Oliver Twist (1933)

Director:

William J. Cowen

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
Elizabeth Meehan (writer)

Release Date:

28 February 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An orphan boy in 1830's London is abused in a workhouse, then falls into the clutches of a gang of thieves. |

Plot Keywords:

Dickens | 1830s | Children | Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Cast

Dickie Moore	...	Oliver Twist
Irving Pichel	...	Fagin
William 'Stage' Boyd	...	Bill Sikes
Doris Lloyd	...	Nancy Sikes
Alec B. Francis	...	Mr. Brownlow
Barbara Kent	...	Rose Maylie
Sonny Ray	...	The Artful Dodger
George K. Arthur	...	Toby Crackit
George Nash	...	Charles Bates
Clyde Cook	...	Chitfing
Lionel Belmore	...	Mr. Bumble
Tempe Pigott	...	Mrs. Corney
Nelson McDowell	...	Sowerberry
Virginia Sale	...	Mrs. Sowerberry
Harry Holman	...	Grimwig

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG

Company:

Monogram Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

While this film is not especially well-remembered today, and has been eclipsed by practically all of the later film versions of the Charles Dickens novel, it did begin a Hollywood "fad" for Dickens that lasted for about five years. It was followed by Great Expectations (1934) (a poorly reviewed and now forgotten version with Jane Wyatt and Phillips Holmes), the classic MGM all-star The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, and Observation of David Copperfield, the Younger (1935), Universal's Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935) (with Claude Rains), the classic A Tale of Two Cities (1935)--another MGM Dickens blockbuster--and MGM's 1938 A Christmas Carol (1938) with Reginald Owen. There would be very few versions of Dickens from Hollywood after that; most films based on Dickens' books would be made by British studios. However, notable exceptions have been the many versions of "A Christmas Carol" produced for American television.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Oliver's Mother: My baby, my boy. I want to see him.

Movie Connections:

Version of Twist (2003)

A Good Attempt for 1933

Most of the movies from the 30's I have seen have a "stage" look. This one is no different. The acting is not bad when compared to other period movies. It should be noted that "Talkies" had not been out that long when this movie was released. We tend to compare movies "back then" with "modern day" movies. There was notable plot and character development in early movies mainly because the special effects weren't very good if there were any at all. The acting was a theatrical type acting rather than cinematic. This was because of the connections to vaudeville that most actors and actresses had at the time. This is like the difference between a live Broadway Play and a Hollywood movie. As a "modern movie", this is a poor excuse of a movie. There is no graphic violence, no adult language, no space ships or aliens. If you want a movie that tells a story and will keep you wrapped up in a specific plot, you won't be disappointed.