The Pickwick Papers [DVD]

A must for collectors of British comedy! The story line, as with other early film versions of Dickens, distils some choice situations from the original book. The quirky style of acting matches the eccentric behaviour of the Pickwick Club, its members and the people who cross their path. However, it is the brilliant cast that holds your attention to the end. The quality of the DVD is pretty good considering the age of the production. Buy, watch and enjoy the style of this particular version, which earned a well-deserved Bafta nomination for Hayter (though Harry Fowler gets my vote!).

This is the most charming filmed version made, has a roster of distinctive British character actors keeping interest throughout - James Hayter, Kathleen Harrison, Harry Fowler, Hattie Jacques, Joyce Grenfell, Athene Sayler, Hermione Gingold, Hermione Baddeley and many more . It really is a delight and will lift spirits with it's sense of wit, fun and subtle comedy. This IS the Pickwick Papers. Those with a sharp eye will also recognise particular London streets where location filming took place. The perfect film to snuggle up with, curtains drawn, fire lit, crumpets toasted, tea in the pot.

What an entertaining and well acted film. But what else should one expect from Mr Charles Dickens!

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE RENOWN COLORISED VERSION This charming film is a who's who of great British post war character actors, James Hayter, later to become the voice of Mr Kipling Cakes (exceedingly good), was Mr Pickwick personified and the inimitable Harry Fowler, the perfect cheeky street smart Sam Weller - a part he was born to play. Nigel Patrick steals the show as arch bounder/cad Alfred Jingle and Kathleen Harrison twitters admirably as Rachel Wardle. I won't recycle what other reviewers have expressed more eloquently than I ever could, but this is a delightful film and owes a lot to Noel Langley who managed to compress Dickens' sprawling book into a concise story without losing the spirit and charm of the original. Whilst Renown can be applauded for their remaster, their decision to colorize the film is questionable. Wilkie Cooper's beautiful black and white cinematography is reduced to a child's crude paintbox version. Its not as if the process is particularly thorough. Skin tones are on the whole flat and only embellished with a bizarre rouge on the cheeks of the actors. The software employed fails to distinguish skin tones through glasses so Pickwick's face is flesh toned while his eyes and surrounding areas behind his glasses are grey. In one scene two soldiers' red tunics are transformed to a washed out pink. It really became annoying. Surely Renown could have bundled the B/W original with the ghastly colorized version as they did with the Night Caller. Anyway I've subsequently ordered the black and white version from another supplier.

Its great to see my favourite author and his wonderful stories brought to life in colour! This is a classic comedy/Real world tale told as only Dickens can! I have of course the black & white version, but as a collector of Dickens Classics I just had to have this one as well. If you have never watched any Dickens films ( you must be in the minority ) start with this one! Great viewing !

if you love Dickens "The Pickwick Papers" (as i do) you will really enjoy this film, james hayter is perfect as Pickwick..he IS Pickwick and the other characters are spot on. So funny and gentle, perfect for a sunday afternoon by the fire. Obv with the length of the book not all the material and plots etc (eg sam's marriage) are included, but you will not find a better visual adaption ever. it's true

The disc is flawed so some sections will not play. The film itself is a joy. harmless fun - which Dr Johnson said was the greatest compliment he could pay to any entertainment.

A funny vintage old fashioned movie based on the comic writings of a famous author. This movie shows the comic manners of an era of hundreds of years ago in the mid eighteen hundreds. It is about a bunch of rich young men having fun visiting pubs and dances around the country. They meet unusual people are always helped safely and with kindness by a character called - Sam Weller. He is a Londoner who cannot pronounce his Rs and speaks in a dialect . He knows how other less wealthy people live and have fun . The young men are not that knowledgeable about ordinary people at this time and so their mistakes in dealing with this society can be funny at times. The original book on which this film is based, is supposed to be a comedy. It is well worth the purchase price and very entertaining. It is seldom shown on tv these days, so it is a treasure in its own right. Excellent product. Thanks

Enjoyable.

This black and white production is superb as an introduction to the Pickwick Papers. At 109 minutes it necessarily has to eliminate many stories included in the book,(the first edition contains 609 pages of close print, and the Folio edition has 798 pages) but the essential facts of this 1836/37 serial are there and the acting is admirable. As one views this film, he/she can be transported to another time - the characterizations by the main actors being very well done --- James Hayter IS Mr. Pickwick - Harry Fowler IS Sam Weller. The British Film Industry knows very well how to produce the classics of English literature, and this is a costume drama you won't soon forget. For those who want a more complete version (running time, 350 minutes) of this early Dickens writing, take a look at the BBC production starring Nigel Stock. Happy viewing!

Having been a Dickens lover most of my life this film is very near to the conditions of the19th century. The characters are just as I pictured them in my young mind when I first read the novel and then saw the film the first time. James Hayter who plays Mr. Pickwick is wonderful.

Plays well but video quality is not very good.

Good quality DVD.