Arthur returns to London after working abroad for many years with his now deceased father. Almost at once he becomes involved in the problems of his mother's seamstress Amy and of her father residing in the Marshalsea debtors' prison.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Derek Jacobi | ... |
Arthur Clennam
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| Joan Greenwood | ... |
Mrs. Clennam
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| Max Wall | ... |
Flintwinch
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| Patricia Hayes | ... |
Affery
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Luke Duckett | ... |
Young Arthur
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| Alec Guinness | ... |
William Dorrit
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| Cyril Cusack | ... |
Frederick Dorrit
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Sarah Pickering | ... |
Little Dorrit
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| Amelda Brown | ... |
Fanny Dorrit
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Daniel Chatto | ... |
Tip Dorrit
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| Miriam Margolyes | ... |
Flora Finching
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Bill Fraser | ... |
Mr. Casby
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| Roshan Seth | ... |
Mr. Pancks
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Mollie Maureen | ... |
Mr. F.'s Aunt
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Diana Malin | ... |
Mr. Casby's Maid
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Janice Cramer | ... |
Young Flora
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| Roger Hammond | ... |
Mr. Meagles
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| Sophie Ward | ... |
Minnie Meagles
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| Kathy Staff | ... |
Mrs. Tickit
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Amanda Bellamy | ... |
Housemaid
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| Tracey Wilkinson | ... |
Housemaid
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Julia Lang | ... |
Henry Gowan's Mother
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| Pip Torrens | ... |
Henry Gowan
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| Graham Seed | ... |
William Barnacle
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Beth Ellis | ... |
Mrs. Wiliam Barnacle
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| Ian Gelder | ... |
Reverend Samuel Barnacle
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Lee Fox | ... |
Richard Barnacle
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Robert Mill | ... |
Hugh Stilstalking
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| Morwenna Banks | ... |
Georgina
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Nadia Chambers | ... |
Agnes
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Dawn Charatan | ... |
Mrs. Ismay
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Patricia Napier | ... |
Dolly
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Sophie Brew | ... |
Lydia
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| John Savident | ... |
Tite Barnacle
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| Brian Pettifer | ... |
Clarence Barnacle
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John Harding | ... |
Ferdinand Barnacle
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Alec Wallis | ... |
Discreet Clerk
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| Michael Mears | ... |
Clerk with the Quill / William's Valet
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Ken Morley | ... |
Mr. Wobbler
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| John Quarmby | ... |
Circumlocution Office Porter
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Stuart Burge | ... |
Head
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Donald Pelmear | ... |
Mr. Clive
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Arthur Nightingale | ... |
Shabby Footman
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David Stoll | ... |
Hesitant Weighty Gentleman
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Donald Bisset | ... |
Enthusiastic Weighty Gentleman
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Christopher Birch | ... |
Cautious Weighty Gentleman
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| Edward Burnham | ... |
Daniel Doyce
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| Harold Innocent | ... |
Mr. Rugg, Legal Advisor
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David Pugh | ... |
Mr. Parker - A Creditor
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Terence Conoley | ... |
Mr. Fogg - A Creditor
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Richard Henry | ... |
Smiles - Foreman
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Steve Ismay | ... |
Worker
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Johnny Irving | ... |
Worker
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David Doyle | ... |
Pepper - An Apprentice
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Christopher Whittingham | ... |
Mr. Plornish
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Ruth Mitchell | ... |
Mrs. Plornish
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| Eric Francis | ... |
Old Nandy
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Anna Whittingham | ... |
Plornish child
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Eve Whittingham | ... |
Plornish child
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Harry Whittingham | ... |
Plornish child
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Nicholas Whittingham | ... |
Plornish child
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Kate Williams | ... |
Mrs. Greasby
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| Ronnie Brody | ... |
Broke Tenant
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Joan Dainty | ... |
Broke Tenant's Wife
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| Susan Field | ... |
Mrs. Tiffin
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Robert Demeger | ... |
Mr. Braddle
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Cordelia Ditton | ... |
Mrs. Braddle
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| David Thewlis | ... |
George Braddle
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Gerald Campion | ... |
Mr. Tetterby
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Rita Treisman | ... |
Mrs. Tetterby
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Betty Turner | ... |
Mrs. Kidgerbury
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Johnnie Clayton | ... |
Fiddler
(as Johnny Clayton)
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Moya Brady | ... |
Fiddler's Daughter
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John Fahey | ... |
2nd Hand Furniture Seller
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Joanna Maude | ... |
2nd Hand Furniture Seller's Wife
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Iris Sadler | ... |
Shirtmaker
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Joanna Brookes | ... |
Shirtmaker's Daughter
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Nat Pearn | ... |
Mr. Strong
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Cyril Epstein | ... |
Mr. Strong's Friend
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Alan Bungay | ... |
Principal Messenger
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Howard Goorney | ... |
Bob - the Turnkey
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| Liz Smith | ... |
Mrs. Bangham, Midwife
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Gwenda Hughes | ... |
Mrs. Dorrit
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| Celia Bannerman | ... |
The Milliner
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| Murray Melvin | ... |
Dancing Master
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| Darlene Johnson | ... |
Mrs. Robinson
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Bernard Padden | ... |
Newcomer
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| Dermot Crowley | ... |
Mr. Simpson
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Richard Cubison | ... |
Mr. Simpson's Friend
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Arthur Blake | ... |
Herbert Smangle
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| John Scott Martin | ... |
Faded Insolvent
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David Trevena | ... |
Tidily Buttoned Man
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David Bale | ... |
Lucky Skittle Player
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Anthony Benson | ... |
Unlucky Skittle Player
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Ian Lindsay | ... |
Captain Martin
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Douglas Roe | ... |
Captain Martin's Friend
(as Doug Roe)
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Tom McCabe | ... |
Rough Fellow
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Ramon Martino | ... |
Gruff Fellow
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Joan Stafford | ... |
Rough Lady
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Terry Day | ... |
Mrs. Hurt
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| Cate Fowler | ... |
Woman at Dance
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Siobhan Nicholas | ... |
Mrs. Fray
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Katherine Best | ... |
Lady Visitor
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Yvonne D'Alpra | ... |
Motherly Lady
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Robin Meredith | ... |
Ruined Speculator
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Marcel Steiner | ... |
Whistler
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Charles Reynolds | ... |
Mr. Timms
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| Tony Jay | ... |
Doctor
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Lizzie McKenzie | ... |
Drunken Woman
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Harry Cross | ... |
Little Dorrit - as a Child
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Sarrina Caruthers | ... |
Little Dorrit - as a Child
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Sandra O'Rourke | ... |
Fanny - as a Child
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Joanna Hurley | ... |
Fanny - as a Child
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Ricky Cave | ... |
Tip - Age 12
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Zephyr Steer | ... |
John Chivery - Age 4
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Sam Steer | ... |
John Chivery - Age 8
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| Robert Putt | ... |
Mr. Chivery
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Richard Stirling | ... |
John Chivery
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| Pauline Quirke | ... |
Maggy - Little Dorrit's Protegee
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| Heathcote Williams | ... |
Dr. Haggage
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Charlie Bartle | ... |
Mr. Battens
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David Foxxe | ... |
Mr. Mivvins
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| James Coyle | ... |
Horace Kinch
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Maurice Elliot | ... |
Snuggery Gambler
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Jack Gittings | ... |
Old Gambler
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| John McEnery | ... |
Captain Hopkins
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Marilyn Milgrom | ... |
Mrs. Hopkins
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Stewart Permutt | ... |
Quarrelling Debtor
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John Levitt | ... |
Quarrelling Debtor
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Marjorie Sommerville | ... |
Lady By Snuggery
(as Marjorie Somerville)
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Seymour Green | ... |
Tailor
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John Warner | ... |
Bootmaker
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| Peter Miles | ... |
Mr. Dubbin
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Laura Cox | ... |
Orange Juggler
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John Halstead | ... |
Mr. Mortimer
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Charles Hunter | ... |
Mr. Mortimer's Friend
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Richard Graden | ... |
Slingo
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| Richard Clifford | ... |
Jerry
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Doris Littlewood | ... |
Old Wife
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Irene Frederick | ... |
Mrs. Pitt
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Harry Webster | ... |
Pickton
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Leonard Maguire | ... |
Knowledgeable Debtor
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Judi Laister | ... |
Anxious Wife
(as Judy Laister)
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Alfred Hoffman | ... |
Old Man
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| Leila Hoffman | ... |
Old Woman
(as Lelia Hoffman)
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Mike Carnell | ... |
Lonely Debtor
(as Mike Carnel)
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Tommy Shand | ... |
Mr. Cain
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Imogen Millais-Scott | ... |
Mrs. Bee
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Olivier Pierre | ... |
Hotel Manager
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Tim Wright | ... |
Hotel Porter
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Rosemary Smith | ... |
Hotel Maid
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Lin Sagovsky | ... |
Hotel Maid
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Odette Bennett | ... |
Fanny's Maid
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Tusse Silberg | ... |
Lady at Concert
(as Tussie Silberg)
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Elizabeth Archer | ... |
Lady at Concert
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Nadine Large | ... |
Lady at Concert
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| Eleanor Bron | ... |
Mrs. Merdle
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| Michael Elphick | ... |
Mr. Merdle
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Simon Dormandy | ... |
Sparkler
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| Ian Hogg | ... |
Butler
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| Robert Morley | ... |
Lord Decimus Barnacle
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| Alan Bennett | ... |
The Bishop
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| Brenda Bruce | ... |
Duchess
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| Edward Jewesbury | ... |
Magnate from the Lords
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| Jonathan Cecil | ... |
Magnate from the Bench
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| Brian Poyser | ... |
Treasury
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| Malcolm Tierney | ... |
Bar
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Trevor Ray | ... |
Magnate from the City
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| Rosalie Crutchley | ... |
Wife
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Betty Marsden | ... |
Mrs. Phoebe Barnacle
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| Paul Rhys | ... |
Bright Young Gentleman
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Malcolm Mudie | ... |
Officer
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Barbara Peak | ... |
Countess
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Ronald Russell | ... |
Elderly Gentleman
(as Ron Russell)
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| Arthur Hewlett | ... |
Physician
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Giles Oldershaw | ... |
Imposing Gentleman
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John Atkinson | ... |
Baron
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Sally Ashby | ... |
Society Lady
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Anthea Holloway | ... |
Society Lady
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| Ruth Sheen | ... |
Society Lady
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John Tordoff | ... |
Waiter in Coffee House
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| Christopher Hancock | ... |
Customer in Coffee House
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| Jo Warne | ... |
Mrs. Chivery, Tobacconist
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Fred Beauman | ... |
Flower Seller
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Alan Foss | ... |
Mr. Bead
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Michael Eaves | ... |
Narrow-Faced Man
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| Alison Dowling | ... |
Pretty Milliner
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Chris Darwin | ... |
Fraudulent Groom
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Leon Davis | ... |
Fraudulent Groom
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Sidney Johnson | ... |
Print Seller
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Mark Knox | ... |
Print Seller's Clerk
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Frank Shelley | ... |
Disagreeable Man
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| Jenny Galloway | ... |
Polly
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John Dalby | ... |
Mr. Jobling
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Danny Schiller | ... |
Reveller in Slap Bang
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Arthur Kelly | ... |
Reveller in Slap Bang
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David Cardy | ... |
3 Thimble Man
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| Eric Richard | ... |
Sir George Wills
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Guy Nicholls | ... |
Mr. Wabe
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David Whitworth | ... |
James Simms
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Eli Woods | ... |
Greedy Eyed Old Man
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Charles Simon | ... |
Sharp Speculator
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Stanley Lloyd | ... |
Mr. Worsley
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| Peter Waddington | ... |
Boy at Theatre
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| Arthur Cox | ... |
Stage Carpenter
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Billy Gray | ... |
Stage Doorman
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Jackie Ekers | ... |
Dancer at Theatre
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Rebecca Ham | ... |
Dancer at Theatre
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Fiona McAlpine | ... |
Dancer at Theatre
(as Fiona MacAlpine)
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Amanda Maxwell | ... |
Dancer at Theatre
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Shona Morris | ... |
Dancer at Theatre
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Diana Paris | ... |
Dancer at Theatre
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Cazz Scattergood | ... |
Dancer at Theatre
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Mark Arnold | ... |
A Boy - Tenant of Bleeding Hearts Yard
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Ian Bartholomew |
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Bobby Bernard | ... |
Mr. Stubbs
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Joseph Cleverdon | ... |
Tip age 4
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P.G. Stephens |
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Carol Street | ... |
Woman at Dance
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Susan Jane Tanner | ... |
Little Dorrit (as a child)
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| Jacqueline Ann Finch | ... |
Society Lady (uncredited)
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| Fred Wood | ... |
Mournful Old Man (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Christine Edzard | ||
Written by
| Christine Edzard | ... | (writer) |
| Charles Dickens | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| John Brabourne | ... | producer |
| Richard Goodwin | ... | producer |
Cinematography by
| Bruno de Keyzer | ||
Editing by
| Fraser Maclean | ||
| Olivier Stockman | ||
Casting By
| Celia Bannerman | ||
Costume Design by
| Joyce Carter | ||
| Danielle Garderes | ||
| Claude Gastine | ||
| Judith Loom | ||
| Sally Neale | ||
| Jackie Smith | ||
| Barbara Sonnex | ||
Production Management
| Trevor Ingman | ... | production manager |
Art Department
| Bryn Siddall | ... | property buyer |
Sound Department
| Paul Carr | ... | sound re-recordist |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Philippe Brun | ... | camera operator |
| Jack Collins | ... | lighting technician |
| Bruno de Keyzer | ... | lighting technician |
| Harold Farley | ... | lighting technician |
| John Fletcher | ... | camera operator |
| David Hatter | ... | camera operator |
| Michaela Mason | ... | camera operator |
| Mick Mason | ... | camera operator |
| Chris Mortley | ... | lighting technician |
| Madelyn Most | ... | assistant camera |
| Pat Noonan | ... | lighting technician |
| Colin Vinton | ... | lighting technician |
| Simon Mein | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Antony Armstrong-Jones Snowdon | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Shirley Nevin | ... | costume assistant |
| Marion Weise | ... | costume supervisor |
Music Department
| Michel Sanvoisin | ... | conductor / music arranger |
| Giuseppe Verdi | ... | (as Guiseppe Verdi) |
Additional Crew
| Robert Fabbri | ... | production assistant |
| Su Lim | ... | production assistant |
| Richard Morrison | ... | title designer |
Production Companies
- Cannon Screen Entertainment (in association with)
- Sands Films
Distributors
- Curzon Film Distributors (1987) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cannon/VMP (1987) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Cannon Film Distributors (1988) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Cannon Film Distribution)
- Cannon Film Distributors (1988) (United States) (theatrical)
- Syncron Film (1988) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Hoyts Distribution (1989) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- United Artists (1997) (World-wide)
- Schröder Media (2017) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Funn (hosiery supplier)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Arthur Clennam returns to London after working abroad for many years with his now deceased father. Almost at once he becomes involved in the problems of his mother's seamstress Amy Dorrit and of her father residing in the Marshalsea debtors' prison. Pursuing their cause Arthur comes across a successful business opportunity and also gains a number of new acquaintances, while his and Amy's paths continue to cross. A reversal of fortune lays him low, but to fully understand how, this story must now be seen through Little Dorrit's eyes. Written by J-26 |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Up until O.J.: Made in America (2016) with its running time of seven hours, this movie was the longest movie to receive an Oscar nomination. See more » |
| Goofs | Near the end of part 1, Mr Pancks puts his finger through Arthur's coat's right lapel button hole and pulls him toward the stairs. In the next shot, at the bottom of the stairs, his finger is through a hole in the left lapel. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Everybody's All-American/U2: Rattle and Hum/The Good Mother/Little Dorrit/A Cry in the Dark (1988). See more » |
| Quotes |
William Dorrit:
Welcome to the Marshalsea, Sir. I have welcomed many gentlemen to these walls, please sit down Mr. Clennam. My daughter Amy may have mentioned that I am the father of this place. You'' excuse the primitive customs to which we are reduced here. See more » |