The Pickwick Papers

First off, let it be understood that this film is not a complete version of The Pickwick Papers. But then, nobody could possibly fit a novel of some 600 pages into a movie of less than 2 hours without making a considerable number of cuts. That being said, however, it is a very good condensation of Charles Dickens's first novel.

The Pickwick Papers was not only Dickens' first novel, it was among his lightest and funniest. Those who know Dickens only from his heavy, dark novels, such as of Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby will find herein a much lighter and merrier Dickens, for The Pickwick Papers is very definitely a comedy

Nevertheless, however, Dickens' eye for characters and scenes is fully in evidence. Few novels can boast of so many memorable characters as The Pickwick Papers, and this film version certainly does them all justice. Nobody films Dickens like the British, and they've certainly done themselves proud here. The original Pickwick Papers was published as a magazine serial and came lavishly illustrates, and all of the actors have gone the extra mile to depict, as faithfully as possible, the characters as set down in the original novel.

The story is of a naive old gentleman who sets off to discover England, accompanied by three equally naive members if his club and his worldly Cockney valet. The misadventures of Mr. Pickwick and his friends, among the plethora of colorful characters whom they encounter, form the basis of the book. The production is not the most lavish, but the performance of every one of the large cast is spot-on perfect, and that more than makes up for a lack of budget. Those who have read the novel will love this version, even if is abridged. This who have not read the novel can still enjoy it for its many colorful characters and hilarious situations.