The Pickwick Papers [DVD]

Bought this simply for Harry Fowlers character, absolute class acting from all. The 40s and 50s adaptations are the best.

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE RENOWN COLORISED VERSIONThis charming film is a who's who of great British post war character actors, James Hayter, later to become the voice of Mr Kipling Cakes (exceedingly good), was Mr Pickwick personified and the inimitable Harry Fowler, the perfect cheeky street smart Sam Weller - a part he was born to play. Nigel Patrick steals the show as arch bounder/cad Alfred Jingle and Kathleen Harrison twitters admirably as Rachel Wardle. I won't recycle what other reviewers have expressed more eloquently than I ever could, but this is a delightful film and owes a lot to Noel Langley who managed to compress Dickens' sprawling book into a concise story without losing the spirit and charm of the original.Whilst Renown can be applauded for their remaster, their decision to colorize the film is questionable. Wilkie Cooper's beautiful black and white cinematography is reduced to a child's crude paintbox version. Its not as if the process is particularly thorough. Skin tones are on the whole flat and only embellished with a bizarre rouge on the cheeks of the actors. The software employed fails to distinguish skin tones through glasses so Pickwick's face is flesh toned while his eyes and surrounding areas behind his glasses are grey. In one scene two soldiers' red tunics are transformed to a washed out pink. It really became annoying. Surely Renown could have bundled the B/W original with the ghastly colorized version as they did with the Night Caller.Anyway I've subsequently ordered the black and white version from another supplier.

The Pickwick Papers is a vast book with so many interesting cameos that it would be impossible to include everyone's favourite piece.Never the less this charming little film manages to please, seemingly without effort. James Hayter as Mr Pickwick is definitive (in my opinion) and his supporting band of loyal club members step off the page and onto the film set effortlessly. Mr Jingle, the lovable rouge, pushes his way to the front from the very start whilst the villainous representatives of the legal profession Dobson and Fogg have to be two of the most odious creations ever to grace fiction. Never the less they are sadly so recognizable even today.The film chooses to concentrate on the trial of Mr Pickwick for 'Breach of Promise of Marriage 'as the main set piece and develops from this a slightly more dramatic theme as the plot moves into the Fleet Prison, but whilst the deprivation is conveyed well it is never over stated or allowed to slacken the pace for long.One slight miss calculation has to be the casting of Jingles Henchman 'Job Trotter' whom I've always conceived to be a rather bright if debauched young man, but here he is played as a slow lumbering character. In fact this actor is so out of character that I was forced to ponder whether he had shares in the making of the film. He strikes a jarring note, rather like a cracked bell in a carillon. However Job Trotter is a minor character so one can afford to be magnanimous.A good little film ( black and white of course ) and a pleasant gentle entertainment. I think even those who have no professed interest in Dickens would be entertained.

I recently purchased this dvd it was the first time a purchase from or through Amazon didn't arrive on time or at all in this case. Not having a degree in computer studies I found it difficult to report this simple fact and contact Amazon. I was left feeling frustrated and a bit annoyed by the fact it is simple to part with the money but no where as easy to reclaim it. I also was angered to find out that I had not noticed an opt out for a particular delivery option. I would prefer to make an option rather than being left feeling tricked into it.However, I have rated the product on the fact that when I did make contact the problem was rectified efficiently and in a manner that eased some of the frustration. The product is fine. The fact I still feel a bit deceived by the postal option I didn't feel I could give it the 5 stars.

I purchased the DVD after seeing a recent TV broadcast. It is a somewhat over the top adaption but with great English character actors of the age making it very entertaining.However, the TV broadcast was in colour and so I was quite surprised to receive the DVD and which is in monochrome. This wasn't too bad (I later learned that the TV broadcast was in a colourised version) but the print is not up to standards of b/w films of the day, hence 3*. The adaptation is worthy of a better transcription to DVD.

A funny vintage old fashioned movie based on the comic writings of a famous author. This movie shows the comic manners of an era of hundreds of years ago in the mid eighteen hundreds. It is about a bunch of rich young men having fun visiting pubs and dances around the country. They meet unusual people are always helped safely and with kindness by a character called - Sam Weller. He is a Londoner who cannot pronounce his Rs and speaks in a dialect . He knows how other less wealthy people live and have fun . The young men are not that knowledgeable about ordinary people at this time and so their mistakes in dealing with this society can be funny at times. The original book on which this film is based, is supposed to be a comedy. It is well worth the purchase price and very entertaining. It is seldom shown on tv these days, so it is a treasure in its own right. Excellent product. Thanks

This is the most charming filmed version made, has a roster of distinctive British character actors keeping interest throughout - James Hayter, Kathleen Harrison, Harry Fowler, Hattie Jacques, Joyce Grenfell, Athene Sayler, Hermione Gingold, Hermione Baddeley and many more . It really is a delight and will lift spirits with it's sense of wit, fun and subtle comedy. This IS the Pickwick Papers. Those with a sharp eye will also recognise particular London streets where location filming took place.The perfect film to snuggle up with, curtains drawn, fire lit, crumpets toasted, tea in the pot.