Customer Reviews

Old Curiosity Shop [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This must be the DVD Bargain of the year. I brought this DVD as I enjoy watching Dickens.

I have not read the book or seen this movie before buying it. I brought it Purely for the price. What a surprise I was in for.

The story is about a girl named Nell and she lives with her Grandfather in a shop called "The Old Curiosity Shop". Nell's grandfather loves her very much, however he has a problem with gambling. He borrows money from his evil landlord (played by Tom Courtenay).

When the Landlord finds out what Grandfather has been doing with the money he takes all that belongs to the old Gentleman and makes plans to put him in the madhouse.

Nell desperately wants to protect her Grandfather so they set out to leave London for the Sea Side.

Will Nell and her Grandfather able to be free from the Landlord or will the evil Landlord find them and do what he set out to do.

Watch and find out. This DVD is a must for anyone who enjoys Dickens and/or family movies. A movie to be enjoyed by all ages.

With great actors, well made production of the greatest quality at a great price what more could you ask for.

You will not be disappointed.

I had never read this book by C. Dickens. Some of his stories are a bit grim for me, but I thought why not see a film version. I liked it--no, I was so fascinated by the plight of this girl and her irresponsible grandfather, that I can truly say, "I loved it." I was actually walking along beside them as they tried to escape the baddies.

I never thought I would enjoy this story as I did when I watched this version of the movie... I had never read the book in its entirety, but I did know the story - having been brought up reading Dickens and Shakespeare at school. I never thought I would enjoy Mr. Quilp, but I did, and I wish I could shake Tom Courtenay's hand - I thoroughly enjoyed Quilp - he was the best of all!! I felt sorry for him in the end. Kit was a delight. The scenery was beautiful, the sets excellently put together..

I can't impose on people that the size of the book should not alarm them, as originally these were written in weekly sections. I do think we should all read at least one of Charles Dickens' books (apart from A Christmas Carol) and get the feeling of Victorian England and its effect on children especially, as Mr. Dickens so keenly addresses and describes..

This once beloved story of Dickens has been filmed many times since the days of silent films, and was even once made into a musical (as "Mr. Quilp"). But probably this Disney-Hallmark production gets the best review among others, and not without good reasons. It has good atomosphere, beautiful shots (in Ireland), and decent production designs. But if you are one of devoted Dickensians, you might be a little disapponted with, or even resent some part of it.

The double story of the original work was condensed, but still retains fairly much of the book. Being threatened by villanious moneylender Daniel Quilp, Little Nell and her grandfather (Peter Usitinov) decide to leave their old curiosity shop in London, to live in country. They soon meet many colorful Dickensian characters including Mrs. Jarley and her waxworks, and a kind school teacher who provide them with place to live. But Quilp, who intends to throw the doddering grandfather into an asylum, is persistently chasing them, always at their heel.

The story is always interesting to anyone, and the film remains within an acceptable level of authenticity, even though London and the Themes River don't have enough touch to convince us. The actors are good if you don't mind Ustinov's rather hammy performance, but the good acting of Tom Courtenay as Quilp makes up for it. He knows Daniel Quilp, though a villain, is in fact a jolly fellow, with his pretty wife devoted to him. The merit of reading the original is to experience the eventful life of one of the most successful characaters Dickens created, and the film shows satisfactory amount of this.

But if you know (and love) the original, you will be quite upset. Ustinov is miscast -- the grandfather should be a lean, skinny man -- but that is not a big problem. Every shot of the film is given too much lighting, chasing away the murky feeling of the night of London -- the curio shop doesn't look like the dark one Dickens imagined -- but you can forget it. The most deplorable thing done to the book is that they removed "Marchioness" an ill-treated housemaid living in a dump celler. To be honest, this is too outrageous. Any Dickensian will mourn for the loss of her, which makes the character Richard Swiveller quite feeble and pointless, because the relation between her and Richard Swiveller is, as everyone who read the book knows, the most moving part of the book.

This is not a bad production, but I am afraid that this one may not please every reader of Dickens. Though this film is good, the British film made in 1935 is, I find, superior, conveying the spirit of Dickens and his world.

Firstly, this film (like any other OCS adaptation) does not fully and sufficiently develop the cast of characters. For some reason, no one seems to want a 500 minute adaptation of "The Old Curiosity Shop" where a lot of Dickens' original dialogue is kept.

Having qualified myself, this is my favorite adaptation of "The Old Curiosity Shop" by Charles Dickens.

To contrast this adaptation with those of the BBC:

1.

This film emphasizes Nelly and her grandfather, especially her grandfather's addiction to gambling. BBC emphasizes the villainous Mr. Quilp and his insatible desire for revenge.

2.

This film does contain at least as many of the minor characters as the BBC adaptations. While the minor characters are not developed very well (Kit's character for example), they developed almost as well as in the BBC.

3.

One of the worst things about this film is the piece-working together of scenes. In 2006 BBC, music in front of large houses signifies a shift in residence. In this Disney adaptation, you must watch carefully or become confused (especially if you have not read the novel.)

BOTTOM LINE:

I could not give the film 5 stars because of its compression of plot and underdevelopment of characters. However, I know of no other adaptation that is better than this one.

Also, I would warn you that the aspect ratio is 4:3, just in case you only enjoy widescreen productions.

I previously owned this movie on VHS tape. I watched it several times, played it for friends, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I never read the book, but I suspect this is a good adaptation. It's long enough to contain a lot of detail and subplot. I especially like Tom Courtenay's over-the-top portrayal of the villain Quilp. Peter Ustinov, Edward Fox (in a small role as Ustinov's brother), and the girl who plays Little Nell are also very good. Many small roles are memorably acted. If you like Dickens and period pieces, it's a very good show.

I then purchased this movie on DVD to keep it in my collection, and I was very disappointed. The video quality is far inferior to that of the earlier VHS tape. Having experienced the VHS version, I consider the DVD version unwatchable. Basically, they took a long movie and squeezed it onto a single disc. A pity!

For those of you who read my review on the book, you know that I also gave it 3 stars. Despite some alterations, this movie portrays the book fairly well. My only real complaint about this movie is that it deletes the abused servant girl that the eccentric, but benevolent Swiveller befriends, sends to school, and marries. I feel the absence of this character takes away a large portion of Swiveller's role. But aside from that, the movie is well done. I still feel, Peter Ustinov is at his best as the Belgian Detective in "Evil Under the Sun," but he does a fine job as Nell's grandfather. Nell is absolutely adorable. Quilp is OVER THE TOP. Just as in the book, he initially has legitimate reasons for his anger, but then he reveals himself as a real embodiment of evil. But despite his evil (just like in the book) he carries real character and charm. At times he is even likable! Now and then, I even found myself cheering for him. Most of the other characters have limited roles, but they seem to make the most of them. The scenery is also quite beautiful. If you want to see why I only gave the book 3 stars, you may check my review on the book. If you liked the book, you will not want to miss this movie.

This was a very good depiction of the old days. While we're not familiar with Dicken's book "The Old Curiosity Shop", we are

thoroughly pleased with this version. The acting, the characters, the scenery, seemed so authentic with the time period. Nell,

for instance, just seemed to have that victorian appearance: with the small mouth, large eyes, very meek and quiet like. We do

not know how it was done to make the streets of victorian London and vicinity look so life like and real, but it was done very

nicely. There are a few scenes of fighting, but otherwise this production is good for the entire family. We thought it was

wonderful! It makes us want to read the book!

This 1994-version with Peter Ustinov as the grandfather is the best version. 3-hours, in color. The appeal of this film is the colorful and interesting bad-guys scheming against the grandfather and each other, and the perils of sweet, young, Nell. Up until 1869, a few years after the American Civil War, there really were debtors'-prisons in England. If you could not pay your debt; your creditor could have you dragged off to prison. This is a story about a vindictive creditor who wants to throw the grandfather in debtors' prison or worse, and the grandfather trying to elude him.

In this version, Mr. Quilp, the creditor, steals the show as the petty, vindictive, scheming, bad-guy, who enjoys doing evil. No one could play this bad guy better. A nice young woman twenty years younger than Mr. Quilp, who was poor and destitute, marries him to escape poverty, but brings her mother along to live with them.

There are several other colorful characters, such as Mr. Swiveller, the lazy bum gentleman suitor wanting to marry Nell. There is the crooked, obsequious, lawyer Mr. Brass and his icy sister who conspire with Mr. Quilp to harm the grandfather. There is the mysterious, dignified, wealthy, gentleman, making inquiries about the grandfather.

This film is intriguing from beginning to end. Some glimpses of beautiful scenery as they travel the countryside. Some sarcasm and humor from Mr. Quilp.

A good ending is critically important. I removed 1-star for a lackluster ending. The script-writer should have re-written Mr. Dickens' ending, which would have required re-writing the relationship between Nell and her grandfather, which I detail under the "comment" button below.

The characters of the other, 2007 abd 1979 versions are not as colorful. The 1979-version is a slower pace. They are watchable; not bad if you watch them before seeing this better version, 3-stars.

This is one gorgeous production that takes the viewer back to the sights and sounds and ethos of Victorian England, even if the film was shot in Ireland, according to the end credits. The details, even those in the background, are impeccable.

Moreover, it is faithful to the novel. One reviewer for Amazon criticized the bittersweet ending, but the denouement was Charles Dickens' own. I thought everyone knew the ending--as everyone knows how "Gone With the Wind" turns out--or "Hamlet" or just about any other standard work of fiction. Knowing the ending surely does not ruin the movie or book for any knowledgable viewer or reader.

The acting is perfect and should have garnered every award for the year this was made. The portrayals of the grandfather, Little Nell, Quilp, his lawyer, etc. are not to be forgotten. Dickens' greatest talent, in my view, as his ability to create memorable characters, such as, Miss Havisham, Fagin, Uriah Heep, Barkis, Mr. Micawber--and lest I forget, Little Nell.

I cannot think of a single thing amiss with this production. I could find some fault with Dickens' novel--too many coincidences, for example--but not with the film. It is a treat to the eyes and ears.