Oliver Twist movie adaptions

**Panflute** · 04-27-2007, 12:41 PM

A few years ago, we watched a part of the movie Oliver Twist in English class. Now that I got into the work of Dickens (I'm currently reading Oliver Twist), I wish to see that full movie after I finish reading this book. After looking around on the internet a bit, I found out that there are actually lots of movie adaptions, and I honestly haven't a clue which was the one that we got to see in English class.

However, when I looked on YouTube, I found a scene, which I think is from the version of the movie (though it might also be a mini series) of which I saw a part. You'll have to excuse the cheesy German voice synchronization:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGdnJZhBqmA

Can anyone tell me which version this is (its year of production, or a name of one of the actors will do)?

Thanks in advance.

**LoveToFreeRead** · 04-27-2007, 01:41 PM

Hi Panflute,

The link you provided is to "Oliver Twist", the Roman Polanski adaptation which was released a few years ago. My personal favorite is "Oliver!", the musical directed by Carol Reed. Here's a link on Youtube.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJwv7...elated&search=

Best of luck

**Panflute** · 05-04-2007, 02:05 PM

Oh, thanks!

Weird though, we must've watched that movie right after it came out. I think I'll get it in the holidays, as I've just finished reading the book (and I must say that I totally loved it).

As for musicals, I seem to dislike almost every one of them.

But I'll give it a shot, as the story is still great.

**Oliver Fan** · 01-10-2009, 10:30 PM

Yes, there are MANY movie adaptations, some of which are good and a couple which outright stink. I think my overall favorite is either the musical "Oliver!" or the 1948 adaptation by David Lean. It stars Alec Guiness (yes, Obi Wan Kenobi!) as Fagin and Robet Newton (best known for his role as Long John Silver in Disney's 'Treasure Island') as Bill Sikes. John Howard Davies is Oliver and he does a remarkable job. Other noteworthy adaptations (IMHO) are the recent 2005 version by Roman Polanski, the silent version with Jackie Coogan and Lon Chaney, and the Masterpiece Theater miniseries.
Disney did a version in the mid 90's with Richard Dreyfus as Fagin and Elijah Wood as the Artful Dodger, but it isn't all that great. It was grossly miscast (as was Disney's version of Tom Sawyer also in the mid 90's). And if you want to see a laughable version, the 1933 version with Dickie Moore is just terrible! The 1982 TV version with George C. Scott is okay, but not one of the better adaptations. Another adaptation is from BBC but I have not seen it. It is scheduled to be releasde on DVD in late February.

I'd love to hear other folks' opinions of the different movie versions. Thee's nobody I know that I can talk to this about!

**wessexgirl** · 01-11-2009, 07:51 AM

Hi. I love Oliver Twist. I didn't care for the recent BBC version though. I much preferred the version ITV did a few years ago, with Robert Lindsay as Fagin. I know they took a few liberties with the story, by opening it out with a backstory of what happened with Oliver's mother etc. But it was perfectly in tune with the story, and made sense. I loved it. It had a stellar cast, with not only Lindsay, but Julie Walters, Michael Kitchen, Andy Serkis, Keira Knightley, Marc Warren, Lindsey Duncan, and loads more. Check it out. I also love the 1948 version and the musical.

I've just checked it out and it looks as if it was the one shown on Masterpiece Theatre, so those in the US may be familiar with that version. It's excellent.

**Oliver Fan** · 01-11-2009, 10:33 AM

Yes, that was the one and I agree it was quite good. The boy who played Oliver was also excellent. However, I didn't really care for how they made Fagin out to be a former magician. I thought that was pretty hokey. Other than that I think he was played well.
I have quite a collection of film versions of Oliver Twist (10 at last count) and I agree it is one of the best. My favorites are still 'Oliver!' and the 1948 version. I don't have any of the animated versions but then again I'm not interested in any of them. I'd love to go to London to see the revival of Oliver! (Rowan Atkinson is Fagin, if you can picture that.) Maybe it will come to NY eventually. Then I'll go see Billy Elliot and Oliver!

**Lady Marian** · 01-11-2009, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Panflute

As for musicals, I seem to dislike almost every one of them.

But I'll give it a shot, as the story is still great.

I don't like musicals, either, but Elijah Wood as the Artful Dodger did a pretty good job in one of them. Sorry I can't remember exactly which one.

**Oliver Fan** · 01-11-2009, 08:59 PM

Elijah Wood was the Dodger in the Disney film with Richard Dreyfus as Fagin. Personally I didn't care for him as the Dodger. He's a great actor but I think both he and Richard Dreyfus were miscast in that one.

**Phillise** · 04-03-2013, 02:46 AM

Originally Posted by Oliver Fan

Yes, there are MANY movie adaptations, some of which are good and a couple which outright stink. I think my overall favorite is either the musical "Oliver!" or the 1948 adaptation by David Lean. It stars Alec Guiness (yes, Obi Wan Kenobi!) as Fagin and Robet Newton (best known for his role as Long John Silver in Disney's 'Treasure Island') as Bill Sikes. John Howard Davies is Oliver and he does a remarkable job. Other noteworthy adaptations (IMHO) are the recent 2005 version by Roman Polanski, the silent version with Jackie Coogan and Lon Chaney, and the Masterpiece Theater miniseries.
Disney did a version in the mid 90's with Richard Dreyfus as Fagin and Elijah Wood as the Artful Dodger, but it isn't all that great. It was grossly miscast (as was Disney's version of Tom Sawyer also in the mid 90's). And if you want to see a laughable version, the 1933 version with Dickie Moore is just terrible! The 1982 TV version with George C. Scott is okay, but not one of the better adaptations. Another adaptation is from BBC but I have not seen it. It is scheduled to be releasde on DVD in late February.

I'd love to hear other folks' opinions of the different movie versions. Thee's nobody I know that I can talk to this about!

There's nobody for me to talk about this either! This post was back in 2009, so it is a little old. My favorite version of Oliver is the George C. Scott version. Do you know if there is any verion of Oliver that includes the incident of the raging hunchback in chapter 32 of the book?

**kev67** · 04-03-2013, 07:01 AM

I remember watching the Roman Polanski version in the cinema a few years back. I remember there was some indignation in the newspapers because it was filmed in Hungary or the Czech Republic because the countryside over there looked more like 19th century England than England does now. The only other version I have seen is the musical. The Polanski film was okay but I did not think it was as well cast as the musical. In particular, I did not think the actor who played Bill Sykes was nearly as scary as Oliver Reed. Ben Kingsley played Fagin. He looked exactly like Ron Moody from the musical. I expect David Lean's film is probably the best non-musical adaption.

**Emil Miller** · 04-03-2013, 11:19 AM

David Lean's film is a masterly adaptation and, as with a number of his films, is unlikely to be equalled .
Here's why:

http://youtu.be/pigmgUCxg_0

**Phillise** · 04-04-2013, 12:17 AM

If the "oliver fan" person is out there, respond, and I will tell you my opinions of various Oliver films.

One thing, the David Lean adaptation proabably casts the definitive Fagin, but why is the film itself considered definitive, since it cuts out so much of the book? It looks like one of the BBC versions would be definitive, even though the ones I've seen aren't my favorites. I've recently read that there was a 1962 BBC veriosn that was never released.

**qimissung** · 04-04-2013, 01:39 AM

I have never read the novel, but I have seen the David Lean version a number of years ago. I showed it to my class. I enjoyed it quite a lot. Fagin's nose was somewhat mesmerizing.

The only other version I've seen is the musical, which I love. I saw it in the theater when it first came out, and loved it so much I stayed to see it a second time. I saw part of the Polanski version recently. Somehow I completely missed that in 2005. I would like to see the whole thing. Polanski can usually be counted on to do a good job. I'm sure it will be a lot darker than the musical (

). I remember a friend was traumatized one time when she wrote an essay based on the musical and discovered to her chagrin it was nothing like the book.