Best movie of this year hands down!

Too much of everything

Admirable film.

A Major Disappointment

"Oliver Twist" has been done so many times, including versions in the last few years. I really enjoyed George C. Scott as Fagan, although the boy that played Oliver was hard to take. Then, of course, there's Ron Moody in the musical. What this one has is a period reality to Victorian England. So many of these previous efforts are so sanitized. Let's remember that this little boy was in a workhouse, probably infected with whatever was around, and at the mercy of people who had no love for him. Enter a passel of boys who are pickpockets, working for a thief who uses them. But what else does society offer them? Of course, they are going to be led by someone who can put a modicum of food in their stomachs and a roof over their heads. The bleakness of the times and the randomness of the world is at the center of this one. Not to mention stylings of David Lean, one of the greatest directors in history. It's hard to match this version of the Dickens classic.

A common complaint of today's movies is that there is nothing original and everything is just a sequel, remake or based on something else. It's weird because it really has always been like that, at least as far back as the 1940's. We had tons of classic novels to work on and this film was no exception. I feel bad for not having read the original Dickens classic, but anyone should enjoy this. I am understanding the story more and more through these adaptations. This one wasn't quite as good as "Oliver!", but it definitely ranked as one of the best.I think the main reason is that there are a lot of truly intense moments in this. We get to see most of the characters engage in some very serious and rather violent scenes. Tame by today's standards, but these are some pretty powerful things as we see even Oliver defend himself well. I agree that Fagin does seem like a Jewish stereotype here. It's great how it all leads up to the biggest climax in any "Oliver Twist" version. Dodger doesn't do that much, but he still gets in some great scenes. Oliver Twist himself isn't focused on that much in the second half, but the characters are still interesting enough for you to care about. Alec Guinness is certainly unrecognizable here. ***1/2.

As a stand-alone film, this is a fine accomplishment. It boasts very good acting, beautiful cinematography and almost matches the harshness Dickens so artfully portrays in his novel. The savagery meted out to the poor and destitute by the authorities and the middle class stands to this day as a major indictment of 19th century English society. But when the film is evaluated in light of the novel, there's no doubt purists and dickensians will be disappointed - because the screenwriters have rewritten parts of the story. The biggest change is Mrs. Maylie and Rose have simply been removed: they are major players in the novel. Also many details have been changed, for example, in the novel, Sikes's dog - not Oliver - is on the rooftop with him in his final moments. Viewers interested in this film solely as cinema should be thoroughly satisfied by its excellence. For those demanding accuracy to the book, you will need to ease up and drop some of your demands before watching.

I've seen the Ron Moody musical version, and I saw the Sir Ben Kingsley/Roman Polanski version, but this of course is the most acclaimed version of the classic Charles Dickens tale, from director Sir David Lean (Great Expectations, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia). You probably know the story pretty well already, but just in case, I'll go through it. Basically, a Mother (Josephine Stuart) struggled to give birth in the workhouse, but she did, and died shortly after. 11 years later, the boy, Oliver Twist (John Howard Davies) is the orphan living with many lonely children, and Mr. Bumble (Francis L. Sullivan) sends him to a work house after he said "Please, sir, I want some more" (gruel). After a little while he runs away and ends up in London, soon meeting pick pocket, the Artful Dodger (Anthony Newley) who takes him to the "care and comfort" of Jewish criminal Fagin (Sir Alec Guinness). The rest of the film sees Oliver trying to pick pocket, and getting to many scrapes, with the likes of Nancy (Kay Walsh) and her abusive lover Bill Sikes (Robert Newton), Chief of Police (Maurice Denham) and Police Official (Henry Edwards), and many others, till he finds his real place of comfort, and all the bad people get what they deserve. Also starring Ralph Truman as Monks, Henry Stephenson as Mr. Brownlow and Diana Dors as Charlotte. Apparently Guinness's portrayal of Fagin was considered anti-Semetic, being banned in America, I think it is the best portrayal of the character, "My Dear", lol. Other cast members, including young Davies (who would go on to produce and direct shows such as Fawlty Towrers and Mr. Bean) are very good, the story is very well put together and feels very dark, a very good adaptation by one of the finest British directors. It was nominated the BAFTA for Best British Film. Sir Alec Guinness was number 12 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, he was number 2 on Britain's Finest Actors, and he was number 11 on The World's Greatest Actor. Very good!