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Oliver Twist (1948)
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Overview
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Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
30 July 1951 (USA)
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Tagline:
A Screen Event To Be Remembered For All Time !
Plot:
Based on the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist is about an orphan boy who runs away from a workhouse and meets a pickpocket on the streets of London...
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Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.
Another 1 nomination
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User Comments:
David Lean's Superb Dickens
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Robert Newton | ... | Bill Sikes |
 | Alec Guinness | ... | Fagin |
| Kay Walsh | ... | Nancy |
| Francis L. Sullivan | ... | Mr. Bumble |
| Henry Stephenson | ... | Mr. Brownlow |
| Mary Clare | ... | Mrs. Corney |
| Anthony Newley | ... | Artful Dodger |
| Josephine Stuart | ... | Oliver's Mother |
| Ralph Truman | ... | Monks |
| Kathleen Harrison | ... | Mrs. Sowerberry |
| Gibb McLaughlin | ... | Mr. Sowerberry |
| Amy Veness | ... | Mrs. Bedwin |
| Frederick Lloyd | ... | Dr. Grimwig |
| John Howard Davies | ... | Oliver Twist |
| Henry Edwards | ... | Police Official |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min | USA:105 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:G |
Germany:12 |
Egypt:(Banned) (original release) |
Canada:G (Ontario) |
UK:A (Janus print) |
Finland:K-16 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:U
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Alfie Bass was considered for the the Artful Dodger, until Kay Walsh, David Lean's wife at the time, recommended Anthony Newley who was with her in Vice Versa (1948).
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Goofs:
Plot holes: Bill Sikes and Nancy easily recognize Oliver despite never having seen him before.
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Quotes:
Oliver Twist:
I don't know them, I don't belong with them.
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Movie Connections:
References The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
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Soundtrack:
My Hat, It Has Three Corners
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Still the most Dickensian of all the Oliver Twist films David Lean's inspired version, never the less is much indebted in its style to the German Expressionist Cinema. It's London is more related to Fritz Lang than Victorian England but the spirit of Dickens is alive and well in the accurately drawn caricatures from the novel. Outstanding performances by Francis J. Sullivan as ridiculous Mr. Bumble, Alec Guiness's chillingly evil Fagin despite a badly judged nose job, and the eye boggling twitching Robert Newton as the ferocious Bill Sykes. Even his dog trembles at his temper, in fact the dog is a major actor in this version.
John Newton Howard is a rather angelic Oliver, with a more refined delivery than one would have expected from a workhouse background. But it all goes decidedly well thanks to Lean's superb direction, stunning images, clever editing and a sterling cast. Viewed today so many years after it was filmed it remains the most vivid and Gothic recreation of the story. Probably Charles Dickens would approve. The heroic length recent version by Roman Polanski is generally faithful to the novel but lacks the pizazz and humour that is in Dicken's writing. David Lean made only two excursions into Dickens (Oliver Twist and Great Expectations) both milestones in cinema. One can but wonder how well he may have brought Bleak House or Our Mutual Friend to the screen.