Nicholas Nickleby Rating: Release Date: 08 January, 2002 Retail Price: $29.99 OUR Price: $26.99 You SAVE: $3.00! Cast: James D'Arcy Charles Dance Lee Stanley Liz Smith Complete Cast (7 total)

Nicholas Nickleby Reviews

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Fantastic Dickens Adaptation
Bravo's miniseries of Nicholas Nickleby, based on the Charles Dickens novel, tells the story of a young man who has just lost both his father and fortune and must begin to make it on his own in the world. Charles Dance is wonderfully wicked in his role as Nicholas's stingy, hypocritical, money-obsessed Uncle Ralph, who will barely lift a hand to help.

The film is wonderfully put together and delightful. It has a great script and is cast perfectly. All of the actors were truly magnificent in their roles--James D'Arcy is both handsome and strong as the title character, while Sophia Myles gives a very good performance as Nicholas's beautiful and determined sister Kate. Lee Ingleby also gives a heartbreaking and sympathetic performance as the tragic Smike, whom Nicholas takes under his wing.

Thanks to Dickens there are, of course, plenty of wonderful plot twists to keep everyone interested.

Bravo has done quite a nice job.

What a great production!
I am very glad that I saw this adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby. It is well-acted, and very evocative.
It is always good to see the time in which a story takes place depicted as honestly as possible. This is a really gritty story at times. The scenes at the boys' school, in which the children are routinely starved, beaten and humiliated by Mr. Squeers, are grim and disturbing, which is what Dickens intended. It is very sad that Wackford Squeers was based on a real schoolmaster, William Shaw.

There are some wonderful performances in this show, particularly by Charles Dance (Ralph Nickleby), Lee Ingleby (Smike), and James D'Arcy (Nicholas). I loved James D'Arcy's portrayal of Nicholas- it was very kind and sincere, whereas the Nicholas of the recent movie (Charlie Hunnam?) seemed too bent on revenge. I hope James has a wonderful career because he sure is talented. Bravo!

I have little to complain about with this production, only that the music is a little overbearing and intrusive at times. And Madeline Bray is really passive, even for the character and the times. You want her to look more averse to marrying that old man Ralph set her up with (who is one of the grossest characters I've ever seen on screen!).

This is a very fine production, perfect for watching on a rainy night.

More Customer Reviews (10 total)

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