Oliver Twist (1999– )

Based on Charles Dickens' novel, this adaptation traces the childhood of an orphan whose mother dies giving birth to him in an English work-house in the 1820s. Little Oliver Twist, already ... See full summary »

Stars:

David Ross, Julie Walters, Michael Kitchen

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
David Ross	...	Mr Bumble (4 episodes, 1999)
Julie Walters	...	Mrs. Mann (4 episodes, 1999)
Michael Kitchen	...	Mr Brownlow (4 episodes, 1999)
Annette Crosbie	...	Mrs Bedwin (4 episodes, 1999)
Lindsay Duncan	...	Elizabeth Leeford (4 episodes, 1999)
Marc Warren	...	Monks (4 episodes, 1999)
Sam Smith	...	Oliver Twist (3 episodes, 1999)
Keira Knightley	...	Rose Fleming (3 episodes, 1999)
Robert Lindsay	...	Fagin (3 episodes, 1999)
Alex Crowley	...	Artful Dodger (3 episodes, 1999)
Andy Serkis	...	Bill Sikes (3 episodes, 1999)
Emily Woof	...	Nancy (3 episodes, 1999)
Isla Fisher	...	Bet (3 episodes, 1999)
John Grillo	...	Mr Grimwig (3 episodes, 1999)
Charlotte Le Moignan	...	Young Rose Fleming (3 episodes, 1999)
Roland Manookian	...	Charley Bates (3 episodes, 1999)
Roger Lloyd-Pack	...	Mr Sowerberry (2 episodes, 1999)
Tim Dutton	...	Edwin Leeford (2 episodes, 1999)
Alun Armstrong	...	Mr Fleming (2 episodes, 1999)
David Bark-Jones	...	Dr. Losberne (2 episodes, 1999)
Laura Grace Cockroft	...	Chertsey Maid (2 episodes, 1999)
Sarah Flind	...	Homely Maid (2 episodes, 1999)
Morgan Jones	...	Brittles (2 episodes, 1999)
Sam Kelly	...	Giles (2 episodes, 1999)
Calum MacPherson	...	Blacksmith Bignall (2 episodes, 1999)
Rosalind March	...	Mrs Corney (2 episodes, 1999)
Sophia Myles	...	Agnes Fleming (2 episodes, 1999)
Alan Pentony	...	Pedlar (2 episodes, 1999)
Iain Robertson	...	Woodcroft (2 episodes, 1999)
Hilary Sesta	...	Martha, Female Pauper (2 episodes, 1999)
Liz Smith	...	Sally (2 episodes, 1999)

Storyline

Based on Charles Dickens' novel, this adaptation traces the childhood of an orphan whose mother dies giving birth to him in an English work-house in the 1820s. Little Oliver Twist, already abused, starved and overworked, is apprenticed to an undertaker and runs away to London after being bullied by an older apprentice. There, he is taken in by Fagin, a fence and thief-trainer, and his gang of pickpockets. He is befriended by Nancy, a good-hearted prostitute, and meets her lover, the brutal housebreaker Bill Sikes. But attempts by the gang to discredit him result in his being taken in by Mr. Brownlow, a wealthy and charitable man, who proves the catalyst for Oliver's discovery of his background and identity. Here Alan Bleasdale's dramatisation differs from Dickens' novel, in that Oliver does not fall into Brownlow's hands by coincidence, and we already know his back story: he's the child of a young woman named Agnes Fleming and her married lover, Edwin Leeford, who dies while on a trip...

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Plot Keywords:

orphan | 1830s | thief | victorian era | compassion | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Meridian Broadcasting [uk] PBS [us]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 2000 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Alston, Cumbria, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Diplomat Films, HTV, United Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

386 min 386 min (4 parts)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

[Edward and Elizabeth are on horseback]
Edward: Woah, boy, woah.
Elizabeth: It's a girl!
Edward: Is it?
[tries to look under the horse]

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Connections

Version of Oliver Twist (1982)

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Soundtracks

"Fantasia for Piano 4 Hands in F Minor"
Music by Franz Schubert
Played onscreen by Michael Kitchen

User Reviews

What an eye-opener!

I have just been watching this for a second time on cable TV here in Australia and I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time. Full marks to Robert Lindsay as Fagin...but what an eye-opener for me was Edward Leeford/Monks played by Marc Warren. I thought to myself, "Where has this guy been hiding?" but then looking at his profile on IMDb he has done - and is doing - so much work that I can't believe that I've only just noticed him. No-one has made this much of an impression on me since I was awakened to the talents of Tim Roth. Who will be the next brilliant actor - male or female - to come out of hiding and surprise us all?