What a waste of my time!!!

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

I'd have to write like Dickens to praise this properly. If I'd been at the Old Vic I would have attempted to thank everyone in this production. And apparently, the available DVD rendering is a bit of a botch job on what was even greater. To praise individual members is to detract from many dozens of fine artists under expert direction. I cannot resist, however, David Threlfall as Smike. How on earth did he do that? These people are actors, with honed talents and memories like elephants -- a far cry from youngster "idols" who manage a 5-second cut the twelfth time around. The direction! Whom even do I praise for the concept of leaving inactive cast and crew on stage, a silent Greek chorus supervising with amusement, concern, astonishment, and horror? In some places, where they edit the original -- no sacrilege intended -- they improve it. But most all the script of this wonderful production needs no editing, because it is straight from the quill of the great Charles Dickens.

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!

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.

It's quite hard to photograph a stage play for television or the movies. Most times the finished product must, of necessity, do close-ups of some actor or small group of actors, while the entire stage picture is not visible. With "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby" a monumental theatrical undertaking is transformed quite admirably to the small screen. Filmed at The Old Vic in London, the entire show--sets, costumes, lighting, music, and above all else, the acting and direction--are given an immediacy and intimacy that makes the audience member feel as though the show is being performed for them alone. Charles Dickens works were, by and large, quite long, the original publication being serialized in newspapers and magazines. Rich in character and descriptive passages, with dialog sparkling with the many levels of society that Dickens portrayed, plot layered upon sub-plot and more sub-plot, it would have been understandable if the writers and producers were reluctant to try to bring such a complex novel to life. Certainly, movies are rife with misguided attempts to take 1000 page novels and turn them into 100 minute movies. Seldom do they do more than touch on the highlights of a novel, and then they often feel the need to add story lines that weren't in the original in a foolish attempt to make the production more acceptable to modern audiences. "Nicholas Nickleby" does it right. In nine glorious hours of high energy acting, the tale of Nicholas, his sister Kate, friend Smike, Newman Noggs, greedy uncle Ralph, and the delightful brothers Cheryble unfolds before us. With a cast numbering more than 40 playing well over 200 roles, the show moves easily from the Nickleby clan's arrival in London to their ultimate happiness, with the usual collection of Dickensian hardships and triumphs along the way. Many actors will be familiar to audiences, although the names might not be so. Certainly, if you watch enough British television on A & E or BBC you will recognize several of the cast members, and Roger Rees, brilliant in the title role, has long been familiar to American audiences. But pay close attention to the smaller roles, too. An old theater adage says "there are no small parts, only small actors." This show is a perfect example of quality acting from largest to smallest role. Had one actor not been totally on top of their game, it would have stood out badly. Watch the reactions on the faces of the people who are on the edges of a scene: totally involved in what is going on, listening all the time, creating a reality that is as complete as can be found on a stage. "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby" is as entertaining, involving, uplifting and exhilarating bit of theater as could be found. It's a joy to watch, and I, for one, am delighted that it is available on DVD. Go out and buy it today, and spend a weekend in front of your TV, entranced. I did.