KINGS BENCH PRISON

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21417, 8 March 1935, Page 5

KINGS BENCH PRISON

i i j HISTORIC BUILDING RECONSTRUCTED FILM VERSION OF "DAVID COITERKIELD" The historic old King's Bench Prison of London, long since demolished, is being reconstructed for scenes in Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr's film version of Charles Dickens's "David Copperfield." King's Bench was the debtor's prison of England a century ago. In it; were imprisoned not only debtors, but their whole families. It was, in fact, divided into crude apartments, and was frequently crammed lo capacity with men and th'-ir wives and families. In "David Copperlield" if is the temporary lodging place of Wilkins Micawbor, and his family -played in the )ilm by W. C. Fields, Jean CadHl, and a number of children. David Coppcrlicld also lived there for a lime. It. is the .celling for scenes rich in humour and pathos. The prisoners had strange pastimes. One, according to an old newspaper accounl, occupied himself by building his coflin, "made out of solid oak from his estate in Ken!. It weighs fiUOlb." At one of the community festivals, held irregularly by the inmates, "n was filled with punch, when it held -II gallons. L! quarts, J.', pints." The prison was an excellent refuge for improvident authors.,,who managed to get themselves imprisoned for debt, and then, locked up at Uie-ir own request, scribbled energetically. Appearing in the cast arc Frank bawlon, Fdna May Oliver, \V. C. Fields, -lean Cadell. Lewis Stone, Madge Kvans. Roland Young, Maureen O'Sullivan, Fli/.abeth Allan, Basil Haihbon", Lionel Barrymore, Hugh Williams. Herbert Mundin, Flsa Lanehester, Una O'Connor, Jessie Ralph. Floiine McKiuney, and Hugh Walpolc.