Figure 3.--The Freddy Barthomew version of "David Copperfield" is one of the best remembered film version of the classic Dickens' work.. |
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The MGM production of "David Copperfield was one of several different films based on classic novels done in the 1930s by major child actors. Freddie Bartholomew plays the title role of the great Dickens' classic. He was very effective as the innocent David. A man explains to David that he deals with boys like he deals with horses. "I make him wince and smart," the man says. David begs not to be beaten, but he is really thrashed. Another boy, I think it is Tommy Tuttle is also beaten. The caning by Basil Rathbone is one of the most villainous ever depicted in the movies. (Imagine innocent Freddie being caned by Basil Rathbone.)
The MGM production of "David Copperfield was one of several different films based on classic novels done in the 1930s by major child actors. A talent agent advised Aunt Cissy to have him try for David O. Selznick's "David Copperfield." She rushed him to Culver City California, dressed him as David, and
took him to Selznick. "I am David Copperfield, sir," announced the very proper Freddie when he entered Selznick's MGM office. "Right you are," replied the
director. Freddie was a hard working actor, he was given a real whipping by Basil Rathbone during the shooting of "David Copperfield (1935)." Apparently Basil
Rathbone was concerned that the scenes where he beats Freddie would destroy his career. He made friends with the boy and made sure the studio publicized
pictures of the two having fun together.
Charles Dickens published David Copperfield in 1849-50. David is more or less an autobiography of Charles Dicken' own life. More or less meaning that in most cases he does not use actual names, but makes up the scenery and
names of the people. The events and general meaning, however, remain the same. To create such an atmosphere and still have it retain the same essential elements of a true autobiography is an act of shear genius.
Freddie Bartholomew plays the title role of the great Dickens' classic. He was very effective as the innocent David. His step-father explains to David that he deals with boys like he deals with horses. "I make him wince and smart," the man says. David begs not to be beaten, but he is really thrashed. Another boy, I think it is Tommy Tuttle is also beaten. The caning by Basil Rathbone is one of the most villainous ever depicted in the movies. (Imagine innocent Freddie being caned by Basil Rathbone.)
A young orphan grows up in 19th century England, based on the Dickens' novel. This production is a fairly straught-forward, faithful production of the novel by Charles Dickens. For details on the story line, click on the book above.
It has ben a while since I have seen the film and can not cooment accurately on the costuming at this time. As far as I can remember, it was more accurate than the "Little Lord Fauntleroy" production in which Freddy stared.
A reader tells us, "I've seen part of film version of "David Copperfield". In our 9th grade English class this Dickens' novel was assigned reading. After a few days of class discussion, we were shown a portion of the film that corresponded to what we had discussed so far. "David" was dressed very nicely by his mother in a coat and long trousers and I'm almost sure a tie that would have been fashionable in about the 1840s-50s. David's mother was a widow, betrothed to the mean Mr. Murdstone, and she wanted David to look his best for his stern stepfather. What I recall best is that David, his mother, and his nurse, "Peggotty", were very happy before Murdstone entered. David feared
this forbidding man for good reason. In one scene Murdstone gave David a rather severe whipping for a small offense. Stepparents have seldom been treated sympathetically in literature, it seems!"
There are several productions of this classic Dickens story.
Title role played by Reginald Sheffield who was 21 at the time. He was Johnny (Boy in Tarzan) Sheffield's father.
Robin Phillips.
This excellent remake of the Dicken's classic if faithful to the book and provides accurate reproductions of period costuming. You will be seeing much more of the boy chosen to play David. He has since been selected to play Harry Potter--certainly the bigest child role in recent memory.
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