David Copperfield
BBC (ended 1999)
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Show Summary
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David Copperfield is born shortly after the death of his father. Great aunt Betsey arrives for the event, eagerly anticipating a girl. Thwarted in her wishes, she leaves in disgust, never to return.
Young David has a happy childhood, with a memorable visit to his nanny Peggotty's relatives, who live in a ship house on the coast. On his return, he finds his mother has married Mr. Murdstone, a paranoid disciplinarian. When David bites Murdstone during a beating, the boy is sent to a boarding school run by the severe Mr. Creakle.
There, he falls under the protection of Steerforth, an older student. The school is the least of Murdstone's torments, for when David's mother dies the stepfather sends him to work at a sweatshop in London.
Again, David finds a patron -- this time Mr. Micawber, a profligate family man with whom he lodges. But Micawber is soon sent to debtor's prison, and David is homeless.
Destitute, he walks to Dover where he has heard his Aunt Betsey lives. She offers him a nurturing home, shared with her lunatic lodger, Mr. Dick. The first part closes as David matures into a young man with bright prospects before him.
The plot thickens. David is residing with Aunt Betsey's lawyer, Mr. Wickfield and his daughter, Agnes. Wickfield's obsequious clerk, Uriah Heep, lurks malevolently on the margins.
Meanwhile, David is apprenticed to another lawyer, Mr. Spenlow, who has a charming if flighty daughter, Dora.
Oblivious to the charms of Agnes, whom he treats as a sister, David falls in love with Dora and begins courting her, although her father disapproves. Unbeknownst to all, Heep has his eye on Agnes and on Wickfield's business.
By chance, David encounters his old schoolboy hero, Steerforth. Together they set forth to visit the ship house, where reside: David's old nanny, Peggotty; her taciturn husband, Barkis; Peggotty's fisherman brother, Daniel; his nephew, Ham; and Ham's cousin and fiance, Little Em'ly.
Secretly enamored with Em'ly, the unscrupulous Steerforth convinces her to run away with him. Daniel sets out in hot pursuit, following them through many countries.
More villainy unfolds as Heep ruins not only Wickfield but also Aunt Betsey, who with Mr. Dick comes to live with David. Meanwhile, Micawber has reentered the picture as Heep's reluctant clerk.
Spenlow expires, leaving Dora penniless and hence a fitting match for the equally destitute David. They marry and David pursues his new career as an author, but Dora, too, soon dies.
All is not lost, for Micawber exposes Heep's financial fraud, restoring Aunt Betsey's wealth. And Daniel finally tracks down Em'ly, who has been abandoned to an appalling life by Steerforth.
Just as David arrives at the ship house with news of Em'ly's rescue, Ham dies in a storm while trying to rescue a drowning man, who turns out to be Steerforth.
Dickens ties up loose ends by seeing that David and Agnes are married; that the Micawbers, Daniel, and Em'ly start a new life in Australia; and that Aunt Betsey finally gets a niece.
(Thank you, PBS)moreless
Young David has a happy childhood, with a memorable visit to his nanny Peggotty's relatives, who live in a ship house on the coast. On his return, he finds his mother has married Mr. Murdstone, a paranoid disciplinarian. When David bites Murdstone during a beating, the boy is sent to a boarding school run by the severe Mr. Creakle.
There, he falls under the protection of Steerforth, an older student. The school is the least of Murdstone's torments, for when David's mother dies the stepfather sends him to work at a sweatshop in London.
Again, David finds a patron -- this time Mr. Micawber, a profligate family man with whom he lodges. But Micawber is soon sent to debtor's prison, and David is homeless.
Destitute, he walks to Dover where he has heard his Aunt Betsey lives. She offers him a nurturing home, shared with her lunatic lodger, Mr. Dick. The first part closes as David matures into a young man with bright prospects before him.
The plot thickens. David is residing with Aunt Betsey's lawyer, Mr. Wickfield and his daughter, Agnes. Wickfield's obsequious clerk, Uriah Heep, lurks malevolently on the margins.
Meanwhile, David is apprenticed to another lawyer, Mr. Spenlow, who has a charming if flighty daughter, Dora.
Oblivious to the charms of Agnes, whom he treats as a sister, David falls in love with Dora and begins courting her, although her father disapproves. Unbeknownst to all, Heep has his eye on Agnes and on Wickfield's business.
By chance, David encounters his old schoolboy hero, Steerforth. Together they set forth to visit the ship house, where reside: David's old nanny, Peggotty; her taciturn husband, Barkis; Peggotty's fisherman brother, Daniel; his nephew, Ham; and Ham's cousin and fiance, Little Em'ly.
Secretly enamored with Em'ly, the unscrupulous Steerforth convinces her to run away with him. Daniel sets out in hot pursuit, following them through many countries.
More villainy unfolds as Heep ruins not only Wickfield but also Aunt Betsey, who with Mr. Dick comes to live with David. Meanwhile, Micawber has reentered the picture as Heep's reluctant clerk.
Spenlow expires, leaving Dora penniless and hence a fitting match for the equally destitute David. They marry and David pursues his new career as an author, but Dora, too, soon dies.
All is not lost, for Micawber exposes Heep's financial fraud, restoring Aunt Betsey's wealth. And Daniel finally tracks down Em'ly, who has been abandoned to an appalling life by Steerforth.
Just as David arrives at the ship house with news of Em'ly's rescue, Ham dies in a storm while trying to rescue a drowning man, who turns out to be Steerforth.
Dickens ties up loose ends by seeing that David and Agnes are married; that the Micawbers, Daniel, and Em'ly start a new life in Australia; and that Aunt Betsey finally gets a niece.
(Thank you, PBS)moreless
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Ian McKellen
Creakle
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Bob Hoskins
Micawber
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Maggie Smith
Betsey Trotwood
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Does anybody watch this??
07/25/081Reply
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More Info About This Show
Categories
Drama
Themes
British TV, Classics, Coming of Age, Historical
