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BFI Most Wanted: the hunt for Britain's missing films
The Adventures of Mr Pickwick
Directed by Thomas Bentley, 1921
Silent version of Dickens' breakthrough novel, directed by one of the writer's most prolific screen adapters.
Credits
|
Director Production Company Scenario |
Thomas Bentley Ideal Film Company E.A.Baughan and Eliot Stannard |
| Cast: Frederick Volpe (Pickwick); Ernest Thesiger (Mr Jingle); Mary Brough (Mr Bardell); Arthur Cleave (Mr Winkle); Bransby Williams (Sergeant Buzfuz). | |
| 6,000 feet, silent, black & white. | |
Why are we so keen to find it?
Dickens adaptations are inherently interesting, and this one was directed by Thomas Bentley, who had begun as a a specialist in Dickensian charaters as an actor, turned to directing adaptations and became one of British silent cinema's most competent filmmakers. What's more, the scenario is by Eliot Stannard, who later became Hitchcock's scenarist of choice. Personally, the idea of Ernest Thesiger as Mr Jingle, is a special attraction - one of my favourite actors, as one of my favourite Dickens characters.
What's it about?
A straight film dramatisation of the doings of the immortal club. The original work is naturally episodic and concerns various outings and tales of the Pickwick Club, and so would translate very naturally into a film scenario. The characters would be very familiar to the audience either from the book if they had read it, or from the images that were constantly reproduced in varius guises.
Last seen?
Not since its original release, as far as we know.
What else do we know about it?
It is interesting that the film exhibitors were regularly producing Dickens adaptations - and not just A Christmas Carol - at Christmas time. Filmed at Borehamwood, Elstree.
Does anything survive?
Not so much as a single still image, as far as we know.
Reviews
The Bioscope's trade show review (17 November 1921) is for once quite revealing. The journal's 'Trade Shows at a glance' section labels it as having "exceptional atmosphere and characterisation - First class anywhere." A couple of breathless paragraphs show the enthusiasm with which this was received:
"The 'shop window' value of The Adventures of Mr Pickwick is such as inevitably to make that subject stand out from the week's offers as probably an exceptionally good booking proposition; the fact that it will be released during the christmas season emphasises its advertising value. Luckily it is not a case of a title having to serve as a substitute for more solid qualities; the fim has been exceptionally well made by Thomas Bentley from a scenario by E.A. Baughan and Eliot Stannard.
"Fred Volpe gives a really remarkable study of Pickwick - surely one of the most difficult tasks which could be confided to any artiste... Dickens lovers have a treat in store."
Bryony Dixon, Curator (Silent Film), BFI National Archive
You can find more about British films of the early 1920s, including entries on surviving films and video clips for users in UK schools, colleges, universities and public libraries, at BFI Screenonline. You can also view similar titles at the BFI Mediatheques.
