Oliver Twist

Plot synopsis:
In the 1800s, young orphan Oliver Twist is forcibly brought to a workhouse in an unidentified town In England on his ninth birthday. He and the other resident children are treated poorly and given very little food. Facing starvation, the boys select Oliver (through a lottery) to ask for more food at the next meal, which he tentatively does. This results in Oliver being chastised, and the workhouse officials, who are wealthy, well-fed, hypocritical men, decide to get rid of him. After nearly being sold as an apprentice to a cruel chimney sweep, Oliver is sent to Mr. Sowerberry, a coffin-maker, whose wife and senior apprentice take an instant dislike to the newcomer. After more poor treatment, Oliver snaps and attacks Noah, the snotty older apprentice, for having insulted his mother. Noah howled instantly and brought Mrs. Sowerberry and Charlotte rushing in to drag Oliver away and lock him in the cold dark cellar. The Violent behavior of the orphan was duly brought to the notice of Mr. Sowerberry and also Mr. Bumble. Oliver was beaten, and knowing his life with the Sowerberrys will only get worse, he escapes on foot early the next morning.
With little food, Oliver determines to walk 70 miles to London. After he collapses from hunger and exhaustion, a kindly old woman gives him food and lodgings for the night. After a week of travel, he arrives at the city, barefoot and penniless. He meets Jack Dawkins, or "The Artful Dodger," a boy-thief who takes Oliver to his home and hideout at Saffron Hill that he shares with many other young pickpockets and their eccentric elderly leader, Fagin. Soon, Oliver is being groomed to join their gang. On his first outing with the pickpockets, two of the boys steal a man’s handkerchief and Oliver is framed. However he is proven innocent by an eyewitness, and the owner of the handkerchief (the wealthy Mr. Brownlow) takes pity on Oliver, who had collapsed from a fever in the courtroom. Brownlow, believing that Oliver is innocent, informally adopts him, giving him new clothes and the promise of a good education. However, while out running an errand for Brownlow, Oliver is forcibly returned to the pickpocket gang by Fagin’s associate, the evil Bill Sikes, and the young prostitute Nancy (who is in a complex and abusive relationship with Sikes). Fagin and Sikes worried that Oliver would "peach," and tell the authorities about their criminal activity. Oliver is put under supervision until Bill Sikes discovers the boy’s connection to the rich Mr. Brownlow. During midnight, Sikes and his accomplice, Toby Crackit, force Oliver to aid them in robbing Brownlow’s house. They are discovered and Oliver is wounded in a brief shootout between Brownlow and Sikes. As the three escape, Bill decides to murder Oliver to ensure his silence, but falls into a nearby river before he can take action.
Sikes survives his near-drowning, but is confined to bed with a heavy fever. Fagin, despite treating Oliver kindly, remains crime-focused and plots with Sikes to kill Oliver when Sikes has recovered. Nancy has a maternal love for Oliver and does not want to see him hurt, but she is controlled by the abusive Sikes. She drugs Bill, and goes to Brownlow’s house where she arranges to have him meet her on London Bridge at midnight so she can provide information about Oliver. At the meeting, Nancy cautiously reveals that Oliver is staying with Fagin, and that the authorities will easily find them. Brownlow leaves to call the police. The Artful Dodger, who had been sent by a suspicious Fagin to spy on Nancy, had heard everything and is bullied by Bill Sikes to give up the information. Sikes is furious at Nancy’s betrayal, and brutally beats her to death in their apartment.
The next day, information about Oliver and Fagin appear in the newspaper, along with Nancy’s murder and Sikes is a suspect. Sikes’s ever-present dog, Bullseye, is a dead giveaway to his identity. After unsuccessfully trying to kill the dog, Sikes takes up residence with Toby Crackit. Fagin, Oliver, and the boys are hiding there too, after escaping their previous location before the police could find it. Bullseye escapes his master’s cruelty, and leads a group of police and locals to the group’s hideout. Eventually, Dodger, outraged at Sikes for killing the good-hearted Nancy, reveals their location to authorities. Bill Sikes takes Oliver onto the roof, knowing they won't shoot if the boy is with him. When trying to scale the building using a rope, Sikes, distracted by his dog, loses his footing and accidentally hangs himself to death.
Some time later, Oliver is living comfortably with Mr. Brownlow again. Fagin was arrested for his pick pocketing actions, and Oliver wishes to visit him in jail. Brownlow takes him to the prison, where they find Fagin ranting and wailing in his cell. Oliver is distraught at Fagin’s fate, as he had been something of a father figure to him. Oliver tells Fagin "You were kind to me," but soon, their bond breaks when a policeman initially tells Oliver to leave, thinking that Fagin can play tricks on the boy's innocent mind, and wanting to escape execution. As Mr. Brownlow escorts a tearful Oliver to his own carriage, gallows are being set up in the courtyard. Townspeople begin to gather to watch Fagin’s execution, while Mr Brownlow and Oliver leave to start their new lives afresh.

Tags: tragedy, murder

Review:
It is one of my all time favorite stories and plays and I have been disappointed with the past Oliver Twist films.
Also, finely performed were the parts of the artful dodger (Harry Eden), Mr Brownlowe (Edward Hardwicke) and of course Oliver Twist (Barney Clarke).
The cinematography is as accomplished as always in a Polanski film and the lighting helped to create dramatic moods well.All in all a very competent and entertaining version with great acting, a fine pace and an outstanding final scene of Fagin finished and soon to face death gripping hold of Oliver tightly.
This time honoured story by one of the world's greatest writers has been given excellent treatment by a fantastic director.First, the acting is quite good, not just as one would expect from Ben Kingsley (who out does himself as the scheming cantankerous Fagin), but from the child actors as well, most notably Barney Clark and Harry Eden (who play Twist and Dodger, respectively).
Polanski has reworked the story and taken out the 19th century coincidences, e.g., the highly improbable fact that Oliver is Brownlow's grandson and the business with the portrait of Oliver's mother, given the old tale a fresh coat of paint with new amazing character actors such as Leanne Rowe, a young and thoroughly charming Nancy, Henry Eden, a scamp of a Dodger, Jamie Forman, a repulsive Bill Sykes with no redeeming features whatsoever and the veteran Edward Hardwicke as Brownlow.
Add to the acting the coherent script and the three dimensional characters, the romantic goodbye scene in jail between Oliver and Fagin, and one could definitely say that the film contains all the elements of a sensitive and well made movie..
As Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist includes many more characters and subplots than can be fit into a just-over-2-hours film .
This version narrows down and streamlines the story to focus on misfortunes of Oliver , the Artful Dodger , scheming Fagin , evilness by fearful Bill Sykes , Nancy , Mr. Brownlow and other criminal elements of London .
The idea of making a new version of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist" was suggested by Emmanuelle Seigne r, director Roman Polanski's wife , while he was looking for a plot that their children would find interesting.
Oliver is wounded, while Mr. Brownlow tries to save Oliver.Roman Polanski's version of Oliver Twist is another great adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens novel.
Just look at the credentials - Roman Polanski directing Ben Kingsley in an adaptation of Charles Dickens' OLIVER TWIST - sadly it fails to deliver on this fabulous premise.This must rank as the lamest Polanski film after the horrible PIRATES (1986).
The film is brimming with magnificent performances - among them, Sir Ben Kingsley as a pitiable Fagin, a pitch-perfect Barney Clark as Oliver, Jamie Foreman as a terrifying Bill Sykes.
Adapted from the classic Dickens tale, Oliver Twist is the story of an idealistic orphan struggling to survive in a savage adult world.
Here he falls in with a band of pickpockets led by Fagin (Ben Kingsley) - a central character typifying hypocrisy, greed and cunning - but finds salvation in the form of Mr Brownlow (Edward Hardwicke) who recognizes the goodness in Oliver and endeavors to extract him from his, albeit unsuccessful, life of thievery.As he did with his award-winning, "The Pianist", Polanksi drew on his own life experiences as an orphan in the ghettos in World War II to recreate certain moods.
The result is a foul, exploitative, groveling survivor a desperate and pitiful villain, but not a completely heartless one.The elimination of many of the twists of the novel means that this film may disappoint viewers familiar with the intriguing undercurrents of Dickens' plot and richness of his characters' and their relationships.
The only incredible discovery that Oliver makes in this version is that there is a better life to either the workhouse or the den of thieves.While adaptation to film necessitates simplification of the story and as Polanksi points out "For today's taste, you need to abandon a certain amount of melodrama that was very typical for the period", it is easy to feel that in this paring down we have been left with an entertaining adventure set in 19th century Britain.
Eden has already appeared in many movies (Pure, Peter Pan) and knows how to act sincerely without overdoing and exaggerating things.By leaving the characters and taking a closer look at the story itself, I have to acknowledge the visual accomplishments of Polanski's adaptation.
The pace of story developments is very subtle and sometimes too slow, the dramatic developments could have been made more straightforward, with more captivating climaxes and less pauses between them.Oliver Twist has never really been a children's story in its most common sense, and Polanski's version is also not necessarily suited for the faint-hearted.
The camera work and the visuals are very persuasive, the settings are authentic and detailed; all that lacks to make Oliver Twist a masterpiece is a too indifferent performance by Barney Clark and an occasionally too slow pace of dramatic developments.
So much was artificial and though much was made of the fact that the largest set constructed for many years had been created in Prague, I wonder why they bothered?To see a true representation of this great novel, and a brilliant reconstruction of Dicken's London, look no further than David Lean's masterly 1948 version, now available as a remastered DVD.
If you want to watch a proper version of this novel watch David Leans or if you want a good time watch the musical either is better than this dogs dinner of a movie..
Even though most film adaptations of novels can never totally capture the essence of a story the way the original author of the book does, Roman Polanski's film adaptation of "Oliver Twist" does not disappoint.
The direction, costumes, music, and beginning of the movie were also very good.One element of the film that I did not particularly enjoy was the lack of character development for the others (save Nancy and Sykes).
Oliver (Barney Clark) escapes from a bad chimney-sweeper stepfather following a stint at a workhouse, walks 70 miles to London, and exhausted and with bad feet is taken in by the "artful dodger" and his quasi father figure: Fagin (Ben Kingsley, a natural for a character archetypal with little subtle moments in the big expressions), a pickpocketer who teaches his little minions how to pickpocket for him.
Like pieces to a precise form, Oliver Twist pits these characters in a story of conscience in a world gone to the dogs, and where justice is always solved with a hanging.While (according to those who have read the book, which unfortunately I have not) the movie strays from the book in the second half, it doesn't really feel compromised in Polanski's hands.
Beneath the side of the story that (obviously) contains statements about London's tragedies and the little notes of crime in the underworld with the likes of Sykes, Oliver Twist strikes best when it's an emotional tale, with those who come close to Oliver as really strong figures of strength (hence the final scene with Oliver and Fagin being one of the best in any Polanski film).There are little squabbles to be had with such a huge and sprawling production, but not many.
If you love "Oliver Twist" and want nothing more than a very straightforward retelling of the Dickens classic, you will be well served by this movie.
In this regard, Polanski remains faithful, but he never should have made Oliver the true focus of his film.The movie looks great.
Roman Polanski, a talented actor and director, after his mega popular THE PIANIST with Adrien Brody made a movie based on Charles Dickens' tale, OLIVER TWIST.
Although Polanski is not my favorite director, I went to see the movie since I read the book as a child, liked it much and wanted to see to what extend the adaptation fits to the original work by Dickens.
However, I saw something else throughout the film - the answer which Polanski gave in an interview when asked why it was OLIVER TWIST and not another movie he wanted to make after THE PIANIST ...
always remain yourself even if the world badly desires to change you and kill your dreams, BE YOURSELF, ONE DAY LIFE WILL SMILE AT YOU.OLIVER TWIST is worth a look for both Dickens and Polanski fans.
If Roman Polanski proves one thing with this, his 2005 adaptation of Dickens' Oliver Twist, it's that the lasting allure of such a text plus abiding charm of said tale is very much still apparent and that such a story can still be told, years later, in an engaging and exciting manner.
Oliver Twist turned out to be good adaptation, at parts abbreviated and reductive but very fair to this period of history with all its social problems and that's the most important to Dickens' atmosphere and bright ideas personified in his characters.
Finally, it is worth to mention another very good performance of Harry Eden as Artful Dodger and remarkable work of all actors who played supporting characters.Although most of the audience clearly were disappointed (no visual effects and explosions, no swearing or sexual references) I found Oliver Twist one of the best films I have seen this year.
I think that was a grand idea by the screenwriter to remake such a famous story like "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens and to actually not only make it better and more interesting but darker and more sinister.
Master Charles Bates (was this a pun even then?) Bad Bill Sikes, who shows the darker edge to all of this dangerous fun, and the innocent & pure Oliver Twist, who is the very definition of nature over nurture.A great movie, just like the book.
As competent a film as Polanski's "Oliver Twist" is, it has a few liabilities: like the fact that a lot of viewers are mentally comparing it to David Lean's version (1948) and the stupendous Lionel Bart musical (or rather operatic) version by Carol Reed (1968).
Ben Kingsley's efforts as Fagin can only pale when compared to Alec Guinness' and Ron Moody's and the same goes for every other character (especially the Oliver character who acts like a wooden Pinocchio puppet who doesn't come to life until the very last scene).
The only new scene in this version is the final jail cell confrontation of Oliver and Fagin which is heartbreaking - if a tad too morose for children viewers - and which probably exorcises Polanski's demons rather than Dickens' own..
Overall this is a very pleasant and well-made film, if you are a fan of Polanski, Dickens or Twist then you would need no prompting, but if you think that the "Story" just isn't your type, then you are truly missing out and this movie deserves to be asking for More..
The book has been read by generations of children and adults and there have been TV and film adaptations aplenty.The most well remembered version is the musical Oliver!
with Mark Lester, Oliver Reed and Ron Moody.Roman Polanski has dared to do a slightly different adaptation, he keeps faith with Dickens expression of the brutality of Victorian life for the have nots and the wretched.When Oliver meets Fagin we get a homage to the musical Oliver as Fagin teaches him how to pick a pocket or two.What is strange is the narrative moves rather rapidly from Fagin's gang to him being taken care of by the kindly Mr Brownlow to being snatched by Sykes.Jamie Foreman seems to have been miscast as Sykes, a big man but seems to lack menace even though his father was a real life London villain.I felt Mark Strong would had been an interesting Sykes but he plays another character in this film.Kingsley has the difficult job of re-interpreting Fagin by I think he does a functional job, Ron Moody is still tops.Barney Clark has the face for Oliver and holds the film together well as the unfortunate orphan..
When you have read classic novel like Oliver Twist in your childhood , the excitement pumps up in your vein to watch the movie which is directed by none other Roman Polanski.
Oliver Twist delivers and delivers very well.Based on classic novel by Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist describes the story of an orphan who lands up in bad company of a cruel and cunning , Fagin( played brilliantly by Ben Kingsley) where he learns to steal for living.
Charles Dickens's novel of Oliver Twist has been adapted for the screen a number of times, but rather than simply returning time and again to the source novel successive versions have taken cues from each other, gradually refining the tale over the centuries.
I remember all too well turning to my friend Katrina as we left our local cinema, and asking: "Did we just watch the 1968 musical without the singing?" To which she replied with a smile and a puzzled look on her face: "Actually, I think we did!"The Plot: The traditional tale by 19th century author, Charles Dickens, of a young orphan by the name of Oliver who unfortunately and innocently stumbles upon a life of crime in London.
(Charles Dickens)Here's an impressive new version of the well worn but worn well classic tale about the orphan boy who "asked for more" in the gruesome Orphanage, later flees to London and meets up with the sinister Fagin who runs a gang of child pickpockets lead by The Artful Dodger.
Also much of the Dickens droll humour which lightens the grim situations is in the written word, often lost in translation to film.So Roman Polanski, that brilliant if sometimes quirky director, has done a truly remarkable job with his Oliver Twist.
The other stock British character players in the new film all look and perform splendidly to add the "Dickens image" to the story.It is some 35 years since a feature length Oliver Twist has been filmed.
It would be quite hard for a film version of the best known of Charles Dickens' novels to play out badly, especially with Roman Polanski at the helm.
What when cannot possibly deduce from the trailer is that Oliver Twist doesn't really reach a climax in any certain point and I think this is its main drawback.The story is beautifully depicted and one sees a nice picture of past centuries' London, the story is very interesting, but not a great amount of intensity is added to it by Polanski.Certainly worth watching, but unfortunately not the masterpiece one could have expected from the Dickens-Polanski combination of its creation..
But I was completely wrong, I'm glad to say.Roman Polanski is a true genius, and he certainly does a great job adapting Charles Dickens' classic tale onto the big screen.
I think that Oliver Twist is a decent piece of work, Roman Polanski did another very decent movie.
The film is set in 19th century London, England and is about a young orphan boy named Oliver Twist.
Oliver Twist has good direction, a good adapted screenplay, good performances by the entire cast, good original music, good cinematography, good film editing, good production design, good art and set decoration and costumes.
The film's director Roman Polanski successfully adapts the story to the big screen and does a very good job of it.
Oliver Twist is an entertaining film that is also very good looking with it's sets and costumes and is well directed as well.
Overall this version of Oliver Twist is an entertaining and captivating film with a good look and feel to it as well.
Oliver Twist, the main character of this movie, is an orphan in early 19th century England who escapes from his rude undertaker employer and goes to London where he's taken in by a group of pickpockets lead by Fagin.
Roman Polanski's adaptation of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist is genius as it has far reaching insight.
Roman Polanski's new 'Oliver Twist' movie was extremely well done.
The new and slightly improved Dickens classic is rather dark but very effective, Roman Polanski has painted a stark, and provocative image of Victorian era London as young orphan Oliver Twist has a number of close shaves with villains galore until he is finally taken in by a caring family, but must still face the hardships of the crooks who want him back.
I'm reading "Great Expectations" at the moment, which is also heart-whelming and I think I can understand why this boy Oliver Twist is so inspiring.Charles Dickens had a beautiful and unique way of writing; and people from all over the world have tried to adapt his novels so we can see them come to life.
Full of life they appear one by one, Barney Clark as Oliver, Jamie Foreman as Bill Sykes, Leanne Rowe as Nancy, Harry Eden as Dodger and a delightful Ben Kingsley as Fagin.Maybe Polanski's "Oliver Twist" is not as good as other children films, like Alfonso Cuarón's flawless "A little princess", or "Charlie and the chocolate factory" and "Matilda", based on books by another famous author; but it is good, funny and charming.
An excellent movie version of "Oliver Twist" !!!
"Please sir, may I have some more?" Ah, the immortal line from Charles Dickens' classic, from the book Oliver Twist, telling the story of an orphaned boy, with sheer incredible luck and a melancholic, likable face.
For the first half of this "Oliver Twist" I thought that Roman Polanski had chosen to do yet another version of the Dickens tale because kids today tend not to watch black and white films so won't see David Lean's classic and a movie provides a Cliffnotes take on a plot for kids with short attention spans so get restless with the mini-series adaptations that have captured the story more fully.This first half has wonderful character actors with distinctive faces that match Dickens's names and colorful descriptions as bureaucrats and hypocrites are humorously pilloried.
I don't know why Roman Polanski decided to make another version of the Charles Dickens classic novel Oliver Twist.