Hard Times (Charles Dickens) [DVD]

I'm a bit saddened--but not surprised--to learn from more well-read Dickens fans that this film passes over a lot, and doesn't get into certain characters and situations as much as the original novel does. That being said, I found this movie perfect for someone like myself, who's very interested in the classics of literature, and in great authors, but finds he (to be completely honest and humble about it) lacks the attention-span and endurance to read the original works, which were often very lengthy and detailed, and (again, to be honest) quite dry, compared to the luscious, arguably overstimulating, fast-paced worlds of modern entertainment.Every now and then a classic or other novel will grip me and addict me. I recall Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" (a relatively short book, more like a novella), having done this to me. But honestly I've ALWAYS struggled with retaining my interest in a book over 200 pages. And Dickens' longer novels have failed to addict me. I much prefer reading poetry, or biographies, or nonfiction, if anything, and WATCHING "the classics" in filmed adaptations.By watching good filmed adaptations of the classics, I fulfill both my need and curiosity to acquaint myself with classic literature, and get a good film in at the same time.This present film of Dickens' HARD TIMES, I consider to belong to this latter category: A way for one to acquaint oneself with a classic piece of literature, and get a good film in at the same time.I've also been watching a lot of BBC's Shakespeare films lately, via Amazon Prime Video, and I think it's a credit to Charles Dickens that his HARD TIMES seemed Shakespearean to me in its depth and richness of understanding of its variety of compelling characters (good, bad, and, perhaps more surprisingly than Shakespeare ever pulled off, the good-turning-bad and the bad-turning-good), and in the ideas and emotions it summons forth. It reminds me of when I saw good film versions of DAVID COPPERFIELD, OLIVER TWIST, and especially NICHOLAS NICKLEBY and GREAT EXPECTATIONS, over the years. This present films belongs with the best film version of those Dickens classics, in my opinion, however imperfect this or those other films might be, when compared to the original novels in all of their monumental detail and length.This particular Dickens classic deals fundamentally with issues of the rich vs. the poor, and the injustice and oppression too often involved with the former against the latter, and also it's about "the wisdom of the head", associated here with wealth and conservatism, and "the wisdom of the heart", associated with the poor and not-so-conservative. (I don't say "liberal", because this isn't propaganda for liberalism--in fact it has quite a unsympathetic view of Unions, in one key scene--although it does provide some sound criticism of certain Conservative tendencies. In fact, though apolitical, I myself lean towards conservative principles, economically and most especially morally, and yet I find this work presents many compelling criticisms against conservative and even capitalist dogmas.)The actors all did well, and the production was good, too, although I found the intro and outro music a bit unsuitable somehow... But that's such a small detail, and one doesn't have to bear it long at all.

I read the book, then got the DVD. Well done, condensation didn't tear it up too much. fun to see Alan Bates in a bad-guy role.

This is a 1994 BBC adaptation of a Charles Dickens novel “Hard Times.” While the film’s story (which I will not summarize here because I think you already know it) is faithful to that of the original book, the entire film has only about 100 minutes. This means that everything goes on too quickly, to the point of being incoherent. Old Stephen/Rachel story arc suffers most terribly, being badly truncated.Set in a fictitious city called “Coketown,” the story of “Hard Times” follows the life of the Gradgrinds and other characters living in this drab industrial town. Unfortunately, being a low-budget made-for-TV mini-series, “Hard Times” does not show us this dreary and monotonous Coketown very much, which is one of the original novel’s important features.So this adaptation of “Hard Times” goes a little bit like a stage production, with characters talking to each other in a dimly lit, confined space. With stars like Alan Bates (as Bounderby), Bob Peck (as Gradgrind) and Richard E. Grant (as Harthouse), acting is perfect. Unfortunately, writing leaves much to be desired. Where was Andrew Davies when we needed him?“Hard Times” is not exactly the most popular one among the Dickens works. This adaptation is not likely to change that.

Good adaptation, but not really on par with typical BBC productions. The disc came bent. After straightening it out with hot water, it finally worked. 4/5 for the movie itself, 2/5 for the seller.

Like other reviewer pointed out, leaving so much out makes the movie very disjointed and hard to follow. Actors were great...production in general not so much. Worth the watch though if you are a fan of Dickens.

Sooooooo Slow/ boringly! How they can ruin Dickens is a mystery but this was poor quality of film, done a while ago & just dreadful

Prime has two versions of "Hard Times." Both stick to the same storyline right down to some of the script. I found this one a bit less brutal and dark as the series. All in all Dickens' stories are usually in this Victorian era and dark, about drudgery, death, and the lives of poor--struggling to survive. He created some pretty despicable characters in this one. Harsh of character, cold and without feeling, yet there's always one or two who are kind and victims.

loved it

Está a la altura de lo que esperaba. Interpretaciones muy buenas, junto a una ambientación que te ayuda a entrar en el mundo de Dickens. una gozada!

Leider konnte ich den Film nicht sehen, weil er ein amerikanisches System hat. Der Verkäufer nahm glücklicherweise den film zurück. Danke

Bought for school. Helped for that buy personally I did not enjoy the film.

Oh, this is just *awful*.A schools production with every conceivable corner cut, there's absolutely *nothing* to recommend this. The text has been hacked to death, everything's shot in interminable medium-long shots, the acting's appalling, there are no location shots or extras to break up the unremitting tedium of the poor-quality interior sets, the music's comically dreadful and the direction (WAS there any direction..?) is dire-to-non-existent.I would rather wedge bamboo skewers under my fingernails than have to endure this again. That's how bad it is.

I've seen Bill Patterson play the lead in two things - 'Wall of Silence' (Screen Two, brilliant, and not on DVD...) and this, and in this he's not even allowed to use his signature Scottish accent - and the budget is *tiny* - it was made for schools.But it's a good cast for a schools show - Bob Peck as Gradgrind, Alan Bates as Bounderby, Richard E Grant as Harthouse aided an abetted by Patsy Byrne and Timothy Bateson, with Christopher Benjamin doing a nice little cameo as Slackbridge.Otherwise production is negligible - the story rarely gets outside the studio, and when it does there's not much to see - an empty cobbled street (with a brazier, so we know it's Victorian) , there is no long shot of Coke Town (so beautifully described in the book) and even Sleary's circus is a tent in a field, two extras and a horse. The cast list contains less actors than does Hordern's Christmas Carol - which runs for half an hour less!What's there is is all in the right place, and the actors are all doing that which might be expected of them, and the book is about a quarter of the length you might expect - very concise for a Dickens - but while I'm not grumbling as such, it could do with a bit more texture.