Nicholas Nickleby *** (1947, Derek Bond, Cedric Hardwicke, Stanley Holloway, Bernard Miles, Aubrey Woods, Sally Ann Howes, Jill Balcon, Alfred Drayton) – Classic Movie Review 2718

Charles Dickens’s tale of the young 19th-century English schoolmaster Nicholas Nickleby, who ends up with no source of income after his father dies and leaves his family destitute, is surprisingly flatly retold in director Alberto Cavalcanti’s 1947 British movie for Ealing Studios.

It is the first sound screen adaptation of the book after silent films in 1903 and 1912.

Derek Bond is dull as Nick, who joins a troupe of actors and entertainers to support his mother and his younger sister Kate.

But Sir Cedric Hardwicke is excellent as his appallingly wicked uncle, the greedy moneylender Ralph who finds Nick a job teaching in a repulsive school called Dotheboys Hall in Yorkshire. Aubrey Woods gives an affecting portrayal as Smike, one of the school’s persecuted boys whom Nick befriends.

Sally Ann Howes plays Nick’s sister Kate, whom his Uncle Ralph tries to take advantage of, and Jill Balcon is his sweetheart, Madeline Bray, whose father is in debtors’ prison. Mary Merrall plays Mrs Nickleby.

Better than all these, apart from Hardwicke, Bernard Miles is appealing as Newman Noggs, Alfred Drayton is a properly ghastly Squeers and Stanley Holloway is incisive as Vincent Crummles.

Indeed there is a lot of choice character acting by a notable ensemble, which makes for an entertaining experience. But John Dighton’s screenplay retains only the bare bones of the story and gives the actors too little space in which to flourish fully.

Although director Cavalcanti and art director Michael Relph work hard to reproduce authentic Victoriana, this stubbornly remains a run-of-the-mill costume melodrama. Yet the performers still entertain and many key scenes are effective and involving in a conscientious, well-crafted picture.

Cyril Fletcher has prominent billing as Alfred Mantalini but only appears in one scene for just three minutes.

It was remade in 2002.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2718

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