Oliver Twist (2005)

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
Ronald Harwood (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

An adaptation of the classic Dickens tale, where an orphan meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. From there, he joins a household of boys who are trained to steal for their master.

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Pickpocket | Workhouse | Thief | Runaway

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Barney Clark	...	Oliver Twist
Jeremy Swift	...	Mr. Bumble
Ian McNeice	...	Mr. Limbkins
Richard Durden	...	Unkind Board Member
Timothy Bateson	...	Parson / Man with a Punch
Andy de la Tour	...	Workhouse Master
Filip Hess	...	Workhouse Boy (as Filip Hes)
Andreas Papadopoulos	...	Workhouse Boy
Laurie Athey	...	Workhouse Boy
Joseph Tremain	...	Hungry Boy
Peter Copley	...	Dining Hall Master
Andy Linden	...	Mr. Gamfield - the Chimney Sweep
John Nettleton	...	1st Magistrate
Tony Noble	...	2nd Magistrate
Michael Heath	...	Mr. Sowerberry

Also Known As:

Oliver Twist (France) (Italy)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for disturbing images.

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

UK | Czech Republic | France | Italy

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | UK:PG (cut) | Ireland:12A | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Singapore:PG | Brazil:14 | Mexico:B | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Malaysia:U | Iceland:12 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Norway:11 | Finland:K-11 | Finland:K-11 (video premiere) (2006) | South Korea:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Krizeneckeho namesti, Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

R.P. Productions

Trivia:

To keep child actors of the Fagin's gang in character, Ben Kingsley kept his mannerisms (speech and hunch-walk) and his physical appearance as Fagin even off-set.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The shop "John Lobb - Bootmaker" is visible in the background in London. The story takes place in the late 1830s, but the well- known London boot maker John Lobb wasn't founded until 1866.

Quotes:

Mrs. Sowerberry: Is the boy mad?
Mr. Bumble: Tis not madness, Ma'am, it's meat
Mrs. Sowerberry: Meat?
Mr. Bumble: Meat, ma'am, meat! If you kept the boy on gruel this would have never have happened.
Mrs. Sowerberry: Oh my, this is what comes of being liberal.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006)

Soundtrack:

Newry Town

Polanski the great

Roman Polanski never ceases to amaze me at all the things he can do. He can make so many different kinds of films well. His range is truly extraordinary. The man who gave us Chinatown, Pianist, Rosemary's Baby has now directed Oliver Twist. I've seen most of the versions of Twist but this is by far the best. David Leans version is often talked about but it is overpraised. It tends to be overly sentimental an very slow in certain places. I'm not for fast moving movies but his version can be quite dull at times. Polanski's film has updated a great story with lush photography of pastoral settings and the narrative moves briskly. He manages to develop the characters quite well despite the pace. The acting from all is superb especially Ben Kingsley who is barely recognizable. I've never been a fan of great books that have been adapted to film but Polanski seems to have a real knack for this sort of thing. He filmed Tess (also an adaptation) 25 years back with an Academy award nominated direction. That film is one of my all time favorites but Oliver Twist is even better. Polanski seems to get better with age. I can't wait to see what he does next.