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Product Description
This Academy Award®-nominated adaptation of Charles Dickens' much loved comedy classic follows the hilarious misadventures of the Pickwick Club as they tour Victorian England. The Pickwick Papers sees the wealthy bachelor members of the gentleman's club learn about life as they meet some of Charles Dickens' best loved characters along the way.
Review
Brimming over with memorable characters, this film is well served by some solid performances, with James Hayter the embodiment of Pickwick... Nigel Patrick is bang on form as the disreputable Mr Jingle and Kathleen Harrison is excellentas Rachael Wardle... --Radio Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
"And now you all know each other, let's be comfortable and happy, that's what I say!"
7 April 2009
Format:DVD
The pleasures of The Pickwick Papers rest with the characters Charles Dickens created and the remarkable scrapes he puts them in. The pleasures of the movie rest with the actors who play the characters and their skill at comic invention. It's not an even contest, but even so the movie has the many delights of charm, clever innocence, friendly but sometimes pointed social criticism, misunderstood contrapulations and complexatory ambulations.
Dickens' good-natured appreciation of the members and purpose of the Pickwick Club are just about matched by two sterling performances, the first by James Hayter as Mr. Samuel Pickwick and the second by Nigel Patrick as Mr. Alfred Jingle. Hayter, a long-time and pleasantly rotund British character actor, immediately makes us welcome to the eccentric world of the Pickwickians, those four men who are members of the Pickwick Club, chaired, of course, by the kindly Mr. Pickwick. The purpose of the club? Why, to study human nature and to be of service to it. They do this by making note of and reporting back to each other at their meetings all the interesting things they observe and encounter. In just a moment they will embark on a journey from London to expand their field of observations. Very soon they will meet Mr. Jingle, who will provide them with much material. Nigel Patrick as Jingle nicely balances Mr. Pickwick. Mr. Jingle is a charlatan, a rogue, a traveling player, and an endlessly inventive and quick-talking scoundrel of almost genuine bonhomie. He is most likeable, but never let your hand stray far from your purse. Patrick, who was a major British star in his time, gives one of his best performances as this scalawag and rogue.... Read more ›
Dickens' good-natured appreciation of the members and purpose of the Pickwick Club are just about matched by two sterling performances, the first by James Hayter as Mr. Samuel Pickwick and the second by Nigel Patrick as Mr. Alfred Jingle. Hayter, a long-time and pleasantly rotund British character actor, immediately makes us welcome to the eccentric world of the Pickwickians, those four men who are members of the Pickwick Club, chaired, of course, by the kindly Mr. Pickwick. The purpose of the club? Why, to study human nature and to be of service to it. They do this by making note of and reporting back to each other at their meetings all the interesting things they observe and encounter. In just a moment they will embark on a journey from London to expand their field of observations. Very soon they will meet Mr. Jingle, who will provide them with much material. Nigel Patrick as Jingle nicely balances Mr. Pickwick. Mr. Jingle is a charlatan, a rogue, a traveling player, and an endlessly inventive and quick-talking scoundrel of almost genuine bonhomie. He is most likeable, but never let your hand stray far from your purse. Patrick, who was a major British star in his time, gives one of his best performances as this scalawag and rogue.... Read more ›
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By C. Jarvis
Format:VHS Tape
This was the latest in a recent trend for the filming of Dickens novels (followed in 1958 by 'A Tale of Two Cities'). It followed hot on the heels of Brian Desmond Hurst's superior 'Scrooge' the previous year. 'The Pickwick Papers' is probarbly on a par with Cavalcanti's 'Nicholas Nickleby' released in 1947 i.e. not as good as the others but still with some merit. Director Noel Langley also adapted the screenplay and manages to create enough Dickens flavour for the film to be a success. The casting too is faultless - James Hayter makes a fine Mr Pickwick and Kathleen Harrison is memorable as the twittering Rachel Wardle but Nigel patrick probarbly comes off best as the sly Mr Jingle. Certainly not the best of the Dickens adaptions but definitley an enjoyable movie.
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By mrs_t
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
if you love Dickens "The Pickwick Papers" (as i do) you will really enjoy this film, james hayter is perfect as Pickwick..he IS Pickwick and the other characters are spot on. So funny and gentle, perfect for a sunday afternoon by the fire.
Obv with the length of the book not all the material and plots etc (eg sam's marriage) are included, but you will not find a better visual adaption ever.
it's true
Obv with the length of the book not all the material and plots etc (eg sam's marriage) are included, but you will not find a better visual adaption ever.
it's true
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By martin kemp
Format:DVD
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.
The perfect film to snuggle up with, curtains drawn, fire lit, crumpets toasted, tea in the pot.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As we know,Charles Dickens was a master of his craft,and therefore
A pleasure and a challenge for any good director to adapt any Dickens
work to film.
In my opinion,one of the greatest film adaptations of a dickens works
Has got to be Pickwick Papers!!,A masterpiece of filming ,an amazing cast of actors
that seem to have been resurrected from Dickens time just to make this film!!!.
this is a must! for any serious collecter of films,you will never regret it .
Thank you Amazon. Pany x.
A pleasure and a challenge for any good director to adapt any Dickens
work to film.
In my opinion,one of the greatest film adaptations of a dickens works
Has got to be Pickwick Papers!!,A masterpiece of filming ,an amazing cast of actors
that seem to have been resurrected from Dickens time just to make this film!!!.
this is a must! for any serious collecter of films,you will never regret it .
Thank you Amazon. Pany x.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Sansespoir
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A must for collectors of British comedy! The story line, as with other early film versions of Dickens, distils some choice situations from the original book. The quirky style of acting matches the eccentric behaviour of the Pickwick Club, its members and the people who cross their path. However, it is the brilliant cast that holds your attention to the end. The quality of the DVD is pretty good considering the age of the production. Buy, watch and enjoy the style of this particular version, which earned a well-deserved Bafta nomination for Hayter (though Harry Fowler gets my vote!).
By Lyns
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I knew what i was purchasing.. luve this story and this is a very atmospheric version of the tale and well compliments Dickens book.. cannot better the 'beautiful descriptive' way the author writes BUT this is a great way to share with kids.
By S. P. Durney
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a smashing! Old fashioned humour and a lovely pace of acting that just flows along with ease. Lost in time watching it, and loved that feeling!
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Poor interpredation
This is not a good film and did not capture the character of the Pickwick club members. It was more Billy Bunter than Pickwick. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Mr. C. Paterson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great film and central performance from James Hayter...
I am not sure if the colour adds to the story or acting but it is interesting to see how the process has colourised the original black & white print. Read more
Published 7 months ago by C. FULLER
5.0 out of 5 stars
So Funny
Its been years since i last saw this film and forgotten how funny it was. Some of the best parts of the book are on show in this version. A film to make you laugh out loud.
Published 9 months ago by M. Dignum
5.0 out of 5 stars
pleasant surprise
remembered it from school days and a bbc production
initially this dvd annoyed me but i finally enjoyed the very honourable end
initially this dvd annoyed me but i finally enjoyed the very honourable end
Published 12 months ago by lassie
5.0 out of 5 stars
GWhizz
Quite simply fantastic, great book and great film, pure entertainment, really funny with the silly ditty "Arabella" being sang intermittingly in the film, from Sam Weller to Mr... Read more
Published 15 months ago by GWhizz
5.0 out of 5 stars
British character acting at its finest
The strength of this version of Pickwick Papers is the cast of British character actors of the early 1950s. Read more
Published 16 months ago by UK Scribe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good service
Very happy with the prompt service. DVD arrived in perfect condition and I thoroughly enjoyed watching The Pickwick Papers. Read more
Published 19 months ago by L. G. Mounsher
5.0 out of 5 stars
I just had to replace my video tape with a DVD...
I've had a copy of this wonderful film on VHS tape which I watch several times a year but decided to replace it with the more modern DVD format. Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by G. M. Collins
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