a noble effort and i guess and but ultimately a poor one . before see this film and i felt bartleby and the scrivener be unfilmable . after see it and i still do . unfortunately and i think only those who have read the story will understand what be go on and and they will be upset at the film needless revision ( update from 1850 to 1970 and move from new york to london ) . even the superb talent of paul scofield can not salvage what look to me like a well meaning but misguide effort to film melville metaphysical classic .