Rating: 
Summary: Compromised by (lack of) technology
Review: As a two hour distillation of an 800-page book, this movie is much better than the Masterpiece Theatre version: all the big scenes and memorable lines are retained here. The actors are usually high-profile British actors of the 1970's: Edith Evans (Aunt Betsey), Susan Hampshire (Agnes), Ron Moody (Uriah Heep), Ralph Richardson (Micawber) and cameos by Laurence Olivier (Creakle), Richard Attenborough, Windy Hiller & Michael Redgrave. The score is composed & conducted by Sir Malcolm Arnold. But the "fly in the ointment" is that this marvelous adaptation by Jack Pulman has not been remastered! Colors are faded, but worse, there are a number of "blips" in some scenes. So the end result is a 5-star performance compromised by the lack of technology.
The movie opens with David, grieving and upset at the blows life has dealt him, aimlessly walking the English coast. He remembers in a series of "flashbacks" the blows he has suffered. After his litany of misfortunes are recounted, the development of Aunt Betsey's & the Wickfield's current dilemmas are resolved through David's involvement in the current world, rather than his absorption in the past.
I had read (& loved) the novel about five years before I first saw this production on TV in the late '70's; other reviewers seem to have had difficulty with the series of flashbacks used in the film---I did not.
Rating: 
Summary: Worthwhile despite DVD quality
Review: Delbert Mann's TV movie of David Copperfield is unique among film adaptations in that it tells the entire story from a series of flashbacks rather than an ongoing narrative. It works extremely well, adds to the emotional punch of the entire story, further illuminates Dickens' wonderful characters and is aided by a haunting musical score by composer Malcolm Arnold.
It also boasts a pretty fabulous cast including Dame Edith Evans, Susan Hampshire, Richard Attenborough, Ron Moody, Wendy Hiller, Lawrence Olivier and Sir Ralph Richardson; a veritable who's who of the finest British actors of the 20th century! Some have commented that Robin Phillips is bland as the title character. I couldm't disagree more. He is certainly the most cerebral, tortured David in any of the adaptations and also cuts a handsome figure in the movie. In short, he's splendid.
Now to the DVD quality. I certainly agree that it is not good. The colors are a bit washed out, there is some clipped editing and a few moments of nasty film print. That being said, it is far from being unwatchable as some others have suggested. The musical soundtrack comes through fine and the dialogue is clear. And as much as I would welcome a digital restoration of the film, it's TV origins suggest that this would be unlikely.
Frankly, having the movie on DVD at a bargain price is blessing enough. I highly recommend it to those interested in an outstanding version of the story and willing to put up with technical imperfections.
Rating:
Summary: Compromised by (lack of) technology
Review: I first saw this made-for-TV production over 20 years ago, when it was bright, shiny, new, and sported a dream cast of British pros, many of whom are no longer with us. Unfortunately, there are only two DVD releases of this production and BOTH are equally wretched, whichever you choose. The DVD has extremely poor color and looks as if it were taken from an old, faded video print, with lots of serious color bleeds and other problems you'd find in a video that's ready to be discarded. Any night shots, many indoor shots, and anything in which the color red is dominant will cause your eyes to positively ache. For example, the scene where Steerforth's drowned body is discovered originally had some emotional impact, but on the DVD, the body is so unrecognizable that ones only reaction is annoyance. And the sound quality is so tinny and horrible you'll miss a great deal of the dialogue. If this production is ever released on a decent DVD, one will be able to relish some incredible performances, especially those of Ron Moody as Uriah, Laurence Olivier as Creakle, Ralph Richardson and Wendy Hiller as the Micawbers, Edith Evans as Betsy Trotwood, Pamela Franklin as Dora, and Susan Hampshire as Agnes, to name just a few. Even so, there are those who might find the non-linear approach to this story confusing, since it is told in flashbacks, but I think the real confusion here rests with the viewer's inability to see and the listener's inability to hear. When you add a non-linear structure to THAT mix, you're done for. In short, don't buy this DVD -- it's cheap but no bargain. Hope instead that some day a decent copy will be available, because this version is an insult to all the talent who originally contributed to this production.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Judge the Movie by the DVD
Review: I first saw this made-for-TV production over 20 years ago, when it was bright, shiny, new, and sported a dream cast of British pros, many of whom are no longer with us. Unfortunately, there are only two DVD releases of this production and BOTH are equally wretched, whichever you choose. The DVD has extremely poor color and looks as if it were taken from an old, faded video print, with lots of serious color bleeds and other problems you'd find in a video that's ready to be discarded. Any night shots, many indoor shots, and anything in which the color red is dominant will cause your eyes to positively ache. For example, the scene where Steerforth's drowned body is discovered originally had some emotional impact, but on the DVD, the body is so unrecognizable that ones only reaction is annoyance. And the sound quality is so tinny and horrible you'll miss a great deal of the dialogue. If this production is ever released on a decent DVD, one will be able to relish some incredible performances, especially those of Ron Moody as Uriah, Laurence Olivier as Creakle, Ralph Richardson and Wendy Hiller as the Micawbers, Edith Evans as Betsy Trotwood, Pamela Franklin as Dora, and Susan Hampshire as Agnes, to name just a few. Even so, there are those who might find the non-linear approach to this story confusing, since it is told in flashbacks, but I think the real confusion here rests with the viewer's inability to see and the listener's inability to hear. When you add a non-linear structure to THAT mix, you're done for. In short, don't buy this DVD -- it's cheap but no bargain. Hope instead that some day a decent copy will be available, because this version is an insult to all the talent who originally contributed to this production.
Rating: 
Summary: Unwatchable
Review: I had to return this video as the sound quality and video transfer were so poor. The adaptation may have been ok, but I will have to wait till I find a better transfer.
Rating:
Summary: Unwatchable
Review: I had to return this video as the sound quality and video transfer were so poor. The adaptation may have been ok, but I will have to wait till I find a better transfer.
Rating:
Summary: Unviewable
Review: I intend to return this video as the sound quality as well as picture quality are very, very poor. I was extremely disappointed as I have been trying to find the old BBC presentation of this story and thought this was it!!
Rating:
Summary: Unviewable
Review: I intend to return this video as the sound quality as well as picture quality are very, very poor. I was extremely disappointed as I have been trying to find the old BBC presentation of this story and thought this was it!!
Rating:
Summary: Could not even finish watching it! ZERO STARS!
Review: I would give it zero stars if I could. Despite its "illustrious cast" this movie is the worst film adaptation of any Dickens work I have ever seen. I purchased the DVD on ebay thinking "DVD" meant "quality" but I couldn't have been more wrong. The DVD picture and sound quality is so incredibly awful you think you are viewing a poorly copied video tape (one that sat in a hot car for a few hours or got lost in a sandbox!). I couldn't understand every other word and the "visual noise" (scratches, spots, lines, etc.) were so numerous and distracting it was like trying to watch a movie in a room full of buzzing insects. Besides the poor picture and sound the movie itself was simply unbearable. It was incredibly slow, dull and one of the most boring movies I ever attempted to endure. I finally gave up and called it quits. I won't even try to give away my copy. It's not even worth watching if its free. I will never purchase another DVD or video by Brentwood Home Video again!
Rating:
Summary: Could not even finish watching it! ZERO STARS!
Review: I would give it zero stars if I could. Despite its "illustrious cast" this movie is the worst film adaptation of any Dickens work I have ever seen. I purchased the DVD on ebay thinking "DVD" meant "quality" but I couldn't have been more wrong. The DVD picture and sound quality is so incredibly awful you think you are viewing a poorly copied video tape (one that sat in a hot car for a few hours or got lost in a sandbox!). I couldn't understand every other word and the "visual noise" (scratches, spots, lines, etc.) were so numerous and distracting it was like trying to watch a movie in a room full of buzzing insects. Besides the poor picture and sound the movie itself was simply unbearable. It was incredibly slow, dull and one of the most boring movies I ever attempted to endure. I finally gave up and called it quits. I won't even try to give away my copy. It's not even worth watching if its free. I will never purchase another DVD or video by Brentwood Home Video again!
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