David Copperfield (1935)

David Copperfield
Directed by George Cukor
1935/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Repeat viewing

[box] Mr. Micawber: Copperfield, you perceive before you, the shattered fragments of a temple once called Man. The blossom is blighted. The leaf is withered. The God of Day goes down upon the dreary scene. In short, I am forever floored.[/box]

An MGM adaptation of the Dickens novel, this film follows the life of David Copperfield from his posthumous birth to a childlike widow, to the cruel treatment by his stepfather, friendship with the Micawbers, eventual home with his aunt, and young adulthood.  This was one of those productions that allowed the studio to show off its vast resources of talent in the many character parts.  With Freddy Bartholomew as the young David, Edna May Oliver as Aunt Betsey Trotwood, Basil Rathbone as Murdstone, Jessie Ralph as Peggoty, Lionel Barrymore as Dan Peggoty, W.C. Fields as Micawber, Elsa Lanchester as Clickett, Roland Young as Uriah Heep, Margaret O’Sullivan as Dora and many, many more.

It is impossible to convey the story of the novel in a two hour movie and so the ending, in particular, seems rushed.  Freddie Bartholomew can be very touching at times and a little too much of a good thing at others.  That said, there are some wonderful performances here.  Basil Rathbone is absolutely chilling as Murdstone, quite different from his swashbuckling villains, and Edna May Oliver is hilarious as the intimidating but tender Aunt Betsey.  Finally, it’s a treat to see W.C. Fields as Micawber playing quite the devoted husband and father to his brood!  I enjoyed this.

Trailer