Product Details

• Actors: Paul Scofield, Tom Wilkinson, Keith Allen, Philip Franks, Julia Sawalha
• Producers: Michael Wearing
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304304285
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,288 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Greed, selfishness, and hypocrisy drive another rollicking story from Charles Dickens. Martin Chuzzlewit features two Martin Chuzzlewits: An elderly and extremely wealthy one (the magnificent Paul Scofield, A Man for All Seasons), who loathes the sleazy, grasping relatives that hope to profit from his death; and his grandson (Ben Walden), a well-intentioned but self-absorbed young man who has fallen in love with his grandfather's ward, Mary Graham (Pauline Turner)--and because the elder Martin disapproves, the younger Martin has been disowned. In the gap between these two are a host of schemers, crooks, and even one or two good people--but at the center of it all is the pompous and oily Seth Pecksniff (Tom Wilkinson, In the Bedroom, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), whose manipulations and lechery make him one of Dicken's most memorable villains. Whirling in his orbit are the goodhearted but ineffectual Tom Pinch (Philip Franks); the brutish Jonas Chuzzlewit (Keith Allen); Pecksniff's daughters, the "volatile hummingbird" Mercy (Julia Sawalha, Absolutely Fabulous) and the bitter, overlooked Charity (Emma Chambers, The Vicar of Dibley); and a host of other vivid Dickensian creations, all given juice and vitality by dozens of outstanding British actors, anchored by Scofield's magisterial presence. Because of his characters' outsized personalities and his plots' wild reversals of fortune, Dickens is ideally suited to dramatization, and Martin Chuzzlewit takes full advantage of his strengths. Lurid events like murder and blackmail contrast with rich psychological portraits, making Martin Chuzzlewit an opulent narrative feast. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proper Dickens Properly done, March 16, 2002

By 

Gwen Kramer "gwenhwyvar" (Sunny and not-so-sunny California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martin Chuzzlewit [VHS] (VHS Tape)

There has recently been a rebirth of Dickens mini-series and I believe that this is one of the best. For some reason, Dickens is best known for his depressing stuff (a Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations) but Martin Chuzzlewit is a robust melodrama and it translates very well to the screen.

There are actually two Martins in this movie, Martin senior, the wealthy old man who is suspicious of everyone, and his grandson and namesake who Martin Sr. has disinherited. With the heir apparent out of the way, Martin Sr.'s money grubbing relations move in to try to get themselves a piece of the pie when the old man dies. The sneakiest and most odious of the lot is the hypocrytical Mr. Pecksniff. (Look closely, do you recognize the Dashwood sister's father from Sense and Sensibility?) He has a slimy scheme for getting at Martin Sr.'s money and plans to use Martin jr. for it.

That, in a nutshell is the plot for the first hour of the movie. Other subplots involve more of Mrtin Sr.'s relatives, the evil Jonas, the subliterate Chevy Slyme and his smooth tongued friend Tigg Montague and of course Pecksniff's daughters Mercy and Charity.

All I can say is that I admire the screenwriter's skill in bringing the bulky Dickens tome down to size. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book but I can see it would be difficult to make even a 5 hour mini-series out of it. They eliminate a few minor subplots and almsot all of the American adventure. (This is just as well, Dickens had visited America, hated it, and ranted about the fact through the mouths of his characters for several long passages in the book, very amusing but not the stuff TV drama is made of)

Anyone who has seen the original illustartions for the book will be delighted by the movie since the casting, costuming and hair styling is such that the actors look as if they have stepped out of the book. (Tom Pinch and Pecksniff are especially close)

A great deal of fun though it takes some time to get into it. My only complaint is that on the box there is a picture that gives away a key plot twist! This was very sloppy and ruined some of the movie for me. My advice, don't look at the box too closely before you pop the tape in if you still want some suprises.

...

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and enjoyable. An instant classic., February 20, 2003

By 

Marcy Gomez (Kansas City, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martin Chuzzlewitt [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It's a shame that not enough people seem to know about "Martin Chuzzlewit," based on Charles Dickens' novel.

The story centers on wealthy, old Martin Chuzzlewit (Paul Scofield). His many relatives believe that he is at death's door, so they swarm about him like a bees angling to get a piece of his fortune. He is estranged from his namesake and grandson, young Martin, and is accompanied about town by his young companion, Mary Graham. Chief among his many relatives is the hypocritical and fastidious Mr. Pecksniff (wonderfully portrayed by the versatile Tom Wilkinson - "Full Monty," "In the Bedroom") and his daughters Charity (Emma Chambers) and Mercy (Julia Sawalha - "AbFab" and "Pride and Prejudice"). He invites young Chuzzlewit into his home only to banish him without explanation weeks later. Young Martin has to fend for himself and leaves for America with his faithful helper Mark Tapley in search of fortune.

The cast is sold and strong - the round of colorful relatives and acquantances including the conniving and greedy Jonas Chuzzlewit, his father (and old Martin's twin) Anthony Chuzzlewit, the humble and sweet Tom Pinch, and the scoundrel Montague Tigg (Pete Postlethwaite). The story has everything you would expect from a Dickens novel - romance, tragedy, satire, good deeds rewarded and the bad guys getting their just desserts. The high production values are what you would expect from the BBC.

I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot or excellent British drama. If you enjoyed "Our Mutual Friend" or "Middlemarch," check this one out. You won't be disappointed.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT Escape Entertainment, February 1, 2004

By 

jeanneb (New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martin Chuzzlewit [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Truly, one of the best I have ever seen and yes, do like to watch over and over again...

I had a "Dickens" of a time in the mid 90's trying to find this video a while after it was first presented on PBS, but at the then discounted price of $60, it was very well worth it!

It's an enthralling tale you become one with...you feel as though you are an observer on the sidelines trying to keep score as this thoroughly amusing bunch of people go from scene to scene, fleshing out Dickens' tale that portrays many of the worst and also the good and decent qualities of human behavior. The actors are THAT believable and so right in their respective roles!

I find though that I have to listen carefully in a few parts of this story, as the words said in the thick English slangy accent from a few of the characters can pass me by.

Altogether this is a truly superb show that unlike so much else out there, I will never tire of seeing again and again!