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Ardizzone Edward-MB18_nicholas_nicleby_drawerA-B

© The estate of Edward Ardizzone

Part of the Mabey Collection

EALING STUDIOS PRESENT NICHOLAS NICKELBY WITH CEDRIC HAWKES AND A TEN STAR CAST 1947

Edward Ardizzone (1900 – 1979)

Details

Dimension
74.2 X 49.5 CM
Media
LITHOGRAPH
Accession number
M/B18

Summary

Nicholas Nickleby is a 1947 British drama film directed by Cavalcanti, The screenplay by John Dighton is based on the 1839 novel The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. It is the first sound screen adaptation of the book, and the cast included Dame Sybil Thorndyke.

While there had already been two silent adaptations of Charles Dickens' book, 1947 saw the first film of 'The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby' to have sound. It was the 46th feature by Brazilian director Alberto Cavalcanti, who had a background in surrealism, documentaries and propaganda films. This adaptation was a product of Ealing Studios, the longest-running film production studio in the world. A contemporary review in The New York Times described it as “amusing as a chromo of Dickensian life”, but still posited that it paled in comparison to David Lean's 'Great Expectations' which had come out the previous year.

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Glossary

  • Cast

    To form material such as molten metal, liquid plaster or liquid plastic into a three-dimensional shape, by pouring into a mould. Also see Lost-wax casting.

  • Contemporary

    Existing or coming into being at the same period; of today or of the present. The term that designates art being made today.

  • Film

    A transparent, flexible plastic material, usually of cellulose acetate or polyester, on which light-sensitive emulsion is coated, or on which an image can be formed by various transfer processes.