'David Holt' (qcv) was originally cast as the young David, but then replaced when the producer decided he should be played by an English actor.
Louis B. Mayer originally intended for Jackie Cooper to play David, but others thought he was too American.
Freddie Bartholomew's first American film.
W.C. Fields' contract included a clause in which it was specified that he speak with a British accent. He didn't - and this may have been because he had difficulty memorizing Charles Laughton's dialogue and eventually had to read his lines off cue cards. Despite much controversy in the press about Micawber having a strong American accent, the director said he felt Fields was "born to play the part".
Charles Laughton was originally cast as Micawber, but resigned from the role after two days of shooting. It was said at the time that "he looked as though he were about to molest the child."
David Niven tested for the role of David the adult.
According to film historians, W.C. Fields performed in only one film exactly according to script and as directed. That one was MGM's The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger in which he co-starred with Freddie Bartholomew, who was only ten years old. Fields admired the Charles Dickens book and wanted desperately to play Mr. Micawber in the movie, so he agreed to forgo his usual ad-libs and put aside his distaste at working with child actors.
In response to the widespread criticism of his having played Micawber with a strong American accent W.C. Fields responded, "My father was an Englishman and I inherited this accent from him! Are you trying to go against nature?!".
Re-released in the USA in 1962.
The book by Charles Dickens was published under the title "The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery" (which he never meant to be published on any account).
Two actors in this film, Herbert Mundin, who played Barkis, and John Buckler, who played Ham Peggotty, were killed in road accidents before the end of the 1930's.
W. H. Henry, who had taken the role of Eustace McGargle in the London version of POPPY, desperately wanted the role of Mr. Micawber, but his wife was deathly ill, and he would not leave her bedside. He recommended that W.C. Fields be given the role, and the studio eventually complied. Other reports say that it was Charles Laughton who recommended Fields for the role, because he did not feel that he was giving a good performance as Micawber. Laughton had similar feelings while he was playing the title role of I, Claudius.