Little Dorrit (Movie)

 Based on the book by Charles Dickens, this movie (or mini-series, if you prefer) is set in 1826 London. It’s about a girl named Amy Dorrit, who was born in the Marshalsea Prison for Debt. Her life is devoted to caring for her father. She finds a position doing needlework for an elderly lady, but is careful not to tell her father - who is too proud even after more than 20 years in debtor’s prison - because he would not allow it. Meanwhile, the son of the lady she works for (Arthur Clennam) comes back from being abroad 15 years. He brings news of his father’s death, and is determined to find out the meaning of his father’s dying words. To tell more of the story might take away some of the many surprises, so I will just go on to say…

 

What I like about Little Dorrit

Mystery

Secret pasts and dastardly villains!

Suspense

Those parts that keep you on the edge of your seat and your eyes wide open!

Romance

Yes, romance is always nice, and this is not a stereotypical love story, to be sure. It’s the type where you’re not sure what’s going to happen, or at least how.

A very admirable hero and heroine

I love Amy Dorrit. She is so selfless, even though her family is excessively irritating. She is always obedient and respectful, and thinks of others before herself, even when she’s hurting deeply inside.

The story is hardly less about Arthur Clennam, and a worthy hero he is! He’s probably somewhere near the top of my favorite 19th-century gentlemen list (well, I don’t literally have a list, but you know what I mean.) He is also very caring about other people.

A variety of interesting characters

Well, it’s Charles Dickens. You can expect the most outrageous & funny people in his stories.

Quotes What’s a movie without funny and quotable lines?

Story All the above make for a very interesting story, don't you think?

Music I liked a lot of the music in this movie. The tragic/dramatic song was particularly gripping. After watching Bleak House just a few days before, I greatly appreciated the music on Little Dorrit. Much more…meaningful. Unfortunately, there is no soundtrack available. But I found piano sheet music a couple of places on the internet, and that’s better than nothing.All of the above make for a very interesting story, don’t you think?

What I didn’t like about Little Dorrit
Objectionable scenes: Fortunately for me, I had a sister who’d already seen this movie, so she fast-forwarded some parts. These are the parts I recommend skipping:
   Episode 2: Anything to do with the “French guy” (three scenes). He’s a creep.
   Episode 4: At the end, there is a murder scene. (Didn’t see it myself of course, but I’ve heard it’s quite unpleasant.)
   If you can’t stand bloody things or the like, you will also want to watch out at the end of Episode 13 and the very beginning of 14.

There are some dresses with very low necklines - never, however, worn by Amy. She is always modest. They are mostly worn by her older sister and a woman named Mrs. Merdle.

There is some swearing in there, although I tried to ignore them, so I can’t report explicitly.

Actors I recognized
     Matthew Macfadyen (Arthur Clennam) - Mr. Darcy on Pride and Prejudice (2005). I liked him much better as Mr. Clennam. He looks different, too.
     Tom Courtenay (Mr. Dorrit) - Newman Noggs, a funny old guy on Nicholas Nickleby (2002)    
     Alun Armstrong (Flintwinch) - Detective Bucket on Bleak House (2005), Daniel Peggotty on David Copperfield (1999)
     James Fleet (Frederick Dorrit, Mr. Dorrit’s brother) - John Dashwood on Sense and Sensibility (1995)     Bill Paterson (Mr. Meagles) - Mr. Gibson on Wives and Daughters, Mr. Potter on Miss Potter, and I’ve also seen him on Amazing Grace.
     Harriet Walter (Mrs. Gowan) - Fanny Dashwood on Sense and Sensibility (1995) 
     Robert Hardy (Tite Barnacle) - Sir John Middleton on Sense and Sensibility (1995)
     Ron Cook (Mr. Chivery) - Mr. Bozzle on He Knew He Was Right
     John Alderton (Mr. Casby) - Mr. Outhouse on He Knew He Was Right

Some people might object to the length - it is 7 ½ hours long. But personally, I like long movies. You can only see something for the first time once, and it is all the more to enjoy. You understand why it’s so long when you see the length of the book. I imagine a considerable amount was still left out! For a movie that long, you’d be surprised how little of the time nothing interesting is happening.

Many people rate things when they review them - well, I’m going to give it a grade, A+ being the highest.
I’ll give it an A, and that is the movie without the ‘bad’ scenes. I really enjoyed it--ask anyone in my family or close acquaintance, I really got into the story. I love those stories that you can’t stop thinking about for a while.