Home Video
The RSC filmed the play as it was performed in a theatre, The Old Vic, with a live audience present, shortly before taking the show to Broadway. Two extra versions of "the story so far" (which originally recapped part one for theatregoers returning for part two) were filmed, to introduce the second, third, and fourth parts for television, but the show's original format and content were largely intact. This version ran on PBS as the show made its American TV debut, and it was this four part version that was first released to Home Video, on four videocassettes. The RSC also filmed the main lead actors speaking out of character about the production. That was included with the PBS broadcast.
At some point the distribution rights were acquired by A&E, who chopped up the show into nine episodes, repeating the opening and closing credits each time, and discarding any sense of the original format. Aside from ruining the structure and momentum, and the added tedium of repeating the intro and credits five extra times, fans have reported this version is missing material that was in the original version. The extra conversational material from the lead actors is also missing, and the picture and sound quality are poor. Despite being advertised as nine hours uncut, (the extra half hour being from repeating the opening and closing credits) the A&E version is certainly not uncut, and has been notoriously regarded by fans as "butchered."
It is not fully clear if the play was filmed or videotaped, as some sources use one term or the other. There is still hope among fans that this landmark theatrical production will someday be rescued, fully restored, and released complete in its original form. Luckily many of the original cast are still with us, and fans would love to hear from them in a new "making of" documentary and perhaps commentary. However, Inquiries to the RSC have been fruitless, and it is not known where the original film elements are.
Good and reliable information are available on a website for original creator John Caird http://johncaird.com/theatre/nicholas_nickleby_rsc_1.html
Read more about this topic: The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby (play)
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