David Copperfield (1999 film)
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| David Copperfield | |
|---|---|
| Format | Costume drama |
| Written by | Adrian Hodges (from the novel by Charles Dickens) |
| Directed by | Simon Curtis |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Kate Harwood |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One |
| Picture format | PAL (576i), 16:9 |
| Original run | December 25, 1999 – December 26, 1999 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
David Copperfield is a two part BBC television drama adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel David Copperfield, adapted by Adrian Hodges. The first part was shown on Christmas Day (December 25) and the second on Boxing Day (December 26) in 1999.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
David Copperfield - played by Mark Doran as a young baby, by Daniel Radcliffe during his childhood years during his time at Blunderstone, Salem House, London (Part 1) and Canterbury, and by Ciaran McMenamin during adulthood, first appearing after he left school to pursue a career as a clerk.
Clara Copperfield - played by Emilia Fox: David's mother who was widowed just 6 months before David's birth and later married Mr Murdstone, whose tyrannical behaviour contributed towards Clara's declining health and eventual death. Her son Edward Murdstone junior also died, aged just 3 months.
Edward Murdstone - played by Trevor Eve: David's abusive step-father whose reign of terror contributed towards Clara's death. After Clara died, Mr Murdstone sent David to work in London at a blacking factory. He re-appeared at Dover, demanding that Betsey Trotwood should hand David over then or never - 'If you step in, you step in forever' he warned her. Betsey decided to become David's legal guardian and gave Mr Murdstone a dressing down for his cruel treatment of David and his mother.
Jane Murdstone - played by Zoe Wanamaker: Mr Murdstone's cruel sister who missed no opportunity to torment David and relished her brother's abuse towards him.
Clara Peggotty - played by Pauline Quirke: Clara Copperfield's faithful servant who was fired by the Murdstones after Clara's death and went to live with her relatives at Yarmouth. David tracked her down several years later and she eventually became a servant at his own home. She later marries Barkis, played by Michael Elphick, the local cart driver who leaves an astronomical £3,000 in his will - £2,000 to Peggotty and £1,000 to Dan.
Dan Peggotty - played by Alun Armstrong: Clara Peggotty's brother who lives at Yarmouth with his nephew Ham, niece Emily and widowed friend Mrs Gummidge, played by Patsy Byrne.
Ham Peggotty - played by James Thornton: Dan Peggotty's nephew who was engaged to his cousin Emily until she ran away with Steerforth. Ironically, Ham drowned in the stormy sea as he unsuccessfully tried to save Steerforth from drowning.
Emily - Dan Peggotty's niece, played by Laura Harling who has a special relationship with David on his visit to Yarmouth as a child. As an adult, she was played by Aislin McGuckin. Emily was engaged to her cousin Ham but ran away with Steerforth and ended up working as a prostitute in London slums. Was rescued by David and Dan. She started a new life in Australia with her uncle after being rescued from her miserable life as a prostitute
Mr Creakle - played by Ian McKellen: The vicious, whispering headmaster of Salem House - David's boarding school. He is a friend of Mr Murdstone, and is joined by a sidekick, Tungay, played by Karl Johnson.
James Steerforth - played by Harry Lloyd as a boy and Oliver Milburn as an adult. An older boy who wins David's admiration at Salem House after he saving him from a group of bullies, then character later meets David in Canterbury, some years after they had been at school together. On their visit to Yarmouth, Steerforth falls for Emily and they run away together. After Emily was rescued, David returned to Yarmouth to find a storm raging on the coast and he recognised one of the men in the sea as Steerforth. Ham tries to rescue Steerforth but they both drown. His mother, Mrs Steerforth, played by Cherie Lunghi, is Steerforth's wealthy widowed mother who has high expectations of him and is horrified when he runs away with Emily. Rosa Dartle, played by Clare Holman is Steerforth's cousin whose face was scarred by his youthful violence. She loved Steerforth and was livid with Emily for running away with him. Littimer, played by Kenneth MacDonald was Steerforth's manservant who accompanied him on his wanderings abroad with Emily.
Wilkins Micawber - played by Bob Hoskins: David's friendly landlord who took him in during his time at Mr Murdstone's blacking shop. Did time in a debtor's prison and on his release moved to Plymouth. David caught up with Mr Micawber a decade or so later in Canterbury. After uncovering Uriah Heep's fraudulent scheme, Mr Micawber and his family emigrated to Australia where he enjoyed a successful career as a magistrate and bank manager. Mrs Micawber - played by Imelda Staunton was Mr Micawber's loyal wife and mother of his three children.
Mrs Crupp - played by Dawn French: David's landlady who gave him board during his time at Mr Spenlow's workplace.
Pawnbroker - played by Paul Whitehouse: David learnt the skill of haggling at the expense of this man as he tried to keep the Micawbers afloat.
Betsey Trotwood - played by Maggie Smith: David's great aunt who walked out on his mother after she gave birth to a boy, having endured an unhappy experience of men. She was forced to re-evaluate her opinions some years later when an orphaned David arrived at her Dover home in hope of being taken in. She guided David to a successful career as a clerk and author, and her wish finally came true when David's second wife Agnes gave birth to a baby girl called Betsy Trotwood Copperfield at the end of the story. Her companion is Mr Dick, played by Ian McNeice, who befriends David on his arrival at Betsey's home in Dover and remains loyal to him.
Mr Spenlow - played by James Grout is the owner of a London-based law firm to which David was apprenticed on leaving school. Disapproved of his daughter Dora's engagement to David and died shortly afterwards from a heart attack.
Dora Spenlow - played by Joanna Page: David's first wife was Dora - the immature daughter of Mr Spenlow. Her inability to be anything more than a 'child bride' nearly destroyed David, but he never lost his love for her and was much happier after deciding to adapt himself to Dora. She became pregnant a year after their marriage but suffered a miscarriage and died after failing to recover. Julia Mills, played by Clare Wilkie was Dora Spenlow's 'confidential friend'.
Uriah Heep - played by Nicholas Lyndhurst: Mr Wickfield's lurking clerk who mishandled his master's funds and was eventually sent to prison for it. His loyal mother was played by Thelma Barlow.
Mr Wickfield - played by Oliver Ford-Davies: Betsey Trotwood's solicitor who was David's landlord during his time at school in Canterbury and became his father-in-law after his marriage to Agnes.
Agnes Wickfield - played by Antonia Corrigan and later Amanda Ryan. Mr Wickfield's daughter is like a sister to David after he moves into their house during his time at school in Canterbury. She later becomes David Copperfield's wife and the mother of his three children after the death of David's first wife Dora.
[edit] Plot
[edit] Part one
David Copperfield is a posthumous child. He was born in Blunderstone, Suffolk, three months after the death of his father, who also called David Copperfield. On the night of David's birth, his Great-Aunt Betsey Trotwood arrives at the Rookery - the Copperfield family home - and eagerly anticipates the birth of a baby daughter. She insists that Clara Copperfield's baby must be called Betsey Trotwood Copperfield, and that she will be her godmother.
Doctor Chillip informs Miss Trotwood that Mrs Copperfield's baby is a boy, and she is horrified. Betsey Trotwood's experience of men had not been a happy one, and the arrival of one more in the family was the final straw. She disappears from David Copperfield's life almost before it has begun, seemingly never to return.
David has a happy childhood. His mother and their servant Clara Peggotty were devoted to him and he grew up knowing that he was a loved child. When David is nine years old, Peggotty takes him on a visit to her brother's home at Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast. He met Peggotty's brother Dan as well as his nephew Ham, niece Emily and friend Mrs Gummidge. David had a particularly special relationship with Little Em'ly.
On David's return from Yarmouth, he finds out that his mother is married to Mr Murdstone and he takes an instant dislike to his stepfather, who turns out to be a paranoid disciplinarian. Mr Murdstone is soon joined by his equally cruel sister Jane, and they quickly dominate the house. David falls behind in his studies and is caned by Mr Murdstone. During the beating, David bites Mr Murdstone and is locked in his room for seven days.
David is sent away to Salem House boarding school in London, where the cruel headmaster Mr Creakle singles him out for extra torment. An older pupil, James Steerforth, is protective towards David and he grows to admire Steerforth for his qualities. Mr Peggotty and Ham visit David during term time to make sure that he is coping with school; they also meet Steerforth.
At the end of term, David returns home to find that his mother has given birth to a baby boy. He apologises to Mr Murdstone, who accepts his apology, and tells Peggotty that Mr Barkis - the local cart rider - wants to marry her. At the end of the holidays, David returns to Salem House for the new term.
Soon after his return to Salem House, Mr Creakle informs David that his mother and brother have both died. He returns home for the funeral, after which Peggotty is fired and David is sent away to work in London. David's misery is slightly relieved by Peggotty's announcement that she is going to marry Mr Barkis.
David is sent to work in a blacking factory which is jointly owned by Mr Murdstone and another man called Mr Grinby who is never seen. He lodges with a friendly man called Wilkins Micawber, who has a wife and three children. David gets on very well with the Micawbers, but Mr Micawber's mounting financial problems land him in a debtors prison despite David's attempts to keep the family afloat at the expense of the local pawnbroker.
When Mr Micawber is released from the debtor's prison, he and his family move to Plymouth to start a new life. This leaves David homeless and he decides to go to Dover in hope that Betsey Trotwood will take him in.
David walks the full journey to Dover and eventually finds Betsey Trotwood's house. He becomes her lodger and builds up a good relationship with her eccentric lodger Mr Dick. After a visit from the Murdstones, Betsey Trotwood agrees to become David's legal guardian - but not before she lays into the Murdstones for their appalling treatment of David and his mother.
David soon resumes his education at a school in Canterbury. During his time at school he lodges with Betsey Trotwood's lifelong friend Mr Wickfield, who has a daughter called Agnes - she is roughly the same age as David. They grow up together as very close friends.
On leaving school, David decides to pursue a career as a clerk and he is apprenticed to a lawyer called Mr Spenlow. David meets Mr Spenlow's daughter Dora and falls in love with her. They are soon engaged, much to the horror of Mr Spenlow, who dies of a heart attack soon afterwards.
[edit] Part two
David returns to Canterbury to see Mr Wickfield and Agnes, who are both pleased to hear of his engagement to Dora. David is less happy to see Uriah Heep, Mr Wickfield's clerk, who is determined to marry Agnes. Both David and Mr Wickfield are horrified to hear of Heep's desire.
On his return to Canterbury, David also meets his old school friend Steerforth and decides to visit the Peggotty family in Yarmouth. Dan, Ham, Emily and Mrs Gummidge are still living in the boat house. Peggotty and Barkis are living at a nearby cottage. The big news of David's return to Yarmouth is that Ham and Emily will soon be married. Emily confides in David that she does not believe herself to be good enough for Ham, and ignores David's reassurances that Ham loves her more than anyone could.
David visits Yarmouth again soon afterwards after he receives a letter from Peggotty, informing that Barkis's health is deteriorating. Barkis eventually dies and leaves an astronomical £3,000 in his will - £2,000 to Peggotty and £1,000 to Dan.
Steerforth falls for Emily and they suddenly disappear. Dan Peggotty begins a search for them, which stretches to other parts of Europe. David has to inform Steerforth's mother, Mrs Steerforth, and cousin, Rosa Dartle, of his disappearance. David also catches up with Mr Micawber, who uncovers Uriah Heep's villainous scheme which has bankrupted both Mr Wickfield and Betsey Trotwood. Mr Wickfield summons the police and Heep is arrested.
David eventually finds Emily in a London slum where she is being confronted by Rosa Dartle. Steerforth had abandoned Emily and she had been living life as a prostitute. Dan Peggotty also appeared on the scene and promised Emily that they could start a new life as far away from Yarmouth as possible. Emily begged David to take a letter of forgiveness to Ham, but on his arrival at Yarmouth the town was deserted and a fierce storm was raging.
A ship has capsized on the coast. Both Ham and Steerforth are drowned.
Wilkins Micawber and his family decided to fulfill their lifelong dream of emigration to Australia, but at the harbour are faced with a policeman who has a warrant for Mr Micawber's arrest - again for unpaid debts. Luckily, Betsey Trotwood arrived on the scene and pays off Mr Micawber's debts, leaving him fee to board the boat to Australia.
Also joining the Micawbers in Australia were Dan Peggotty and Emily. Peggotty insists that the news of Ham's death should be kept from Emily until she is strong enough to cope. Dan Peggotty has invivted his sister to join him in Australia but chooses to stay in England with David and Dora.
David marries Dora and was at first frustrated by her inability to be anything more than a 'child bride', but decided to adapt himself to her and their marriage was finally as happy as it should have been. Dora soon became pregnant, only to suffer a miscarriage which left her badly weakened and eventually bedridden. Dora eventually dies and in his grief David disappears for three years, during which time he fulfills his ambition to be an author and has his first two books published.
On David's return to Canterbury, he realises that he has always loved Agnes Wickfield. They are quickly married and within a few years have two sons. After the birth of his second son, David receives a visit from Dan Peggotty. He brings them happy news that Emily has made a full recovery from the emotional scars of her time as a prostitute, and that Wilkins Micawber has established himself as a successful magistrate and bank manager.
The story closes with the birth of David and Agnes's third child - a girl. Betsey Trotwood's wish finally come true after nearly 30 years, as David decides that the baby will be christened Betsey Trotwood-Copperfield, in honour of her godmother.
[edit] Key locations featured in the story
- Blunderstone is the village in Norfolk where David Copperfield was born. He lived at a house called the Rookery with his mother Clara and servant Peggotty. When Clara Copperfield married Mr Murdstone, he moved into the house and was soon joined by his sister. Their presence turned the house into an unhappy place and David suffered particular cruelty, being sent away to Salem House boarding school after he bit Mr Murdstone during a beating. David finally left Blunderstone after his mother's death, when Mr Murdstone sent him to work in London.
- Yarmouth is the Norfolk seaside town where Peggotty's relatives lived in a boat house with their friend Mrs Gummidge. David visited the place as a child and returned about a decade later to visit the Peggotty family. After Ham's death, Dan, Emily and Mrs Gummidge moved to Australia to start a new life - something which was particularly beneficial to Emily after her traumatic life as a prostitute which evolved from her affair with Steerforth.
- Salem House is the London boarding school where David Copperfield was sent after he bit Mr Murdstone. The cruel headteacher, Mr Creakle, was a friend of Mr Murdstone and singled out David for extra torment. David left the school after his mother's death, when he was sent to work at Mr Murdstone's blacking factory.
- London first features in the story when David was sent to work in Mr Murdstone's blacking shop. He lived with the financially-troubled Mr Micawber, who served time in a debtor's prison, until the Micawbers moved to Plymouth. David then decided to go to Dover in the hope that Betsey Trotwood would take him in. London featured again in the story when David began his working life as a clerk and was apprenticed to a lawyer called Mr Spenlow. During his time in London, David met Dora Spenlow - who was to be his first wife.
- Dover is the seaside town in Kent where David went to find Betsey Trotwood after the Micawbers left London. She agreed to take him in and he lived at the house with Betsey and her lodger Mr Dick.
- Canterbury is the city where David Copperfield resumed his education. He grew up as a lodger at the house of Mr Wickfield, Betsey's Trotwood's lifelong friend, whose daughter Agnes eventually became David's second wife and mother of their three children. Also living at the house was Mr Wickfield's lurking clerk Uriah Heep, who was eventually discovered to have committed fraud against Mr Wickfield.
- Highgate is the mansion where James Steerforth lived with his mother Mrs Steerforth and his cousin Rosa Dartle. David visited the house several times, first after he met Steerforth for the first time since his schooldays, again when he informed Mrs Steerforth that her son had run away with Emily, and last of all when he informed Mrs Steerforth that her son has drowned at Yarmouth.
