David Copperfield Film
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David Copperfield (1999 film)
David Copperfield is a two part BBC television drama adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel David Copperfield, adapted by Adrian Hodges. The first part was shown on Christmas Day (December 25) and the second on Boxing Day (December 26) in 1999.Characters
David Copperfield - played by Mark Doran as a young baby, by Daniel Radcliffe during his childhood years during his time at Blunderstone, Salem House, London (Part 1) and Canterbury, and by Ciaran McMenamin during adulthood, first appearing after he left school to pursue a career as a clerk.Clara Copperfield - played by Emilia Fox: David's mother who was widowed just 3 months before David's birth and later married Mr Murdstone, whose tyrannical behaviour contributed towards Clara's declining health and eventual death, while David was at boarding school. Her son Edward Murdstone junior also died, aged just 3 months.
Edward Murdstone - played by Trevor Eve: David's abusive step-father whose reign of terror contributed towards Clara's death. After Clara died, Mr Murdstone sent David to work in London at a blacking factory. When Betsey Trotwood wrote to him to inform that David had run away to Dover, he came to see her and demanded that she hand David over then or never - 'If you step in now, you step in forever' he warned her. Betsey decided to become David's legal guardian and gave Mr Murdstone a dressing down for his cruel treatment of David and his mother.
Jane Murdstone - played by Zoe Wanamaker: Mr Murdstone's cruel sister who missed no opportunity to torment David and relished her brother's abuse towards him.
Clara Peggotty - played by Pauline Quirke: Clara Copperfield's faithful servant who was fired by the Murdstones after Clara's death and went to live with her relatives at Yarmouth. David tracked her down several years later and she eventually became a servant at his own home. She later marries Barkis, played by Michael Elphick, the local cart driver who leaves an astronomical £3,000 in his will - £2,000 to Peggotty and £1,000 to Dan.
Dan Peggotty - played by Alun Armstrong: Clara Peggotty's brother who lives at Yarmouth with his nephew Ham, niece Emily and widowed friend Mrs Gummidge, played by Patsy Byrne.
Ham Peggotty - played by James Thornton: Dan Peggotty's nephew who was engaged to his cousin Emily until she ran away with Steerforth. Ironically, Ham drowned in the stormy sea as he unsuccessfully tried to save Steerforth from drowning.
Emily - Dan Peggotty's niece, played by Laura Harling is a niece of Mr. Peggotty. She is a childhood friend of David, who loves her in his childhood days. She leaves her cousin and fiance, Ham, for Steerforth, but returns after Steerforth deserts her. She emigrates to Australia with Mr. Peggotty after being rescued from a London brothel.
Mr Creakle - played by Ian McKellen: The harsh headmaster of young David's boarding school, who is assisted by Tungay. Mr. Creakle is a friend of Mr. Murdstone. He singles out David for extra torment. Later he becomes a Middlesex magistrate, and is considered enlightened for his day.
James Steerforth - played by Harry Lloyd as a boy and Oliver Milburn as an adult. A close friend of David, he is of a romantic and charming dispositin and has known David ever since his first days at Salem House. Although well-liked by most, he proves to be lacking in character by seducing and later abandoning Little Em'ly. He eventually drowns at Yarmouth with Ham Peggotty, who had been trying to rescue him.
Wilkins Micawber - played by Bob Hoskins: David's friendly landlord who took him in during his time at Mr Murdstone's blacking shop. Did time in a debtor's prison and on his release moved to Plymouth. David caught up with Mr Micawber a decade or so later in Canterbury. After uncovering Uriah Heep's fraudulent scheme, Mr Micawber and his family emigrated to Australia where he enjoyed a successful career as a magistrate and bank manager. Mrs Micawber - played by Imelda Staunton was Mr Micawber's loyal wife and mother of his three children.
Mrs Crupp - played by Dawn French: David's landlady who gave him board during his time at Mr Spenlow's workplace. She had a lot of children and was a heavy drinker.
Pawnbroker - played by Paul Whitehouse: David learnt the skill of haggling at the expense of this man as he tried to keep the Micawbers afloat.
Betsey Trotwood - played by Maggie Smith: David's great aunt who walked out on his mother after she gave birth to a boy, having endured an unhappy experience of men. She was forced to re-evaluate her opinions some years later when an orphaned David arrived at her Dover home in hope of being taken in. She guided David to a successful career as a clerk and author, and her wish finally came true when David's second wife Agnes gave birth to a baby girl called Betsy Trotwood Copperfield at the end of the story. Her companion is Mr Dick, played by Ian McNeice, who befriends David on his arrival at Betsey's home in Dover and remains loyal to him.
Mr Spenlow - played by James Grout is the owner of a London-based law firm to which David was apprenticed on leaving school. He disapproved of his daughter Dora's engagement to David and died shortly afterwards from a heart attack - David found him dead in his office.
Dora Spenlow - played by Joanna Page: David's first wife was Dora - the immature daughter of Mr Spenlow. Her inability to be anything more than a 'child bride' nearly destroyed David, but he never lost his love for her and was much happier after deciding to adapt himself to Dora. She became pregnant a year after their marriage but suffered a miscarriage and died after failing to recover. Julia Mills, played by Clare Wilkie was Dora Spenlow's 'confidential friend'.
Uriah Heep - played by Nicholas Lyndhurst: Mr Wickfield's lurking clerk who mishandled his master's funds and was eventually sent to prison for it. His loyal mother was played by Thelma Barlow.
Mr Wickfield - played by Oliver Ford-Davies: Betsey Trotwood's solicitor who was David's landlord during his time at school in Canterbury and became his father-in-law after his marriage to Agnes.
Agnes Wickfield - played by Antonia Corrigan and later Amanda Ryan. Mr Wickfield's daughter is like a sister to David after he moves into their house during his time at school in Canterbury. She later becomes David Copperfield's wife and the mother of his three children after the death of David's first wife Dora.
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