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Oliver Twist Details

1948 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 2954 members

David Lean's prodigious adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic expands fervently on the theme of a lonely boy in a world of bullies. When the orphan hero, Oliver (John Howard Davies), escapes to London, the Artful Dodger (Anthony Newley) delivers him to the notorious Fagan (Alec Guinness), who makes him part of the gang but .. Read more

Starring Alec Guinness, Robert Newton, Anthony Newley, Kay Walsh
Director David Lean
Genres Family

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Oliver Twist cover art

Oliver Twist

David Lean's prodigious adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic expands fervently on the theme of a lonely boy in a world of bullies. When the orphan hero, Oliver (John Howard Davies), escapes to London, the Artful Dodger (Anthony Newley) delivers him to the notorious Fagan (Alec Guinness), who makes him part of the gang but soon allows for Oliver to take the fall for a bungled pickpocketing scam. To date, no movie has better captured Dickens's blend of sensitivity and violence.

Starring Alec Guinness, Robert Newton, Anthony Newley, Kay Walsh, Francis Sullivan, Henry Stephenson, Mary Clare, John Howard Davies
Director David Lean
Studio ITV DVD
Run time DVD: 1 hr 51 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Family
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 11 Oct 1999
Production year: 1948
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (2) of Oliver Twist

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  • 4 stars out of 4

    Simplified, brilliantly cinematic version of a voluminous Victorian novel, beautiful to look at and memorably played, with every scene achieving the perfect maximum impact.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • David Lean's second Dickens adaptation, perhaps marginally less beguiling than Great Expectations, but still a moving... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of Oliver Twist

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  • 12 out of 19 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Black & White

    The children were really disappointed as this was in black & white & not what they expected.

      • A customer from Cambridge
      • Posted 25 Sep 2006 21:25

  • Most recent members' review of Oliver Twist

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    You'll want more

    After scoring successfully with his superb adaptation of 'Great Expectations', director David Lean took another bash at Dickens with this equally adept version of one of the author's most famous novels. Unashamedly cinematic at every turn, once you get past the expectation of the cast bursting into song, this is a wonderfully atmospheric account of a rattlingly good story, filled with memorable performances and some striking directorial flourishes.

      • RJNeb2
      • Posted 03 Aug 2006 23:20

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Rating breakdown

2,954 Member ratings
  • 100
341
  • 90
290
  • 80
626
  • 70
628
  • 60
492
  • 50
273
  • 40
119
  • 30
79
  • 20
66
  • 10
40

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    • Oliver Twist

    • Oliver Twist
      David Lean's prodigious adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic expands fervently on the theme of a lonely boy in a world of bullies. When the orphan hero, Oliver (John Howard Davies), escapes to London, the Artful Dodger (Anthony Newley) delivers him to the notorious Fagan (Alec Guinness), who ...