Nicholas Nickleby (1946)
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33% want to see it
(6 ratings)
Though it pales in comparison to the Royal Shakespeare Company's epic staging of the original novel in the early 1980s, this compact adaptation of Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby is most entertaining on its own terms. Derek Bond plays the title character, a resourceful young Britisher forced to… More Though it pales in comparison to the Royal Shakespeare Company's epic staging of the original novel in the early 1980s, this compact adaptation of Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby is most entertaining on its own terms. Derek Bond plays the title character, a resourceful young Britisher forced to protect his family against the demonic machinations of his wicked Uncle Ralph (Cedric Hardwicke at his most odious). Cast out into the cold cruel world, Nicholas Nickleby deals adroitly with friend and foe alike, eventually coming full circle to mete out just desserts to his unspeakable uncle. With only 108 minutes' running time at his disposal, screenwriter John Dighton (later a mainstay of the Ealing Comedies) was forced to eliminate several of the novel's 52 highly distinctive characters and intricate subplots. There is evidence that there was even more cutting after the film was completed; for example, the tatty touring theatrical troupe managed by the delightfully pompous Vincent Crummles (Stanley Holloway) appears only in a series of abrupt vignettes, while Crummles himself is confined to a mere handful of lines and gestures. Still, many of Dickens' colorful characters are vividly realized, especially the unfortunate, mentally challenged Smike (Aubrey Woods). When released in America, Nicholas Nickleby was pared down to 95 minutes, with surprisingly little damage to the continuity. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Genres
- Drama, Kids & Family
Unrated,
- Studio
- Liberty
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Cast
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Jill Balcon
as Madeleine Bray
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Derek Bond
as Nicholas Nickleby
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Cedric Hardwicke
as Ralph Nickleby
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Fay Compton
as Mme. Mantalini
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Sally Ann Howes
as Kate Nickleby
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Alfred Drayton
as Wackford Squeers
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Sybil Thorndike
as Mrs. Squeers
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Cyril Fletcher
as Alfred Mantalini
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Stanley Holloway
as Vincent Crummles
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Patricia Hayes
as Phoebe
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James Hayter
as Ned/Charles Cheeryble
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Vida Hope
as Fanny Squeers
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Emrys Jones
as Frank Cheerbyle
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Mary Merrall
as Mrs. Nickleby
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Bernard Miles
as Newman Noggs
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Vera Pearce
as Mrs. Crummles
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George Relph
as Mr. Bray
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Cecil Ramage
as Sir Mulberry Hawke
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Athene Seyler
as Miss la Creevy
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Michael Shepley
as Mr. Gregsnira
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Aubrey Woods
as Smike
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Timothy Bateson
as Lord Verisopht
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Arthur Brander
as Mr. Snawley
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Frederick Burtwell
as Mercury
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John Chandos
as Employment Agent
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Lawrence Hanray
as Mr. Gride
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Roddy Hughes
as Tim Linkinwater
- Hattie Jacques
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Eliot Makeham
as Postman
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Cathleen Nesbitt
as Miss Knagg
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Dandy Nichols
as Mantalini's Employee
- Guy Rolfe
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John Salew
as Mr. Lillyvick
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June Elvin
as Miss Snevellicci
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Drusilla Wills
as Mrs. Grudden
