David Copperfield (1956 TV serial)
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GenrePeriod drama
Based onDavid Copperfield
by Charles Dickens
by Charles Dickens
Screenplay byVincent Tilsley
Directed byStuart Burge
| David Copperfield | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Radio Times cover, September 1956 | |
| Genre | Period drama |
| Based on | David Copperfield by Charles Dickens |
| Screenplay by | Vincent Tilsley |
| Directed by | Stuart Burge |
| Starring | Robert Hardy Sonia Dresdel Richard Goolden |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 13 (all missing) |
| Production | |
| Producer | Douglas Allen |
| Editor | Eddie Wallstab (filmed inserts) |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC tv |
| Release | 28 September – 21 December 1956 |
David Copperfield is a 1956 BBC Television adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1850 novel, serialised in 13 episodes.[1][2] No recordings of this production are known to exist.[3]
Although little is known of this version, it is said to have been remarkably similar to the 1966 BBC adaptation made almost a decade later, which was also written by Vincent Tilsley. It is also significant for being the first Dickens adaptation by the BBC for television.
Cast
- Robert Hardy as David Copperfield
- Sonia Dresdel as Miss Betsey Trotwood
- Richard Goolden as Richard Babley (Mr. Dick)
- Edna Morris as Clara Peggotty
- Mary Watson as Agnes Wickfield
- George Woodbridge as Daniel Peggotty
- Bernard Cribbins as Thomas Traddles
- Hilton Edwards as Mr. Wilkins Micawber
- Sheila Shand Gibbs as Miss Dora Spenlow
- Mabel Constanduros as Mrs. Gummidge
- Olga Lindo as Mrs. Emma Micawber
- Maxwell Shaw as Uriah Heep
- George Skillan as Mr. Wickfield
- Meadows White as Mr. Barkis
- Leonard Cracknell as Young David Copperfield
- William Devlin as Mr. Edward Murdstone
- Andrew Downie as Ham Peggotty
- Anthony Tancred as James Steerforth
- Dorothy Gordon as Little Emily
- Joan Hickson as Miss Lavinia Spenlow
- Mary Hinton as Mrs. Steerforth
- Nora Nicholson as Miss Clarissa Spenlow
- Vi Stevens as Mrs. Crupp
- Gwen Watford as Rosa Dartle
- Dorothy Black as Miss Jane Murdstone
- Glyn Dearman as Fat page
- John Dunbar as Coach passenger
- Diana Fairfax as David's mother
- Gretchen Franklin as Mrs. Heep
- Kevin Stoney as Doctor
- André van Gyseghem as Mr. Francis Spenlow
- John Vere as Littimer
- Raymond Adamson as Constable
- Michael Balfour as Pawnbroker
- Ralph Ball as Sailor
- Barbara Bolton as Mrs. Sophy Traddles
- Elwyn Brook-Jones as Mr. Creakle
- Ann Cherry as Janet
- Terry Cooke as Kemble
- Peter Copley as Mr. Bellstruther
- Gerald Cross as Man
- Graham Crowden as Mr. Gulpidge
- Laidlaw Dalling as Sailor
- Keith Davis as Thomas Traddles
- James Doran as Mick Walker
- Norman Foreman as Schoolboy
- Brian Franklin as Peel
- Willoughby Goddard as Mr. Creakle
- Violet Gould as Publican's wife
- David J. Grahame
- Campbell Gray as Publican
- Ann Heffernan as French lady
- Meriel Hunn as Housemaid
- John Kidd as Mr. Quinion
- Sam Kydd as Friendly waiter
- Marion Mathie as Mary Anne Paragon
- Donald McCollum as Servant
- Norman Osborne as Donkey boy
- Wensley Pithey as Mr. Tungay
- Jack Rodney as Mr. Blackboy
- Patricia Roots as Little Emily Leslie Smith
- Valerie Smith as Young Agnes Wickfield
- Ian Thompson as Mealy Potatoes
- David Tilley as Topsawyer
- Geoffrey Tyrrell as Mr. Jorkins
- Charles Wade as Blind beggar
- Rosalie Westwater as Housemaid
- Ian Whittaker as Thin page
The series is notable for being the debut television appearance of three actors later to become household names: Robert Hardy, Bernard Cribbins and Graham Crowden.
