David Copperfield (1999 British TV/WGBH)
Picture: C+
Sound: B- Extras: C Program: B+
For those that think Charles Dickens when they hear David
Copperfield and not that suave magician guy, you will be glad to know that
there is yet another version of this film now available on DVD, this version is
from 1999 made for British TV starring some of the best in the business. Those names are none less than Ian McKellan,
Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins, Tom Wilkinson, and Colin Farrell just to name a few.
No wonder it was nominated for an
Emmy.
The DVD is available individually or as a set from WBGH
Boston video as part of their Charles Dickens Collection. This is probably the best version of the
novel as well, although there are some other contenders out there. A year after this director Peter Medak would
pull together another TV version, which is said to rival this version. There have also been three mini-series made,
as well as about five different Telefilms and a few TV series, Ian McKellan
actually was the title role in the 1966 version. There were a few silent interpretations as well, which along with
Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and A
Christmas Carol these are some of the most adapted stories in film and TV
for sure!
This version is nearly three hours long and does a great
job of telling the story with little alterations and stays with the source
material well. At the same time it presents the story in a very accessible way
for newer audiences and has a good enough of a production value going for it
that it distinguishes itself among the rest.
Ciaran McMenamin plays the title character very well, even coming from a
TV background the actor manages to project the depth of a more solid actor
taking on the material with force.
Everything seems to gel around our main character quite well.
Presentation is also on the very good side. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is surprisingly
dynamic and very solid all around. In
fact, most of the audio from WBGH Boston video has been great and we at this
site have enjoyed their catalog they are issuing to DVD. Picture quality is also equally pleasing and
would make you believe that this program is more of a theatrical release than
something made for TV. While it was
still shot with the framing of a TV show or Telefilm, this is not a drawback at
all because there is some excellent use of camera techniques to make the
program work.
We have certainly enjoyed all of these Charles Dickens
presentations from WBGH Boston and are quite satisfied with their quality and
their dedication to substance! Too bad
more of the smaller companies are not doing the same, in fact, too bad some of
the larger companies are likewise not doing that.
- Nate Goss
