This version of Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby has been largely ignored through the ages, no doubt because it has been eclipsed by David Lean's Dickens adaptations of the same period; Nickleby isn't in the same class as those masterpieces, but it does offer its own rewards and is well worth watching. As is usually the case in adapting Dickens, an awful lot of the novel is left out of the film; however, since much of Dickens' writing involves tangents and digressions, this adaptation still manages to get in most of the major plot points and the story is easy to follow. John Dighton's screenplay also does a more than decent job of keeping the characters intact; certainly this isn't true for all of the minor roles, but the major ones are there and in recognizable glory. Director Alberto Cavalcanti has done a good job in giving the film a look and shape and in providing atmosphere; however, his work lacks a higher level of distinction and one gets the feeling that the director was not always comfortable with the material. In the title role, Derek Bond is unfortunately bland and doesn't provide the solid anchor required, but Cedric Hardwicke is marvelous as the unscrupulous and devious uncle.