Oliver Twist (1933)

An orphan boy in 1830's London is abused in a workhouse, then falls into the clutches of a gang of thieves.

Director:

William J. Cowen

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel), Elizabeth Meehan (screenplay and dialogue)

Stars:

Dickie Moore, Irving Pichel, William 'Stage' Boyd

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dickie Moore	...	Oliver Twist
Irving Pichel	...	Fagin
William 'Stage' Boyd	...	Bill Sikes (as Wm. Boyd)
Doris Lloyd	...	Nancy Sikes
Alec B. Francis	...	Mr. Brownlow
Barbara Kent	...	Rose Maylie
Sonny Ray	...	The Artful Dodger
George K. Arthur	...	Toby Crackit
George Nash	...	Charles Bates
Clyde Cook	...	Chitling
Lionel Belmore	...	Mr. Bumble
Tempe Pigott	...	Mrs. Corney
Nelson McDowell	...	Sowerberry
Virginia Sale	...	Mrs. Sowerberry
Harry Holman	...	Grimwig

Storyline

An orphan boy in 1830's London is abused in a workhouse, then falls into the clutches of a gang of thieves.

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Plot Keywords:

oliver twist | 

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Taglines:

Not a man, woman or child will ever forget the marvelous performance, the wistfulness, charm and heart gripping appeal of Dickie Moore as "Oliver Twist" Charles Dickens' immortal story LIVES! Unfailing in its new appeal...it is a talking picture every member of the family should see.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 February 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

El hijo de la parroquia

Company Credits

Production Co:

I.E. Chadwick Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Balsley & Phillips Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While this film is not especially well-remembered today, and has been eclipsed by practically all of the later film versions of the Charles Dickens novel, it did begin a Hollywood "fad" for Dickens that lasted for about five years. It was followed by Great Expectations (1934) (a poorly reviewed and now forgotten version with Jane Wyatt and Phillips Holmes), the classic MGM all-star David Copperfield (1935), Universal's Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935) (with Claude Rains), the classic A Tale of Two Cities (1935) - another MGM Dickens blockbuster - and MGM's 1938 A Christmas Carol (1938) with Reginald Owen. There would be very few versions of Dickens from Hollywood after that; most films based on Dickens' books would be made by British studios. However, notable exceptions have been the many versions of "A Christmas Carol" produced for American television.

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Goofs

When Oliver is trying to keep up with the horse cart on his adventure to London, he is clearly stopping each time to get into the correct position before doing a flip.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Oliver's Mother: My baby, my boy. I want to see him.

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Alternate Versions

In the version usually shown on TV now, the entire sequence with the Sowerberrys and Noah Claypole is missing. This makes it seem as if Oliver runs away from the workhouse, not the undertaker's shop.

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Connections

Version of Oliver Twist (1982)

User Reviews

The Dickens Is in the Details

When it was obvious talking pictures were not going to be a fad, it was time to make sound versions of Charles Dickens' classics. In this case, the adaptation of "Oliver Twist" (1922) starring Jackie Coogan and Lon Chaney appears have been the inspiration. This revision comes from the low-budget "Monogram" studios and, while this is clearly what they would have considered a prestige production, today it comes across as cheap.

There was obviously no time for the director and performers to do more than block scenes. Some of it looks like a dress rehearsal. Most unapprised of all is "Little Rascal" Dickie Moore in the title role. However, "Oliver Twist" is actually a very difficult role to play. You have to be a young boy who can play it without gin, sex, or a beard to twirl.

***** Oliver Twist (2/28/33) William J. Cowen ~ Dickie Moore, Irving Pichel, William 'Stage' Boyd, Doris Lloyd