(2009) Charles Dickens, who visited the United States in 1842 to lecture and read from his books to adoring audiences, complained of the many pirated editions of his novels that were circulating among Americans, for which he was not receiving any royalties. Today American companies that produce music and computer-software CDs and movie DVDs similarly accuse China and other countries of allowing open theft of their copyrighted intellectual property.

The sentimental story of Little Nell Trent (Sophie Vavasseur) and her grandfather (Derek Jacobi) first appeared in serial form in newspapers; readers begged Dickens to spare the life of Little Nell as she lay suffering from a severe fever and broken heart. Brian Percival directed this truncated BBC/Warner production from Martyn Hesford's screenplay.

Fourteen-year-old Nell, who with her older brother Freddie (who behaves scandalously, squandering money) had been raised by her grandfather, who owns the Old Curiosity Shop in London, runs errands, including trips to the detestable Daniel Quilp (Toby Jones), a loan shark. A compulsive gambler, Grandfather (in hopes of winning enough to provide a dowry for his granddaughter) has placed himself at the mercy of Quilp (rather than depicted as a hunchback, he consumes eggs and crab legs within their shells), who shows mercy toward no one, not even his wife Betsy or her mother.

Rather Quilp, having designs on Little Nell as a future wife, with his lawyer Sampson Brass, takes possession of Grandfather's shop: "Everything I own becomes yours?" Nell and her gramps flee to the countryside where they encounter Mrs Jarley and her waxworks. (Their other adventures have been excluded.)

Enraged by his client's disappearance, Quilp declares: "I must have justice. Revenge." He pursues the old man and the child who have been reduced to begging.

Meanwhile, a mysterious stranger, having taken lodgings under Sampson and his sister Susan's roof, makes acquaintance with young Christopher "Kit" Nubbles, Nell's only friend, with whom he journeys (after rescuing the boy from a false charge of stealing) in search of Nell and her grandfather.

When a scullery maid reports to Dick Swiveller (Freddie's pal) of the evil doings in the Brass lodgings, Sampson hurls all the blame upon his employer: "My answer to all these crimes is Quilp." Wanting revenge and justice, a mob with torches goes looking for the despicable monster.

The mysterious lodger (who had been absent for many years making his fortune aboard but not as in the book the grandfather's brother) arrives to find pitiful Little Nell on her deathbed.

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Copyright © 2009 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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