Catching Up On Mr. Dickens

[Mike Scott]

I've had the same group of movie adaptations of Charles Dickens' novels for several years and have just got around to picking up DVDs of the final three, being "Hard Times" (3.33 hrs 1976), "Little Dorrit" (6 hrs 1987) and "Dombey and Son" (BBC 5 hrs 1983). All very well done, though I wouldn't call them my favorites.

[Mike Scott]

Anybody got any favorite movies/mini-series based on Dickens?

The 1951 Alastair Sim version of "A Christmas Carol" has always been my favorite, but closely followed by David Lean's late '40s versions of "Oliver Twist" and "Great Expectations". Also very much love the BBC adaptations of "Martin Chuzzlewit" and "Our Mutual Friend".

[Lunkenstein]

Anybody got any favorite movies/mini-series based on Dickens?

The 1951 Alastair Sim version of "A Christmas Carol" has always been my favorite

I've loved that version best since I first saw it as a kid.

[Mike Scott]

I've loved that version best since I first saw it as a kid.

The first version I saw was the Mr. Magoo version in 1964 at age 11. It's still my second favorite version of "A Christmas Carol".

[Lunkenstein]

The first version I saw was the Mr. Magoo version in 1964 at age 11. It's still my second favorite version of "A Christmas Carol".

That's my 2nd favorite version too, lol. The songs are so good in that. I have both on DVD.

[Mike Scott]

The songs are so good in that.

They really are! Music by Jule Styne ("Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "Gypsy", "Funny Girl") and lyrics by Bob Merrill ("Funny Girl").

[Mike Scott]

I rewatched "Our Mutual Friend" (the 1998 BBC miniseries) the last couple of days. Highly recommended!

David Morrissey ("The Governor" on "The Walking Dead") plays the creepy schoolmaster "Mr. Headstone". That guy is messed up! David Bradley (Harry Potter movies and "The Strain") and Timothy Spall (Harry Potter movies) have main cast parts and the venerable Peter Vaughan ("Brazil" and "Game of Thrones") played "Mr. Boffin".

[Haunted hearse]

The first version I saw was the Mr. Magoo version in 1964 at age 11. It's still my second favorite version of "A Christmas Carol".

My second favorite version as well, and when I used to watch it on a local station, they typically cut a few parts out. I found a DVD collection, which included 3 other Christmas themed films, and it was uncut.

[Mike Scott]

. . they typically cut a few parts out.

I remember they would cut the opening, where Magoo goes to the theater and gets ready for the show, all the while singing the opening song. Don't remember what other parts were cut.

I rewatched the BBC miniseries of "Martin Chuzzlewit". Paul Scofield stars as Old Martin (and his brother), with Pete Postlethwaite as "Tigg" and Tom Wilkinson as "Pecksniff". The whole cast is great, but those three really gave award worthy performances.

[Mike Scott]

Re-watched the BBC adaptation of "Bleak House", with Diana Rigg. Also, re-watched "Nickolas Nickleby" (1947) and "The Pickwick Papers" (1952).