Oliver Twist
By: Charles Dickens
This is one of the best stories ever. Charles Dickens wrote it during the Industrial Revolution in England to show the plight of orphans, especially the ones put in Workhouses, during this time. This book makes many points and did try to change the conditions for orphans- but it never sounds preachy. It is not a dry sermon on what is wrong with workhouses… it is better than that. It wraps the reader up in the personal life of an orphan, making the problem personal.
Oliver Twist was born to an unmarried young woman who died just hours after he was born. Since it was not known who is father was, he was put into an orphanage and later a workhouse. However, through his famous lines, "More gruel, please" he was sold to an Undertaker. Gruesome was the work he was made to do.
One day he gets into a fight with a friend of the Undertaker's over his mother. The man insults Oliver's dead mother, wounding Oliver and causing him to start a fight with the young man.
Troubles follow this, and Oliver decides to run away. He is under the impression that anywhere would better than with a family who gives him bones leftover for the dog, a coffin to sleep in and along with the rest, make fun of his mother.
He meets up with a gang of pickpockets in London. They treat him with what seems to be love and make him part of their group. There he stays, content for the moment. But soon he meets Bill Sykes and Nancy. Is Bill Sykes the sort of person Oliver wants to be like? Does Bill really love Nancy? Is he going to hurt Oliver?
This book is very traumatic, at least one person is murdered, Oliver is kidnapped and the one person he has really learned to love dies.
But the book makes a very valid point- and Oliver becomes a character you are endeared to. What his fate is… I cannot tell you!
MOVIES BASED ON OLIVER
I've seen one version…
Actors: Mark Lester, Shani Wallis and Ron Moody
Company: Columbia Pictures
Director: Carol Reed
Year: 1968
Acting:
I must admit- it has been 2 years since I've seen this film. But as far as I remember- the acting was great. I know the man who did Fagin was marvelous!
Filming:
Again… It has been 2 years- so I don't remember. Usually I have a very clear and distinct memory if something was bad (like Robert Sean Leonard's acting in Much Ado About Nothing!).
Things you might not like about this movie:
In one scene although you don't see it- you hear someone being murdered and see the murderer doing the act. Not a pleasant scene. Also- we fast-forwarded through one bar room scene that was a bit too suggestive for us. This is a good movie for older children and grownups- but I would highly recommend previewing it first!
Rating:
It is rated G- but I would give it a PG.
