Oliver Twist
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List Price: $14.95
Features
• Black & White
• Full Screen
• Subtitled
• NTSC
In Theaters : 30 July, 1951 |
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DVD : This item is currently not available. |
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Oliver Twist Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥
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Outstanding version of the Dickens' classic novel.
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Anyone who inadvertently, as I did, arrives at this site may be discouraged from renting or buying this production of Oliver Twist after seeing the two one star reviews others have posted here. I consider this a five star version of this Dickens' classic novel for these reasons.
First, the acting is uniformly excellent by a large cast starting with John Howard Davies as the young orphan Oliver Twist. Davies, as Oliver, is small and frail, yet he has a fighting spirit that prompts him to attack an older boy who slanders his mother. He exudes an inner goodness that prompts some to love him and others to try and corrupt him, particularly the trainer of young thieves, Fagin, who kidnaps Oliver and tries to make a pickpocket out of him.
Fagin is played by the great English actor, Alec Guinness, in one of his finest roles. Fagin appears to care for the gang of young thieves he has organized to roam the streets of London searching for easy marks whose wallents and other valuables are brought back to his lair. Guinness shows us the evil core of this famous Dickens' villain in an unforgettable performance.
Robert Newton perfectly plays Bill Sykes, a violent thief and murderer. Whenever Newton is on screen even his own dog knows enough to keep his distance, for Sykes will kill even those closest to him when he goes into a rage over some real or imagined slight. Francis L. Sullivan as Mr. Bumble, the parochial beadle, Kay Walsh as Nancy, Sykes' girlfriend, and the young Anthony Newley as the Artful Dodger are all equally effective in their roles.
Second, the story is one of Dickens' most popular and entertaining, not only when the book was published well over a century ago, but also today as evidenced by the its stature as a classic and the great number of filmed adaptations that continue to today with Roman Polanski's new version recently in theaters. Dickens' was the first of the great writers to make children the heroes of their own stories. Other great characters include Little Nell of The Old Curiosity Shop, Nicholas Nickleby, and David Copperfield, Dickens' personal favorite.
Third, David Lean's direction is superb, as we might expect from one of the masters of filmmaking. Lean brings to life the London of the 19th Century, with all its squalor and ugliness. As mentioned, he elicits fine performances from a large cast. Those viewers who decide to read the novel will, I think, be pleased with the care Lean has taken to be true to Dickens' intentions.
This film took me by surprise. Lean's reputation as a master was enough for me to take a look at his treatment of Dickens' early novel; I was delighted with the high quality of every aspect of this movie. The Criterion Collection has reissued this film. I recommend that anyone who reads this review go to that site on Amazon.com for more information on this highly recommended film. |
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Oliver Twist dvd movie.