History Trivia / DavidCopperfield

* TheOtherMarty: Creator/CharlesLaughton's Micawber. Who knows where those dailies are that Laughton saw and realized he just wasn't right for the part.
* PlayingAgainstType: Creator/WCFields -- the juggling acid-tongue comic with a fondness for booze -- was cast on the recommendation of Creator/CharlesLaughton. Filming had begun with Laughton on the role, but he didn't feel he was right for the part[[note]]plus director Creator/GeorgeCukor said he came off like a child molester[[/note]]. Laughton knew Fields was a Dickens scholar and thought he would be perfect. They had to negotiate a deal with Paramount to get him, finally agreeing to cover the losses for the film ''Mississippi'' that Fields had been working on, for the duration of Fields' work on this. It ''worked'' and Fields gave one of the best performances of his career.
** This is one of the only films in which Fields doesn't ad-lib. He said later the only words he was faithful to were Dickens'. He did want to do some juggling early on but Cukor wouldn't allow it. He also refused to have his head shaved, pointing out numerous actors who'd played Micawber with a full head of hair.
** Fields is not essaying a recognizable British accent, but said his father, who was from England, spoke that way, so technically it was.
* RemakeCameo: Creator/IanMcKellen played David in the 1966 miniseries and Mr. Creakle in the 1999 miniseries.

* RemakeCameo: Ian [=McKellan=] played David in the 1966 miniseries and Mr. Creakle in the 1999 miniseries.

* AllStarCast: 1935 film, 1969 film, and 1999 and 2000 miniseries.

* WouldNeverHurtAChild: Basil Rathbone admitted that the scenes where he had to beat Freddie Bartholomew were the most difficult for him since he was quite fond of the boy, and spent a lot of time with him in between scenes; this also shows the kind of father he was, especially to his adopted daughter, Cynthia, who was very close to him until his death.
* HilariousInHindsight: In the 1999 miniseries Mrs Micawber is played by Imelda Staunton, who treats David (played by a young Creator/DanielRadcliffe ) with great affection. Their next encounter is not [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix so pleasant...]] The inverse is true with Zoe Wanamaker, wicked Jane Murdstone in this series but playing the SternTeacher Madame Hooch in the Potterverse. Creator/Maggie Smith is stern and caring to Radcliffe's character in both.

* HilariousInHindsight: In the 1999 miniseries Mrs Micawber is played by Imelda Staunton, who treats David (played by a young Creator/DanielRadcliffe ) with great affection. Their next encounter is not [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix so pleasant...]]

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Another way to describe it is Charles Dickens' life with boring parts replaced with soap opera elements.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Charles Laughton's Micawber. Who knows where those dailies are that Laughton saw and realized he just wasn't right for the part.

* PlayingAgainstType: Creator/WCFields -- the juggling acid-tongue comic with a fondness for booze -- was cast on the recommendation of Creator/CharlesLaughton. Filming had begun with Laughton on the role, but he didn't feel he was right for the part[[note]]plus director George Cukor said he came off like a child molester[[/note]]. Laughton knew Fields was a Dickens scholar and thought he would be perfect. They had to negotiate a deal with Paramount to get him, finally agreeing to cover the losses for the film ''Mississippi'' that Fields had been working on, for the duration of Fields' work on this. It ''worked'' and Fields gave one of the best performances of his career.

* CreatorBreakdown: Dickens was writing this based in large part on his life story, and sometimes things were a bit too painful to remember, so he fudged. For instance, Dickens makes David (himself in print) quite perfect and upright; kills off Dora because he was unsatisfied with his own wife for some of the same reasons; and Agnes' PuritySue personality developed from his idealization of her real-life model, Mary Hogarth, who died in his arms at innocent seventeen.

* PlayingAgainstType: Creator/WCFields -- the juggling acid-tongue comic with a fondness for booze was tapped to play Mr. Micawber in the 1935 film after Charles Laughton dropped out. It ''worked'' and Fields gave one of the best performances of his career.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Charles Laughton was originally tapped to play Mr. Micawber in the 1935 film, but got stage fright and begged to be let go -- W.C. Fields was brought in to replace him.

* PlayingAgainstType: W.C. Fields -- the juggling acid-tongue comic with a fondness for booze was tapped to play Mr. Micawber in the 1935 film after Charles Laughton dropped out. It ''worked'' and Fields gave one of the best performances of his career.