OLIVER TWIST
UK, 1948, 116 minutes, Black and white.
Alec Guinness, Robert Newton, Kay Walsh, Francis L. Sullivan, John Howard Davies, Henry Stephenson, Mary Clare, Anthony Newley, Ralph Truman, Kathleen Harrison, Diana Dors.
Directed by David Lean.
There have been at least twenty-one versions of the Oliver Twist story, beginning in 1916 with several silent versions. This film is considered the classic version. There were versions made for television (including a telemovie with George C. Scott as Fagin) and Roman Polanski made a version in 2005 with Ben Kingsley as Fagin.
This film was directed by David Lean the year after he made the film version of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. Lean had moved into direction with In Which We Serve, collaborating with Noel Coward for the war effort. He collaborated with Coward in directing film versions of his stories This Happy Breed, Blithe Spirit and Brief Encounter. Lean was to go on to make a number of significant films in the early 1950s including Breaking the Sound Barrier and Hobson’s Choice. In 1955 he made Summertime with Katharine Hepburn and after this made long and lavish and beautifully photographed epics: The Bridge on the River Kwai, Laurence of Arabia (winning Oscars for both of these films), Doctor Zhivago, Ryan’s Daughter and A Passage to India.
There was some criticism of Alex Guiness’s performance as Fagin. It is a classic performance but some interpreted it as anti-Semitic. Robert Newton rolls his eyes as usual as Bill Sykes. Kay Walsh is a very sympathetic Nancy. John Howard Davies, who also appeared in The Rocking Horse Winner, was a child actor who moved into BBC production and had a very successful career making such excellent series as Yes, Minister and To the Manor Born. Anthony Newley, early in his career, is The Artful Dodger.
The film creates a very strong atmosphere of Dickensian London, gloom and darkness. The sinister darkness of Fagin’s attic, the poorhouse with the scene with Oliver asking for more contrasts then with the comfortable house – to which Oliver is entitled.
The film, with its atmosphere, introduces audiences into Dickens’ social consciousness and his critique of the oppressive legislation and manners of Victorian England.
For most audiences, however, Oliver is best known because of the musical. Ron Moody was Fagin. Mark Lester was Oliver and the film won the Oscar for best film of 1968 and Carol Reed for best director.
1. What was the final impact of this film? Why? How impressive, how moving? Is it evident why the film is considered a classic?
2. Comment on the style of the film. The quality of the narrative and the strength of the plot? The background of Dicken's world? The role of coincidence and plausibility?
3. How important for the film was its atmosphere? The quality of the black and white photography, the composition of scenes, the use of nineteenth century sets, the nineteenth century atmosphere of the Poor House and London? The social atmosphere of the times? The inter-related moral atmosphere?
4. How valuable was the film for insight into nineteenth century England? The presentation of the Poor House, the people there, the hard work, poverty and oppression? The role of labour, the funeral work? The reason for thieves in London? The poor areas of London contrasting with the rich? Justice in London? (Did Dicken's feel that happiness was the ultimate goal of people? happiness as being identified with riches?)
5. The importance of the opening sequences as setting the scene, the mother and her birth, the dying? The importance of her death and its consequences? The doctor and the old crone?
6. The insight into characters like Mr Bumble and the Matron? Their self-importance? Their greed? Their oppression of the boys? The judgement on this type of character? As portrayed later in their money seeking? Their humiliation?
7. Comment on the collage of work in the work house. The boys and the women at work? The starving boys, the asking for more food? the Board and its meetings and comments on the boys, their huge meals? The significance of this atmosphere, judgement of the film?
8. The portrayal of the funeral parlour and life there? the work itself, the personalities involved, jealousy and fighting? Oliver and his need to escape?
9. The portrayal of London? How important was London as a character in this film? The poverty of London and its squalor? The contract of the houses of the rich?
10. The portrayal of the boys? The reason for their being thieves? Fagan's hold over them? The character of the Artful Dodger? The attraction for Oliver?
11. What insight into the character of Fagan did the film give? Was he a caricature? The Jewish background? His hold over the boys, his greed and his secret hoard, his cruelty, yet his kindness? The humour of his teaching the boys how to pick pockets?
12. The importance of Oliver's arrest? The impact on him? The skill of the boys in avoiding arrest? The significance of the trial? Mr Brownlow and the coincidence? Brownlow's trust in Oliver with the test of the boy? The contrast of the Brownlow's life with Fagan's?
13. How well portrayed was Bill Sykes? How sinister? As explained by the background of his life, his thieving and criminal work? His relationship with Nancy? Nancy as one of Fagan's girls and the future in prospect for the boys? The softer side of Nancy? Her defying Fagan and Bill? The significance of Bill's dog?
14. How did the atmosphere change with Oliver's being recaptured? The atmosphere of fear? Nancy's reaction and Bill's violence?
15. Who was responsible for Nancy's death? Herself and her ring? The Artful Dodger in letting Bill know? Bill and his violence?
16. The melodramatic pursuit? The fear of Oliver? Fagan's fear and his arrest? The boys cowering in the room? Bill and his desperate attempt to escape? The vindictiveness of the people pursuing Bill?
17. How appropriate was the happy ending for this film? The coincidences? The criminal relation and his going to get the money and suppressing the truth? The humiliation of Bumble and the matron? The arrest of the criminals? What prospects did Oliver have?
18. What are the main values of Charles Dicken's insight into the human nature and into the England of his time? How valuable were they? How limited? Was this film a satisfactory visual presentation of Dicken's insights?
