Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

dcdcosta Here is Dickens at his best: the Royal Shakespeare Company distills the novel into a compelling and absorbing drama. The staging is impeccable and the artful addition of music and naration sweep the viewer into the very heart of the work. Drama, comedy, melodrama, and tragedy are all woven together by brilliant acting and no-less-brilliant directing.The original stage production in London and New York demanded two whole evenings, and the DVD faithfully re-creates the experience. The nine hours seem all-too short! This DVD production is a benchmark for the medium. The rich and dreadful world of mid nineteenth century London bursts to life with minimal sets that allow the superb cast to perform their magic; your living room becomes a theatre and draws you in.Not to be missed!

cheetu It took me a while to get started on this series. Perhaps because I had never watched a stage show captured for television. I expected it to be a series of exhausting conversations in a dismal setting that seldom changed. But, I was wrong on all accounts. The 'Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby' is a classic and outstanding show. Every character from Nicholas and Smike to Ralph and Crummles has done tremendous justice to their roles. The display of emotions, clarity of dialogs, and intensity of expressions are astonishing. I assume there must have been thirty to thirty-five actors in the show. The number of characters in the play is definitely higher. The dexterity with which actors have played multiple roles is phenomenal. Despite the limited resources and space constraints inherent in such shows, the setting changed swiftly and fittingly. Not once did I feel the dreariness of a stagnant location. The sound effects, from the knock of doors to Newman Noggs's snapping fingers, are very natural. This is a magnificent rendering of Dickens's novel and a must-watch. I suggest watching one part a day, because it gives sufficient break to chew over that episode, and absorb the performances in their entirety.

caroledelm My husband bought the video set shortly after we viewed the series for the first time. I play it every year, at Christmas. Being great fans of Dickens's works we are thrilled and delighted every time with the entire production, from the excellent acting, staging, music, etc. No one could wish for a more perfect cast.

jayrnj While Hundred-dollar tickets seem commonplace today, back in 1981 it created quite a stir when "Nicholas Nickleby" came to Broadway. But from what I heard, the 9 hour/two day event was worth every penny. I remember seeing the taped London production on television, and was thrilled to see it once again preserved now on DVD. What makes this theatrical event so memorable? It would be easy to say the story...it is, after all, Dickens. But I think the reason is simply everything seemed to fall into place all at once...expert casting, terrific acting, wonderful costumes, simple yet effective sets, and, though not at first so obvious, the music. Wonderful music. One bit of fun: trying to recognize the actors as they appear in different roles; some as many as five each!