Associate producer: John Croydon. Producer: Michael Balcon. Filmed at Ealing Studios. An Ealing Film, presented by J. Arthur Rank. U.K. release through General Film Distributors: 7 April 1947. Copyright in the U.S.A. 11 December 1947 by Ealing Studios, Ltd. A Prestige Picture. New York opening at the Little Carnegie: 29 November 1947. U.S. release through Universal: December 1947. Australian release through British Empire Films: 20 November 1947. 125 minutes. Cut to 94 minutes in the U.S.A. Cut to 10,016 feet (including censorship certificate and B.E.F. logo) namely 111 minutes in Australia.
SYNOPSIS: Bond is the young man who toils in a boys' school in Yorkshire where he has been apprenticed by his thoroughly reprehensible uncle, played by Hardwicke. Conditions at the school are appalling, and Bond befriends one of the students, Woods, who has been the victim of much of the brutality at the school. They escape, join a traveling theatrical troupe, and enjoy a series of adventures. (Available on a cut-to-ribbons Optimum DVD).
NOTES: Previous versions were released in 1903 and 1912.
COMMENT: A remarkably faithful adaptation of Dickens' novel, capturing both the flavor and spirit of the original, while preserving most of the dialogue intact. Such accomplished players as Hardwicke, Drayton, Holloway and Thorndike serve it well, while Cavalcanti's direction recreates the atmosphere perfectly. Gordon Dines' superb low-key photography is a big assist here, as are the fine sets created by art director Michael Relph.
OTHER VIEWS: Casting couldn't be better and Cavalcanti has created an authentic "Dickensian" mood, but too much story is compressed into the film, making it difficult to follow, particularly in the version released by Universal in the U.S.A., which was cut by over 30 minutes. Movie debuts of Jill Balcon and Aubrey Woods. — The Motion Picture Guide.
SYNOPSIS: Bond is the young man who toils in a boys' school in Yorkshire where he has been apprenticed by his thoroughly reprehensible uncle, played by Hardwicke. Conditions at the school are appalling, and Bond befriends one of the students, Woods, who has been the victim of much of the brutality at the school. They escape, join a traveling theatrical troupe, and enjoy a series of adventures. (Available on a cut-to-ribbons Optimum DVD).
NOTES: Previous versions were released in 1903 and 1912.
COMMENT: A remarkably faithful adaptation of Dickens' novel, capturing both the flavor and spirit of the original, while preserving most of the dialogue intact. Such accomplished players as Hardwicke, Drayton, Holloway and Thorndike serve it well, while Cavalcanti's direction recreates the atmosphere perfectly. Gordon Dines' superb low-key photography is a big assist here, as are the fine sets created by art director Michael Relph.
OTHER VIEWS: Casting couldn't be better and Cavalcanti has created an authentic "Dickensian" mood, but too much story is compressed into the film, making it difficult to follow, particularly in the version released by Universal in the U.S.A., which was cut by over 30 minutes. Movie debuts of Jill Balcon and Aubrey Woods. — The Motion Picture Guide.