The Washington times., 1935-01-15
"David CopperfieId" Of Dickens
Makes Superb Movie With
SuperIative Acting


favorite character Of the novelist
Charles Dickens, who created him.
OF him he wrote: "I have in my
heart Of hearts a favorite child.
His name is David Copperfield."
In bringing this most popular
of the Dickens volumes to the |
screen, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ap-
preached the work reverently. !
They brought over Hugh Walpole
from England, an author with a
tremendous respect for the Dick
ems library and one who would
not countenance desecration or
other than dignified treatment.
Author Walpole made the adap-
tation and became so enamored
Of his task he consented to play
the Vicar in one of the earlie'
scenes. He does it beautifully,
too.
David Copperfield" was
screened for an invited audience
at the Fox exchange yesterday,
and could vote have been taken
after two hours of absorption. I
think it would have been unapi.
nous that 1885 will be a Dickens
year. For this picture is certain
to start a cycle.
The myriad characters in Dick
ems and the voluminous detail of
their lives present a problem for
any condensed version. In writ
ing the screen story Howard Esta-
brook contrived to bring all of the
familiar types into the narrative.
Some are treated sketchily. But
the major characters, Young Cop
perfield, wilkins Micawber, Aunt
Betsy Trotwood, Nurse Peggoty,
Uriah Heep, Jane MurdStone, Mrs.
Gummidge, Steerforth, Barkis,
Agnes, Little Emily and Mr.. Dick
are brought vividly to life and
enough of their individual traits
captured to recreate something Of
the quaint charm and the mellow
mood of old England found in the
noveliSt's pages.
Beautifully Acted
My choicest adjectives must be
expended on little English
actor, Freddie Bartholomew. He
plays David Copperfield the youth,
and he plays him magnificently.
It is no easy task. For the lad is
asked to immerse himself in some
trying emotional scenes which test
his power to move an audience.
Too, he is required to reflect the
gentle attributes of his mother
and the innate refinement which
made him never forget to be a |
little gentleman. David is a boy
you will cry with and love.
Impressive names will be found |
playing incidental roles. Lionel
Barrymore, Edna May Oliver,
Madge Evans, Maureen O'Sulli-
van, Lewis Stone, Roland Young,
Lennox Pawle, Violet Kemble
Cooper, Frank Lawton, Elizabeth
Allan and w. c. Fields are but a
few of the huge cast.
w. c. Fields makes a glorious |
Micawber. am not one Of the |
Dickens addictS who will COM
plain that. in his quest for laughs |
Mr.. Fields revertS to a modern
technique not consonant with the |
This Micawber voices the
original lines and if he addresses
them with some Of the manner
iSmS and the humorous quirks
that are reminiscent of the 1885
w. G. Fields, I excuse it, since the
purpose is laughter, and Mr..
Fields achieves it. Comedy relief
is the aim. He provides it even
as Dickens provided it in his book.
David Copperfield," to sum up,
is a picture that Hollywood can
be proud of and that the
literary minded may approach
with safety. Director George
Cukor is best recalled for his
Little Women" This is an
other bright feather in his cap
and makes me feel that he is
the No. man to have around
when the chore undertaken is
a literary classic.
An Air Pre-View
Exchange Manager Sam
Wheeler, Of Fox, is going to take
the critics for a ride. An air |
ride. He plans to screen
"Baboona," the latest Fox animal
picture, up in the clouds some
day very soon. So ground hogs
are warned to prepare.
At Considine's
Bob Considine opened his
kaleidoscope on Connecticut
Avenue at Calvert Street late
last night and early this a. m.
to become a sports writer-Bonni-
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