THE PICKWICK PAPERS
UK, 1952, 115 minutes, Black and white.
James Hayter, James Donald, Donald Wolfit, Hermione Baddeley, Hermione Gingold, Kathleen Harrison, Nigel Patrick, Alexander Gauge, Lionel Murton.
Directed by Noel Langley.
The Pickwick Papers is a pleasant recreation of Dickens' classic story and characters. Dickens has always been popular on the screen and there have been many versions of his major classics including Great Expectations and Oliver Twist by David Lean. There have been musical versions, e.g. Mr. Quilp of The Old Curiosity Shop. There have been several versions of A Tale Of Two Cities. This film echoes the style of British comedy popular in the early '50s and has an excellent cast of specialists in this field. While the screenplay is naturally episodic, the characters get a chance to build up the types that they represent and the episodes, while being funny, also have serious implications in their criticism of abuses in England in the 19th. century. James Hayter, a stalwart actor of British films over many decades, brings a genial tone to his portrayal of Mr. Pickwick. Nigel Patrick embodies the conman in Mr. Jingle. The film was written and directed by Noel Langley.
1. The popularity of Charles Dickens' work, his reputation? His powers of observation, his representation of characters as types and 'humours'? His social criticism? The adaptation of a large novel to the screen in a short space of time? The quick delineation of characters, the selection of incidents? Manners of speaking, manners of acting, interaction? The purpose of the Pickwick Papers in the 19th. century ? entertainment, social critique? A mirroring of Britain at the time?
2. British films in the early '50s ? stars, the specialisation in comedy, comic styles, craftsman ship and finesse? Black and white photography, decor and sets, score? Dickens brought to the screen with style?
3. The nature of Dickens' characters? sketches, representations of particular facets of human nature? Farcical situations to highlight the types? Social observation? Social and moral comment?
4. The introduction to the Pickwick Club, the initial talk? The gentle humour at the gentlemanly style, the interest in small and intellectual pursuits? The would be scientists, with their research? The members of the club taking themselves seriously, their code of honour? The humorous presentation of the British with their manners and style? 19th. century interests? The tone of the club? The introduction to each character?
5. The portrait of Mr. Pickwick, representing Britain of the time, the jovial man? A man of the people? His relationships with the various members of the club? His representing the code of honour, in research, scientific observation, good manners, his not tolerating bad manners or moral ambiguity? The dinner and the sleeping with the result of Mr. Jingle taking advantage, the duel? His backing up Mr. Winkle? The humour of his ambiguous encounters with the ladies, especially Mrs. Bardwell, his landlady, and the breach of promise? The encounter with Miss Witherfield and this later going against him? His trying to help people and mistakes being made? His decision to go to jail at the end and the chance for him to observe the social oppression of the time? An enjoyable hero for the film?
6. The members of the club? Mr. Winkle and his dreaminess, the duel, his infatuation and the comic romantic way this was presented? Mr. Tupman and his being taken in by Mr. Jingle, the stealing of the suit, the background of the duel? The infatuation with Rachel and the mock romance, his being betrayed by Mr. Jingle and the farce of the meal? Mr. Snodgrass and his loyalty to Mr. Pickwick? Their working together, helping one another, especially as regards Mr. Jingle?
7. The conman in Mr. Jingle - the smooth-talking type and the emphasis on his manner of speaking, staccato presentation? Insinuating himself into the club, the stealing of the suit, the duel and his backing out of it? His deception as regards Rachel and her inheritance and his having to flee? His pretence to be a military man and deceive the schoolgirls? His setting up Mr. Pickwick and having him arrested? The irony of his being later found in jail and down-and-out? Mr. Pickwick and the kindly giving him a new chance in life? An amiable villain?
8. The presentation of the ladies of Dickens' world? Mrs. Bardwell and her devotion to Mr. Pickwick, her being persuaded to prosecute him, her behaviour in the court case. her being put in jail and her repentance? Rachel and her satiric presentation, her comments on the ugliness of her nieces, the infatuation with Mr. Tupman, the elopement with Mr. Jingle and being caught? Arabella and the infatuation? Miss Witherfield and her being caught in compromising circumstances with Mr. Pickwick? Mrs. Hunter and Joyce Grenfell's satiric style?
9. The cumulative impact of the episodes - their interlinking, the total effect with the understanding of the characters, England and its manners?
10. The importance of the court case - and the prosecutor's attack on Mr. Pickwick's person? The oration and rhetorical style? Mr. Pickwick's decision to go to jail, his experience there? His friendship with Sam Meller - his employing him after the incident at the inn with Mr. Jingle, Sam's relationship with his father and getting help, his coming to jail - and Mr. Pickwick's employing him as being the ironic occasion of Mrs. Bardwell's misunderstanding? The gaining of the money and Mr. Pickwick's release with pleasantries all round?
11. Glimpses of human nature - in small detail and in comic occasions? Dickens and his insights, comic touches, for the 20th century audience?
