David Copperfield

Original title: The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger

1935
Approved
2h 10m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

4.8K

YOUR RATING

A gentle orphan discovers life and love in an indifferent adult world.

Play trailer3:26

1 Video

39 Photos

Period Drama Adventure Drama Family Romance

A gentle orphan discovers life and love in an indifferent adult world.A gentle orphan discovers life and love in an indifferent adult world.A gentle orphan discovers life and love in an indifferent adult world.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

4.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 1 win & 4 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 3:26

Official Trailer

Photos39

+ 32

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
In response to the widespread criticism of his having played Micawber with a strong American accent, W.C. Fields responded, "My father was an Englishman, and I inherited this accent from him! Are you trying to go against nature?"

Goofs
Micawber chases away David's tormentors and puts his arm around him, but the arm is gone in the next immediate shot. In nearly all scenes with W.C. Fields, there are continuity errors that editing does not mask.

Quotes
Mr. Micawber: Copperfield, at present, I have nothing to bestow but advice. Still, that advice is so far worth taking. I have never taken it myself, and am the miserable creature you behold. Young friend, I counsel you: annual income, 20 pounds. Annual expenditure, 19 pounds. Result? Happiness. Annual income, 20 pounds. Annual expenditure, 21 pounds. Result? Misery. Farewell, Copperfield. I shall be happy to improve your prospects, in case anything turns up - which, I may say, I am hourly expecting.

Crazy credits
Film opens with the last sentence of Charles Dickens's preface to the original edition: "Like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts, a favourite child, and his name is David Copperfield."

Alternate versions
Also shown in a computer colorized version.

Connections
Featured in David O. Selznick: 'Your New Producer' (1935)

Soundtracks
The First Noel
(uncredited)
17th century (or earlier) carol
[Partially Sung and played during the opening credits]

User reviews60

Review

Featured review

10/10

Far Better Than "Okay"

This film is not just "okay", its a masterful adaptation of one of the world's great novels. Whatever shortcomings it may have for modern audiences due to its age and the technical limitations of the time are more than compensated for by the immense care and effort lavished on the production and a cast that is impeccably "right". Truly, this is one of the finest jobs of casting you could imagine, as MGM was blessed at this time to have a slate of brilliant and irreplacable character actors. My favorites: W.C. Fields at his peak, born to play Micawber; the inimitable and wonderful Edna May Oliver, Betsy Trotwood to a T; and Lennox Pawle, unforgettable as Mr. Dick. And if I wanted to be really tiresome, I could probably name 8 others. Dickens would have been pleased!