David Copperfield

The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger. 1935 MGM/Turner Entertainment.
Starring: W.C. Fields, Lionel Barrymore, Freddie Bartholomew, Maureen O'Sullivan, Basil Rathbone
Director: George Cukor
Available at Amazon: Single DVD, or as part of the Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection.

The film adaptation of Dickens' great novel comes across more as a long series of seemingly unrelated sketches connected by the character David Copperfield, played by Freddie Bartholomew as a youth, and Frank Lawton as an adult. David was the apple of his mother's (Elizabeth Allan) eye until Edward Murdstone (Rathbone) came into the picture, marrying her, and imposing his strict ways on the young David. His mother's death during childhood is the first step in a long and difficult journey for David, as he endures various setbacks personally and professionally, but still comes out a stronger person.

W.C. Fields portrayed Wilkins Micawber, who stays close to David as he grows up. Fields also played the character with his normal American accent, despite a clause in his contract requiring him to use a British accent. This is also the only movie that Fields appears in where he doesn't ad lib. He was also loaned from Paramount Pictures to MGM after Charles Laughton, the original actor for Micawber, recommended him.

Recommended movie.