"Oliver Twist" (1999)TV mini-series

Director:

Renny Rye

Writers:

Alan Bleasdale (writer)
Charles Dickens (novel)

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:

Compassion | Young Boy | 19th Century | Child's Point Of View | Victorian Era

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Sam Smith	...	Oliver Twist
David Ross	...	Mr Bumble
Julie Walters	...	Mrs. Mann
Roger Lloyd-Pack	...	Mr Sowerberry
Ger Ryan	...	Mrs Sowerberry
Michael Kitchen	...	Mr Brownlow
Annette Crosbie	...	Mrs Bedwin
Keira Knightley	...	Rose Fleming (as Kiera Knightley)
Tim Dutton	...	Edwin Leeford
Lindsay Duncan	...	Elizabeth Leeford
Marc Warren	...	Monks
Robert Lindsay	...	Fagin
Alex Crowley	...	Artful Dodger
Andy Serkis	...	Bill Sikes
Emily Woof	...	Nancy

Runtime:

386 min (4 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Filming Locations:

Alston, Cumbria, England, UK

Company:

Diplomat Films

Quotes:

Mrs. Bedwin: Giles. Brittles is ill.
Giles: No he's not mam. He's always like this.
Mrs. Bedwin: Brittles is ill and we had to call a doctor out.
Rose: Oh no!
Mrs. Bedwin: Um, we have to hide Oliver!
Giles: No. You don't have to hide him mam. The boy's in my room. The master hasn't been in my room since the turn of the century.
Brittles: But there's a boy in your room now Mr. Giles.
[a loud crash is heard off camera]
Brittles: . Ow!

Movie Connections:

Version of Oliver Twist (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Fantasia for Piano 4 Hands in F Minor

An incredible version of a Dickens classic.

Some have taken Alan Beasdale to task for rewriting some aspects of the original Dickens story, but I think it was all for the best. It may not match the original story, but taken completely on its own it is nonetheless very compelling and captures the essence of the original well enough while adding some nice new elements.

This is a top notch production in every respect... writing, direction, acting, music, sets, costumes, etc. Robert Lindsay as Fagin is astounding among an absolutely terrific cast, with Sam Smith playing just the right light note as Oliver and Marc Warren a dutifully creepy Monks.

I've seen the whole thing twice now and enjoyed it even more the second time, with the six hours of it seeming to fly by. 10 out of 10