David Copperfield

David is born without ever knowing his father, loses his mother early, and has his childhood finished off by his stepfather. When he is sent to work in a factory, what keeps him alive are the people he meets: Mr Micawber, perpetually in debt and never without hope, his formidable aunt Betsey, and many more. George Cukor's adaptation has to compress Dickens but keeps the gallery of characters intact. Its most discussed choice was casting W.C. Fields as Micawber; the comedian was borrowed from Paramount, and the role counts among the most cited performances of his career. Freddie Bartholomew plays the boy and Frank Lawton the grown David. David O. Selznick produced. The film was MGM's biggest earner of the year, taking three and a half million dollars against a budget of a little over one million, and was nominated for Best Picture. Who it's for: Viewers who like Dickens adaptations, 1930s studio filmmaking, and crowded character ensembles. Who it's not for: The novel is heavily trimmed and some passages are rushed. Readers of the book will notice what is missing.