James Hayter is most likely remembered in the UK as the voice of Mr Kipling in the TV advertisements, but here he is an excellent Mr Pickwick, the lead character in this adaptation of 'The Pickwick Papers' by Charles Dickens.
Not in the same league as the David Lean-directed 'Great Expectations' and 'Oliver Twist' which preceded it, this film, directed by Noel Langley, is nevertheless not bad. It is entertaining, with an excellent cast ranging through character actors such as James Donald, Hermoines Baddeley and Gingold, Nigel Patrick, and William Hartnell; through to scene stealers like Joyce Grenfell.
It distills rather a wordy novel well, and provides it with the language of cinema to get the point across. Not an expensive production, but with some nice touches, such as Kathleen Harrison's twitchy Rachel; Mr Jingle's deck of cards; the runaway horse; and an early display of outraged bluster from Hattie Jacques, which she would repeat two decades later as a member of the Carry On team.
Not in the same league as the David Lean-directed 'Great Expectations' and 'Oliver Twist' which preceded it, this film, directed by Noel Langley, is nevertheless not bad. It is entertaining, with an excellent cast ranging through character actors such as James Donald, Hermoines Baddeley and Gingold, Nigel Patrick, and William Hartnell; through to scene stealers like Joyce Grenfell.
It distills rather a wordy novel well, and provides it with the language of cinema to get the point across. Not an expensive production, but with some nice touches, such as Kathleen Harrison's twitchy Rachel; Mr Jingle's deck of cards; the runaway horse; and an early display of outraged bluster from Hattie Jacques, which she would repeat two decades later as a member of the Carry On team.