Product Description

These four acclaimed adaptations bring to life the legendary characters, devastating drama, and coarse humor of one of the world's greatest novelists.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12202 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-08-15
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 1090 minutes

Amazon.com
For Dickens aficionados who own the first DVD Collection, but still want some more, this four-disc set collects four sterling BBC productions of some of the author's essential masterworks. The best of the lot is David Copperfield, starring a pre-Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe as the tragically put-upon young Copperfield. Shot on film, this impeccable 1999 production is an embarrassment of riches, with a cast that includes Academy Award-winner Maggie Smith, who earned an Emmy nomination as the formidable Aunt Betsey, Oscar-nominee Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings) as the cruel and sadistic teacher Mr. Creakle, a wonderful Bob Hoskins as the debt-ridden Micawber, Trevor Eve as David's loathsome stepfather Mr. Murdstone, and Nicholas Lyndhurst as the dastardly clerk Uriah Heap. Holding his own with this formidable ensemble is Ciaran McMenamin as the adult David, whose ultimate triumph is particularly hard earned. Rich with incident and populated by some of literature's most memorable characters, this production does satisfying justice to one of Dickens's most beloved and oft-told sagas. When it comes to a series of unfortunate events, Lemony Snicket has nothing on Dickens.

The Old Curiosity Shop, from 1979, stars Sebastian Shaw as the grandfather determined to provide a better life for his beloved and beautiful granddaughter, Nell (the winning Natalie Ogle). But his gambling leaves them at the mercy to the bent and malignant Quilp (Trevor Peacock). The lesser known Dombey and Son, from 1983, is a tale of foolish pride, comeuppance, and redemption starring Julian Glover as Mr. Dombey, so determined that his son take over his business that he cruelly neglects his daughter, Florence (the heartbreaking Lysette Anthony). The Pickwick Papers, from 1985, is a welcome comic change of pace that follows the misadventures of "the immortal" (and comically rotund) Mr. Pickwick (Nigel Stock) and his three friends as they embark on the first expedition of "the corresponding society of the Pickwick Club." Shot on video, the latter three miniseries are somewhat stodgy in appearance. The adaptations are faithful to a fault, but Dickens' masterful tales provide inspiration enough for the casts who grandly rise to the occasion. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews

superbly told version of the classic novel
After renting this series from my local library, I decided to purchase it along with the rest of the Charles Dickens collections, all of which were also enjoyable. I found the novel a bit difficult to understand and at times boring, but this production really made the story come alive. I was not bored at all while watching the series, and would recommend that Charles Dickens fans see this series. The acting is great throughout the film, especially Maggie Smith as the aunt. Daniel Radcliff also does an excellent job as the young David. The costumes in the movie were also splendid to look at. The series really helps you to identify with the characters and understand the world as it was during the time period.

Great Series
This collection is made up from a TV series from the way it plays. In other words episode start, serial, episode ending and credits. That is the downside when you want to watch "Great Expectations" or others unbroken from start to finish. It would have been a good idea for the DVD producers to have editted all this out. Otherwise, this series is probably the best among many that have been produced in the last 3 decades. Still some of the older black-white movies such as Scrooge made in the 50's manage to grasp the ambience of living and other conditions in Dicken's time. This is not a bad effort though and is money well spent. Importantly there is no embellishment of the script and faithfully follows Dickens's books, (with good value too).

Good condition, shipped fast
The item arrived within 3 days which was less than the estimated shipping time. It arrived without incident and in peak condition.