Nicholas Nickleby (1946)

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 protect… 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

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 48 min.
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family

Studio: Liberty

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Cast

            Jill Balcon as Madeleine Bray

            Derek Bond as Nicholas Nickleby

            Cedric Hardwicke as Ralph Nickleby

            Fay Compton as Mme. Mantalini

            Sally Ann Howes as Kate Nickleby

            Alfred Drayton as Wackford Squeers

            Sybil Thorndike as Mrs. Squeers

            Cyril Fletcher as Alfred Mantalini

            Stanley Holloway as Vincent Crummles

            Patricia Hayes as Phoebe

            James Hayter as Ned/Charles Cheeryble

            Vida Hope as Fanny Squeers

            Emrys Jones as Frank Cheerbyle

            Mary Merrall as Mrs. Nickleby

            Bernard Miles as Newman Noggs

            Vera Pearce as Mrs. Crummles

            George Relph as Mr. Bray

            Cecil Ramage as Sir Mulberry Hawke

            Athene Seyler as Miss la Creevy

            Michael Shepley as Mr. Gregsnira

            Aubrey Woods as Smike

            Timothy Bateson as Lord Verisopht

            Arthur Brander as Mr. Snawley

            Frederick Burtwell as Mercury

            John Chandos as Employment Agent

            Lawrence Hanray as Mr. Gride

            Roddy Hughes as Tim Linkinwater

            Hattie Jacques
            
            Eliot Makeham as Postman

            Cathleen Nesbitt as Miss Knagg

            Dandy Nichols as Mantalini's Employee

            Guy Rolfe
            
            John Salew as Mr. Lillyvick

            June Elvin as Miss Snevellicci

            Drusilla Wills as Mrs. Grudden
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