The Great Adaptations of Charles Dickens: 5 Works to Celebrate the Bicentennial

February 7, 2012

By Kelley Kawano

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Courtesy of ©BBC for Masterpiece/Photo: Todd Antony

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February 7, 2012, marks the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, but 2012 promises to be an international celebration of the great author all the year round. (Heh.)

Not only can we expect new editions of the novels, biographies and criticism, and museum exhibits worldwide, but also a bumper crop of adaptations stateside. Coming in April to “Masterpiece Theater” are a new, acclaimed version of “Great Expectations,” starring Gillian Anderson, and “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” a (finished) serial of the unfinished novel with Matthew Rhys. Later this year, Mike Newell’s “Great Expectations,” with Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter, will open in theaters, as will Matthew Parkhill’s 3-D “Twist,” which updates Oliver Twist with parkour and art heists.

There’s a long history of Dickens adaptations, starting with the man himself. He was his own first interpreter, dramatizing scenes from his work to perform solo for packed houses; one of his signature readings, oddly, was the death of Nancy in Oliver Twist. His densely plotted epics naturally lent themselves to theater and, later, cinema and television, their narrative tension, unique characters, and mix of genre and social commentary an irresistible combination for screenwriters and audiences alike.

Whether you know your “Boz” or think Scrooge was just a duck, here are five adaptations to check out.

“Great Expectations” (1946)
Dickens’ thirteenth novel has had a number of quality interpretations (such as the underrated 1999 BBC serial and, surprisingly, the “South Park” episode), but David Lean’s film is considered one of the best literary adaptations, period. (Interestingly, he hadn’t read the book.) Atmospheric and eerie, the streamlined production features a detailed visual style and a strong cast (including Alec Guinness in his first film role).

“Oliver!” (1968)
Arguably the most known version of a Dickens novel, Carol Reed’s movie of the musical won a Best Picture Oscar. Though it’s downright weird to see a dark novel about street children and crime becoming a toe-tapping musical (one with an exclamation point, even), it features some catchy songs and fine performances, particularly from the child actors.

“Scrooged” (1988)
A Christmas Carol is the most interpreted Dickens work, but Richard Donner’s movie does double duty by updating the story and also using it as meta-narrative. Bill Murray stars as a nasty television executive producing a broadcast of Carol who reforms after three ghostly visits. The film is uneven (Murray’s superior “Groundhog Day” treads similar ground), but it offers a different take on a popular classic.

“Our Mutual Friend” (1998)
The story of an inheritance and its reverberations through London’s social strata, this serial of Dickens’ most complex novel is a quiet gem. Combining comedy, romance, and murder in a plot full of twists, this adaptation stars a large ensemble cast, featuring excellent work from Steven Mackintosh, Keeley Hawes, and David Morrissey.

“Bleak House” (2005)
Adapted by Andrew Davies, this popular miniseries, aired in half-hour segments, attempted to mimic the publication of Victorian novels in monthly installments and became a must-watch for those who thought they didn’t like Dickens. Fiendishly addictive, the interweaving storylines of orphans, secrets, and an ongoing court case were anchored by outstanding performances from, among others, Charles Dance and Gillian Anderson.

Of course, there are many more wonderful adaptations of Charles Dickens’ work! Tell us about your favorites.

Tags: A Christmas Carol, Alec Guinness, Andrew Davies, Bill Murray, Bleak House, Carol Reed, Charles Dance, Charles Dickens, David Lean, David Morrissey, Gillian Anderson, Great Expectations, Helena Bonham Carter, Keeley Hawes, Masterpiece Theater, Matthew Parkhill, Matthew Rhys, Mike Newell, Oliver Twist, Oliver!, Our Mutual Friend, Ralph Fiennes, Richard Donner, Scrooged, Steven Mackintosh, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Twist