3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Why is this movie not available on DVD in the U.S.?, January 30, 2010
I remember seeing this once on television when it first aired, and it has disappeared(seemingly permanently) from the American DVD market. That's a shame, because aside from a couple of casting hiccups, it is very good.
At least one of the casting choices was a surprising miscue, and that is Sally Field as Betsey Trotwood. Ms. Field is a fine Oscar-caliber actress, but has an overall image that is completely wrong for her character. She does not even seem comfortable playing the very stern British lady. Additionally, Michael Richards feels completely out of place here as Wilkins Micawber. It is possible that the filmmakers behind this wanted to pay homage to W.C. Fields, another comedian who played Micawber in director George Cukor's 1935 film "David Copperfield." But, in both cases, the casting choices come off as poorly-conceived stunts. Bob Hoskins plays Micawber in yet another film of Dickens' story, released the same year as this one, and he finally does the character justice onscreen. Mr. Hoskins is a much more well-rounded actor than either Mr. Fields or Mr. Richards, and proves that versatility and sympathy are the keys to making Micawber believable. Frank MacCusker's oily, bug-eyed Uriah Heep is masterful in this, even eerie, and the most perfect incarnation of that character I've seen on film.
This is the most perfect production of "David Copperfield" I've seen, despite the complaints above. It is fuller of truly compelling Dickensian storylines than either of the other movies I've alluded to and named above. It feels like a more satisfying experience than the other movies because its characters and environments are allowed to breathe and grow more to fit Dickens' rich original novel. I'm just sorry this movie is not available for purchase here in America. Hopefully, we'll get it someday.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Dickens, September 26, 2007
I have been using the VCR format of this version of Copperfield in my classroom since 2000. It is one of the few classics films that engage the kids, and they "get it," mainly because the actors selected for the parts bring to life precisely what Dickens expected from his characters. Uriah Heap is just as nasty as envisioned when reading the novel, and Sally Field is superb. My students go down the halls yelling "donkey" for days after watching the movie.
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strange ending, great movie, April 26, 2008
The ending was not exactly in harmony with the book. Okay it was kinda far off, but it was a really great movie. Except for the ending it stuck really faithfully to the book, for a movie. My entire family loves it. Even my father who hates to rewatch movies he can remember having seen before, will sit and watch the whole thing when we play it in the VCR. I started reading Dickens because of this movie and now he's one of my favorites.
The actors are believable in the role, endearing. The movie draws you in from the start.
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