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:

It Glorifies The Talking Screen!

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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

An adaptation of the novel was announced in the trade papers on January 25, 1930, as an M-G-M Production, with Harry Rapf attached as producer and Lionel Barrymore as director.

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Goofs

When Oliver is scrubbing the workhouse dining room floor, he looks up and smiles at the camera just before the bell goes for breakfast.

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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 (1922)

User Reviews

A Good Attempt for 1933

Most of the movies from the 30's I have seen have a "stage" look. This one is no different. The acting is not bad when compared to other period movies. It should be noted that "Talkies" had not been out that long when this movie was released. We tend to compare movies "back then" with "modern day" movies. There was notable plot and character development in early movies mainly because the special effects weren't very good if there were any at all. The acting was a theatrical type acting rather than cinematic. This was because of the connections to vaudeville that most actors and actresses had at the time. This is like the difference between a live Broadway Play and a Hollywood movie. As a "modern movie", this is a poor excuse of a movie. There is no graphic violence, no adult language, no space ships or aliens. If you want a movie that tells a story and will keep you wrapped up in a specific plot, you won't be disappointed.