"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

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Filming Locations:

Alston, Cumbria, England, UK

Company:

Diplomat Films

Quotes:

Brittles: What happens if we see someone?
Giles: We shoot them.
Brittles: What happens if we know 'em?
Giles: Depends on whether we like them or not.
Chertsey Cook: Giles! Brittles!
[Brittles fires a shot and startles the cook]
Chertsey Cook: Was that you Brittles?
Giles: You, you've just tried to shoot cook!
Brittles: I know. But I don't like cook she picks on me.

Movie Connections:

Version of Oliver Twist (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Fantasia for Piano 4 Hands in F Minor

A new twist

This version gives a new twist on the old story by taking what was a few lines in the book and expanding them over two hours. It's fairly successful, though I can't help thinking some students might think this is what the book is really about. Characters are introduced, changed or expanded, of which the most successful is probably Monks, and the least Agnes. This is not to say that the actors do not try their best.

Generally Bleasdale has retained Dickens dialogue but occasionally he adds his own. Whilst on the whole this works it sometimes jars and seems off-key, not because it is badly written but because it doesn't sound nineteenth century.

My only real complaint is that sometimes the settings don't really look like London, which makes the action difficult to place geographically. However the sets and costume look very good and the music is suitably atmospheric.