Customer Reviews
A masterful adaptation - By: Mr. Daniel A. Hunter, 19 Sep 2008 
This is a masterclass in filmmaking from a number of angles - the cinematography is just beautiful, the adaptation feels fresh & lacks the jolts many book to film screenplays have & finallly the acting is superb.
Classic adaptation - By: A reader, 16 Jun 2008 
Dickens' tale of workhouse dehumanisation, middle-class arrogance, urban poverty, street crime & domestic violence balanced against moments of extreme tenderness & altruistic warmth is superbly conveyed in Lean's monumental cinema adaptation. Although significant parts of the novel are missing, such as the events occurring during Oliver's walk to London & his involvement in a botched house robbery in Chertsey, the overalll impression is one of an enormous sensitivity to Dickens's work, particularly the characterisation - the fragile, victimised Oliver, the monstrous but likeable Fagin, the harrowing Bill Sykes & his wonderful dog Bulls eye. I recommend a look at Cruikshank's drawings which accompanied the novel - the likenesses to the actors in the film is remarkable. Cinematic moments of genius include the opening sequence with Oliver's mother, the snuffed out street lamp after Nancy's murder & Bulls eye's betrayal of his master. The foreshortened sets depicting the squalor & claustrophobia of early nineteenth-century working-class London are incredibly realistic. And to think this was alll filmed in a studio lot at Pinewood! For me this is the best Oliver Twist on celluloid - I only wish David Lean had the time & money to make a much longer film & include alll the bits of the novel that are missing.
Best movie ever made of a Dickens Novel - By: M. A. Ramos, 07 Oct 2007 As I said in the title, this is the best ever film-version of a Dickens novel. Oliver Twist expertly tells the story of this enormous novel in less than two hours' screen time. We start with baby Oliver left on the doorstep of an orphanage by his unwed mother. Proving a difficult charge to the wicked orphanage official, Oliver is sold into a job as an undertaker's apprentice. He then runs away & joins a gang of street urchins, led by master pickpocket Fagin . Oliver is rescued from this life; but, with the help of Bill Sikes, Fagin abducts Oliver. Sikes' girl friend Nancy does alll she can to restores Oliver to his home. This leads to Oliver going home, but to her death.
David Lean's does Dickens again with more great results - By: C. Jarvis, 06 Apr 2002 David Lean returned to Dickens domain two years after the release of 'Great Expectations' with this, another classic adaption. Although it is perhaps not as spellbinding as his previous adaption it is still an excellent film with a superb cast. Alec Guinness (only 34 & at the beggining of his spectacular film career) makes the definitive screen Fagin, Robert Newton seems to have been born to play Bill Sykes, John Howard Davies (later a TV producer) makes an effective Oliver & Kay Walsh makes a fine Nancy. Another great aspect of the film are the sets (designed by John Bryan) which perfectly recapture the grimy buildings & streets of Victorian London. This is the definitive screen version of Dickens tale so far (although musicalising it in 'Oliver' was an effective move) & it seems quite dissappointing today that Lean never returned to Dickens territory.
An unforgetable story of love, cruelty and comedy. - By: evansretford@northnotts-gofree.co.uk, 02 Jun 2001 Most definately the best adaptation of Dickens' novel. The opening sequence builds up a great sense of horror & drama which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Frances Sullivan is wonderful at playing the cruel but comical beadle. He & Mrs Mann are a great contrast to each other & make a great double act on screen. Perhaps the best & most memorable actor from this film is the wonderful Sir Alec Guiness who is so convincing as the roguish but kind Fagin - & who would guess that Sir Alec was only 22 at the time of playing the character! Robert Newton is also convincing as the horribly cruel Bill Sykes - he livens up the screen with his cruel ways & bad manners & scares the life out of the viewer with the horrifying murder of Nancy. Right up until he dies he holds the screen in the palm of his hands & never fails to frighten or shock the viewer. Of course I must credit John Howard Davies who played the orphan Oliver brilliantly & held you, the viewer in the palm of his hands. One thing that has made the film so successful is the ammount of research the director has put into the film, the sets are magnificent & very believable for its day. Even down to the coffin snuff box of Mr Sowerberry - every prop is true to the story & makes the film alll the more believable.
