"Oliver Twist" (1999) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

8 October 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Based on Charles Dickens' novel, this adaptation traces the childhood of an orphan whose mother dies...

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Thief | 19th Century | TV Mini-Series | Child Abuse

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

David Ross	...	Mr Bumble (4 episodes, 1999)
Julie Walters	...	Mrs. Mann (4 episodes, 1999)
Michael Kitchen	...	Mr Brownlow (4 episodes, 1999)
Annette Crosbie	...	Mrs Bedwin (4 episodes, 1999)
Lindsay Duncan	...	Elizabeth Leeford (4 episodes, 1999)
Marc Warren	...	Monks (4 episodes, 1999)
Sam Smith	...	Oliver Twist (3 episodes, 1999)
Keira Knightley	...	Rose Fleming (3 episodes, 1999)
Robert Lindsay	...	Fagin (3 episodes, 1999)
Alex Crowley	...	Artful Dodger (3 episodes, 1999)
Andy Serkis	...	Bill Sikes (3 episodes, 1999)
Emily Woof	...	Nancy (3 episodes, 1999)
Isla Fisher	...	Bet (3 episodes, 1999)
John Grillo	...	Mr Grimwig (3 episodes, 1999)
Charlotte Le Moignan	...	Young Rose Fleming (3 episodes, 1999)
Roland Manookian	...	Charley Bates (3 episodes, 1999)
Roger Lloyd-Pack	...	Mr Sowerberry (2 episodes, 1999)
Tim Dutton	...	Edwin Leeford (2 episodes, 1999)
Alun Armstrong	...	Mr Fleming (2 episodes, 1999)
David Bark-Jones	...	Dr. Losberne (2 episodes, 1999)
Laura Grace Cockroft	...	Chertsey Maid (2 episodes, 1999)
Sarah Flind	...	Homely Maid (2 episodes, 1999)
Morgan Jones	...	Brittles (2 episodes, 1999)
Sam Kelly	...	Giles (2 episodes, 1999)
Calum MacPherson	...	Blacksmith Bignall (2 episodes, 1999)
Rosalind March	...	Mrs Corney (2 episodes, 1999)
Sophia Myles	...	Agnes Fleming (2 episodes, 1999)
Alan Pentony	...	Pedlar (2 episodes, 1999)
Iain Robertson	...	Woodcroft (2 episodes, 1999)
Hilary Sesta	...	Martha, Female Pauper (2 episodes, 1999)
Liz Smith	...	Sally (2 episodes, 1999)

Runtime:

386 min (4 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Filming Locations:

Alston, Cumbria, England, UK

Company:

Diplomat Films

Quotes:

Fagin: [the boys crowd around Monks] Boys, unhand that man, you don't know where he's been.

Movie Connections:

Version of Oliver Twist (1912/I)

Soundtrack:

Fantasia for Piano 4 Hands in F Minor

Hoots

Oliver Twist was on at the same time as another costume drama so we taped Oliver and the other one and also watched the other. It was dull, so the next week I watched Oliver Twist. I wish I had watched it from the start. It inspired me to read the book, although I wish I hadn't, I much prefer this version. The writer has changed much over it making it seem more vicious but more human as well. On the acting front it was hilarious, very nearly over the top and just right for a Dickens melodrama. The one character who I thought was fantastic was Monks, the actor who played him deserves a BAFTA or something. In the book he is a thoroughly nasty and boring character, in this he is nasty but interesting as well. I liked the way it looked, it was very grubby, and you could see why Oliver was liked by everybody, which was a bit different. The end episode is great and had me nearly in tears. A really good production.