home in search of a real family. Oliver, Rathbone, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Lionel Barrymore are all superb in their respective roles, while Fields musters up an unforgettably charming mix of eccentricity and warmth as Micawber, a role he seemed born to play. Roll out the welcome mat for "David Copperfield."

Post A Comment

You must be logged in and your account must be approved for you to be able to post comments. Sign up for an account.