The Pickwick Club – chaired, of course, by the kindly Mr Samuel Pickwick (James Hayter), the rotund middle-aged bachelor with his spectacles, tight trousers and gaiters – was formed with the intention to study human nature and to be of service to it.
Pickwick and the other three club members – Mr Nathaniel Winkle (James Donald), Mr Tracy Tupman (Alexander Gauge), Mr Augustus Snodgrass (Lionel Murton) – do this by taking notes and reporting back to each other at their meetings on all the interesting things they observe and encounter on their travels around England.
On their journey, the four men encounter all manner of adventures and misunderstandings, many of which are accelerated by themselves.
They encounter daughters, sisters, widows and aunts, along with misunderstandings about marriage, a literary and fancy-dress party and – for Mr Pickwick personally – the determination to refuse intimidation, two unscrupulous lawyers and a trial for “breach of promise”.
Having lost the case, he ends up in debtor’s prison, refusing on principle to pay a jot of damages and costs.
Mr Jingle (Nigel Patrick) provides a lot of material. He is a likeable rogue, a travelling player, a charlatan, and an endlessly inventive and quick-talking scoundrel of almost genuine bonhomie.
A supporting cast of great British character actors includes Hattie Jacques, Hermione Gingold, Joyce Grenfell, Hermione Baddeley, Donald Wolfit, William Hartnell and Kathleen Harrison.
Filmed at Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames, following two years of preparation, the film is a nice distillation of the best sequences from the classic rambling episodic novel by Charles Dickens.
Samuel Pickwick
James Hayter Nathaniel Winkle
James Donald Tracy Tupman
Alexander Gauge Augustus Snodgrass
Lionel Murton Mr Jingle
Nigel Patrick Mrs Leo Hunter
Joyce Grenfell Miss Tompkins
Hermione Gingold Mrs Bardell
Hermione Baddeley Sergeant Buzfuz
Donald Wolfit Sam Weller
Harry Fowler Rachel Wardle
Kathleen Harrison Emily Wardle
Diane Hart Isabella Wardle
Joan Heal Irate Cabman
William Hartnell Miss Witherfield
Athene Seyler Job Trotter
Sam Costa Tony Weller
George Robey Joe, the Fat Boy
Gerald Campion Mr Wardle
Walter Fitzgerald Grandma Wardle
Mary Merrall Mr Justice Stareleigh
Cecil Trouncer Dodson
D.A. Clarke-Smith Mr Perker
Noel Willman Roker
Noel Purcell Dr Slammer
Felix Felton Fogg
Alan Wheatley Mrs Nupkins
Hattie Jacques Mr Nupkins
Jack McNaughton Arabella Allen
June Thorburn Mr Snubbins
Barry MacKay
Director
Noel Langley
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On their journey, the four men encounter all manner of adventures and misunderstandings, many of which are accelerated by themselves.
Samuel Pickwick
Rachel Wardle
