The Pickwick Papers (1952) Reviews

• Enjoyable Adaptation of the Story

  Snow Leopard2002-09-19

  This enjoyable adaptation of the Dickens story "The Pickwick Papers" captures the atmosphere and characters of the book rather well. While it of necessity leaves out some large portions of the book, they did quite a good job of selecting some of the portions that would work well in a movie, and these are filmed faithfully. Even with the omissions, there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but the cast of character actors, led by James Hayter as Pickwick, generally do a good job of making each one distinctive. The story of Pickwick and his friends traveling about England is a more light-hearted look at Dickens's society than are most of his later stories, but even so, the few scenes of serious social commentary, such as those in the debtors' prison, are pretty effective. This is true also of the movie version. The production is not anything especially fancy, but it seems quite efficient, and it keeps moving at a good pace. Anyone who enjoys Dickens should find this film version worth watching.

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• A Good Adaptation

  theowinthrop2005-03-20

  Although he wrote "Sketches By Boz" (hence his lifelong nickname) before this novel, "Pickwick Papers" was the work which grounded Dickens reputation. His third book "Oliver Twist" cemented it - by showing him a perceptive social critic and serious (rather than comic) novelist. George Orwell, in his essay on Charles Dickens, says that many people regretted he never could have continued writing the pure comic novels like "Pickwick", but Orwell pointed out that no serious novelist can do that if they wish to show growth. It's true, although some (P.G.Wodehouse, for example) could continue to turn out successfully funny books all the time. But we would have missed "David Copperfield", "A Tale of Two Cities", and "Great Expectations" if Dickens just remained a funny writer. "Pickwick" is about 850 pages long, and has a shaggy dog construction. Dickens wrote a picaresque novel here, with the Pickwick Club members exploring England, and falling into many misadventures. They are supposed to be sending papers back to their club about their adventures, for they are a learned society. In one great moment in the novel (but not in the movie, unfortunately), they think they find a curiosity - a stone with the words "Bilst umpshi mark +). Their paper on this gains them immense public adulation for their scholarship, but one critic (who is kicked out of the Pickwick Club) investigates and says it should say "Bill Stumps, his mark "+". Nobody cares about the nay-sayer. One aspect of the novel that is not in the film was Dickens addition of about seven or eight short stories the group hears or reads while on their tours. Dickens wanted to vary his novel, and he would do this again in "Nicholas Nickleby" briefly at the start of that novel. In 1841 Dickens began a large scale literary project called "Master Humphrey's Clock" in which Master Humphrey and his friends (including Samuel Pickwick, Sam Weller, and Tony Weller) tell stories, but two of the stories expanded into full scale novels: "The Old Curiosity Shop" and "Barnaby Rudge". After "Master Humphrey's Clock" Dickens never again wrote a book of just short stories (his "Christmas Novels" were not written and published together but over the years). An occasional short story like "Hunted Down" was published on its own. The film is a nice distillation of the best sequences in the novel, such as the great lawsuit of "Bardell v. Pickwick" (Dickens first magnificent swipe at British law). Of particular notice in the film is the performances of Nigel Patrick as the trouble making scamp Jingle, and James Hayter as Pickwick (his only real starring role). Jingle (who's dialog looks like a telegram in the novel)is played as a charming rogue by Patrick. When he nearly gets Mr. Winkle (James Douglas) into a duel with two dyspeptic military doctors (with the immortal names of "Dr. Payne" and "Dr. Slammer"), after one diatribe from them Patrick riffles a deck of cards like a "Bronx Cheer". Hayter, a popular character actor in British film and television, had a smooth and warm sounding voice, and (in observing prison conditions) makes the phrase "How pitiable" actually sound correct for the first time. It is not the complete novel - which you should read and enjoy - but it is a nice introduction to it.

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• "And now you all know each other, let's be comfortable and happy, that's what I say!"

  Terrell-42009-04-22

  The pleasures of The Pickwick Papers rest with the characters Charles Dickens created and the remarkable scrapes he puts them in. The pleasures of the movie rest with the actors who play the characters and their skill at comic invention. It's not an even contest, but even so the movie has the many delights of charm, clever innocence, friendly but sometimes pointed social criticism, misunderstood contrapulations and complexatory ambulations. Dickens' good-natured appreciation of the members and purpose of the Pickwick Club are just about matched by two sterling performances, the first by James Hayter as Mr. Samuel Pickwick and the second by Nigel Patrick as Mr. Alfred Jingle. Hayter, a long-time and pleasantly rotund British character actor, immediately makes us welcome to the eccentric world of the Pickwickians, those four men who are members of the Pickwick Club, chaired, of course, by the kindly Mr. Pickwick. The purpose of the club? Why, to study human nature and to be of service to it. They do this by making note of and reporting back to each other at their meetings all the interesting things they observe and encounter. In just a moment they will embark on a journey from London to expand their field of observations. Very soon they will meet Mr. Jingle, who will provide them with much material. Nigel Patrick as Jingle nicely balances Mr. Pickwick. Mr. Jingle is a charlatan, a rogue, a traveling player, and an endlessly inventive and quick-talking scoundrel of almost genuine bonhomie. He is most likable, but never let your hand stray far from your purse. Patrick, who was a major British star in his time, gives one of his best performances as this scalawag and rogue. On their journey, the Pickwick Club will encounter all manner of adventures and misunderstandings, a good deal of which is accelerated by themselves. Mr. Pickwick is the soul of good manners and well-meant intentions, but manages to bumble his way into the most unlikely situations. In support with their own serious bumblings are Mr. Nathaniel Winkle the others think of as a sportsman of sorts, Mr. Tracey Tupman, a plump fellow who finds inspiration and delusional hope with the ladies, and Mr. Augustus Snodgrass who, well, he takes many notes. They will encounter daughters, sisters, widows and aunts, along with misunderstood intentions of marriage, a literary and fancy dress party and, for Mr. Pickwick personally, the determination to refuse intimidation, two unscrupulous lawyers and a trial for breach of promise. Mr. Pickwick is unfazed. "I trust you are not nervous," says his lawyer as the trial begins. "I have never been more confidant, sir," replies Pickwick," that truth and justice will prevail." "It would make a nice change," says his lawyer. Mr. Pickwick, having lost the case, is now in debtor's prison. He refuses on principle to pay a jot of damages and cost. Stirring the pot, poking the fire, kicking the curb, pocketing the odd guinea, setting up wonderful scams that invariably involve Mr. Pickwick, is Alfred Jingle and his clever stratagems. But even he, faced by a good man, can find himself finally at a loss for words. And let it be said that a kind man like Mr. Pickwick can always use the services of a resourceful valet. The Pickwick Club members, especially Mr. Pickwick now out of prison, have learned much about human nature, especially as reported by Charles Dickens. All ends right with their Pickwickian world. As Mr. Pickwick says in a toast of benevolent cheer, "To those feelings which repose, however remotely, in the human breast, awaiting only encouragement to awaken: Good will, good hope, good nature." So relax, sit back and enjoy yourself. Take your time, too. The book is best enjoyed leisurely. The movie is, too, because it does go on a bit. However, you're in good company with Mr. Pickwick, not too mention all those superb British character actors, among whom are Joyce Grenfell, Hermione Baddeley, Harry Fowler, Donald Wolfit, Hermione Gingold, Athene Seyler, William Hartnell, Max Adrian, Noel Purcell and even Hattie Jacques. Most especially, along with James Hayter, is Nigel Patrick. He was one of those lead actors who radiated confidence. He could fight the Nazis, solve a murder, cuckold a fellow fifth form teacher, be a know-it- all, break the sound barrier...and still could be, when needed, likable and even sympathetic. His style didn't transfer well to American movies, although he toned it down some for his role in Raintree County. In my view, he was the best thing in that long, pretentious attempt to make a movie from a long and shapeless book. If you have the opportunity, also watch him at his versatile best in The Browning Version, Encore, Breaking the Sound Barrier, Sapphire and The League of Gentlemen.

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• Being the despatches from the travels of the Pickwick Club.

  ianlouisiana2006-09-06

  Travellers'Tales can make fascinating reading.Titles like "My journeys through the veldt" and "In search of the tiger" enthralled Victorians in their safe,comfortable parlours.Mr Charles Dickens,however,chose England with its wayside inns,gentle rivers and village churches as a setting for his picaresque masterpiece "The Pickwick Papers". His travellers encountered not ferocious beasts or exotic natives but an extraordinary gallery of ordinary and immediately recognisable English people. Mr Dickens loved humankind but he was not sentimental about it. He created some of the most memorable villains in literature as well as its most enduring heroes. His better - known novels have been turned into films with varying degrees of success - "The Pickwick Papers" of 1952 being one of the most pleasing. With Mr James Hayter triumphant as a compassionate and jolly Pickwick -from a time when being fat was not a federal offence -the film presents Mr Dickens' vision of Victorian England from elegaic to tragic. All your favourite stalwarts from 1950s British Cinema fill the supporting cast.I would make special mention of Mr Nigel Patrick as Jingle,a performance he never bettered in a long successful career. With "Great Expectations" and "Oliver Twist","The Pickwick Papers" completes a trilogy of early post-war movies based on Mr Dickens' works,each of which was made with respect for the original material, creativity,vision and exuberance,the transition from one art form to another superbly accomplished.

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• A superior movie version of the comic Dickens novel

  tparis-22012-01-15

  I remember this movie with great affection from the days of my childhood when it was broadcast several times on the CBC. When it became available on DVD I had to purchase it if only to mark Dickens bicentennial year of 2012. All the major comic episodes of the novel are covered with the exception of the Eatanswill election and the cricket match between Dingley Dell and All-Muggleston. As noted by another reviewer the movie by necessity omits the rather gloomy moral tales that Dickens chose to insert at intervals. The movie is further enlivened by the presence of a roster of great British character actors - Hattie Jacques, Hermione Gingold and James Hayter as Mr. Pickwick. Canadians will know him best as Mr. Tebbs, the senior salesman in the Mens Department, on the sitcom Are You Being Served. I notice that the actor who played Sam Weller died in January 2012 just a few days before I purchased the DVD - he was the last survivor among core cast.

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