The BBCs six-hour 1985 miniseries adaptation of Charles Dickenss 1836-1837 serial novel The Pickwick Papers stars Nigel Stock, Jeremy Nicholas, Alan Parnaby, and Clive Swift, and originally aired as twelve thirty-minute episodes. Familiar to generations of readers, its loosely-knit, picaresque story involves Samuel Pickwick (Stock), founder of the Pickwick Club, and his decision to abandon hard work and set off on a series of adventures with friends Nathaniel Winkle (Nicholas), Augustus Snodgrass (Parnaby), and Tracy Tupman (Swift), throughout England. The episodes are numerous and varied; one of the more noteworthy involves Samuels ongoing battle against Mrs. Bardell, embittered because he has broken his nuptial vow to her. This adaptation has been roundly hailed for capturing the comic spirit and blithe unpredictability of Dickenss original work.Milton Johns, Jo Kendall and Freda Dowie co-star. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide