Article: Charles in charge; CHARLES DICKENS may have died 130 years ago, but his work still carries great expectations on the screen.(ENTERTAINMENT)

Charles Dickens was born 100 years too early. Sure, he thrived in the 19th century with his wildly successful novels and public-speaking tours. But a modern-day Dickens would have been more than a literary pop star. He'd have been a TV giant.

"He would have been king of the world," said Barbara Field, a local playwright who has adapted "Great Expectations" and "The Christmas Carol" for the stage. "Imagine Steven Spielberg, Robert Altman and Rene Clair all rolled into one. But even though I think he would have written for film, he would have liked television even better."

Even 130 years after his death, Dickens carries a lot of weight in Hollywood. ...

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