Dickensblog

R.I.P., Maggie Smith

The great Dame Maggie Smith, who passed away yesterday at the age of 89, is being celebrated all over the world for a plethora of wonderful performances and roles. Here at Dickensblog, let us pause to remember her brilliant work as Aunt Betsey Trotwood in the 1999 TV adaptation of David Copperfield. (The clip is taken from an awards show -- the actual scene starts at 0:11.)

To see one of your favorite actors portray one of your favorite characters is always a special treat, and that was what Smith's portrayal of Aunt Betsey was for me. In the clip below, her confrontation with the Murdstones, Smith runs the gamut of emotions in just over a minute. She's affectionate with David, magnificent in her rage at his tormentors, venomous as she finds and pushes Mr. Murdstone's buttons, and then she perfectly underplays her parting shot at Miss Murdstone. For longtime Dickensians and for newbies alike, it's utterly satisfying.

New Dickensian dramas on BBC Radio 4

On Sunday, September 29, BBC Radio 4 will begin airing a whole season of new Dickens audio dramas:

• A two-part Hard Times, starring David Morrissey, Rachel Harper, Ike Bennett, Shaun Dooley, Janey Orchard, Jan Ravens, Will Close, Arthur Hughes, and Claire Cage;
• A three-part Little Dorrit, starring Jason Watkins, Samuel Barnett, Kitty Archer, Paul Bradley, David Tarkenter, and Claire Price; and
• A three-part Our Mutual Friend, starring Bukky Bakray, Sule Rimi, Issam Al Ghussan, Jeremy Ang Jones, Bettrys Jones, and Delilah Tahiri.

The channel will also be airing special Dickens-themed episodes of its show "Opening Lines," examining each of the three books adapted here. 

Listeners outside the UK should be able to access all shows via the BBC Sounds website and app. Go here to learn more!

TCM alert

Oliver Twist (1948) airs at 3:30 p.m. Eastern today, as part of a day of British productions.

TCM alert

Oliver! (1968) airs on the channel at midnight Eastern tonight, as part of its "First Name Basis" feature (films named after their main character).

TCM alert

A Tale of Two Cities (1935) will air on the channel at 5:45 p.m. Eastern today, as part of a birthday celebration for producer David O. Selznick. 

TCM alert

David Copperfield (1935) airs on the channel tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 10 a.m. Eastern, as part of a lineup honoring the 100th birthday of Freddie Bartholomew (young David).

TCM alert

A Tale of Two Cities (1935) airs on the channel at 8 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning, as part the 31 Days of Oscar celebration (it was nominated for Best Editing). 

R.I.P., Tom Wilkinson

The British actor played Pecksniff in the 1994 miniseries version of Martin Chuzzlewit, and was the voice of older David in the 1999 David Copperfield miniseries. He passed away Saturday at the age of 75.

Wilkinson's BBC News obituary includes some of his thoughts on playing a Dickensian role:

"When he portrayed Pecksniff in Martin Chuzzlewit for the BBC in 1994, Wilkinson said: 'I looked at it and I thought, I can't get it any better than that. It came out exactly as I meant it to come out. It won a couple of prizes and I thought, I can act, there's no question.'"

New documentary series follows Dickens through Italy

David Harewood of "Homeland" and "Supergirl" hosts the two-part British series "Dickens in Italy with David Harewood," which traces Dickens's journeys through Venice, Genoa, Rome, and other Italian cities. The i offers a 4-star review of the series, crediting it with "balancing expert commentary with practical exploration." The Reelgood blog gives instructions on how to watch it outside the U.K., using the Sky TV website or app. 

TCM alert

David Copperfield (1935) airs on the channel at 6 a.m. Eastern Friday morning.