Oliver Twist (1948)

 David Lean's "Oliver Twist"


After the success of David Lean's 1946 adaption of Charles Dickens classic 1861 novel "Great Expectations," Lean decided once again to adapt a classic work by Dickens. This time, his focus was on the 1837 novel, "Oliver Twist." His 1948 adaptation once again proved that Lean was able to take Dicken's classic work and visualize it for the big screen. 

Centering on a young orphan boy in 19th century England, "Oliver Twist" details the boy's plight as he is hired out as an apprentice after asking a cruel taskmaster for a second serving of gruel. Falling in with a street urchin and a criminal, the boy's fate between wealth and poverty hangs in the balance when his kindly benefactor decides to take him in.

From all of the Charles Dickens adaptations I have seen, I have come to the conclusion that I am not a fan of Dicken's work. I know, blasphemous. From "Great Expectations" to "David Copperfield," I never found the film version to be anything worthwhile or containing anything miraculously interesting. And yes, I do understand that screen adaptations and the original novel format are completely different pieces of work. However, I feel as though "Oliver Twist" may have been the film that changed my perspective on this trend. I felt myself wanting to disengage with the film as I've come to expect with Dickens adaptations. However, the film began to suck me in as I felt utter frustration for Oliver's circumstances. That being said, it wasn't a paramount film, nor even a considerably prolific film from its perspective year. But, it was an entertaining film with plenty to chew on in terms of Dicken's common themes. I felt completely won over by "Oliver Twist."



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