Steak's Views: Oliver Twist

Written by Dickens as a serial. Amazon describes the plot as, "Oliver Twist, or The Parish Boy's Progress, is the second novel by Charles Dickens, and was first published as a serial 1837–9. The story is of the orphan Oliver Twist, who starts his life in a workhouse and is then apprenticed with an undertaker. He escapes from there and travels to London where he meets the Artful Dodger, a member of a gang of juvenile pickpockets, which is led by the elderly criminal Fagin. Oliver Twist is notable for Dickens's unromantic portrayal of criminals and their sordid lives, as well as exposing the cruel treatment of the many orphans in London in the mid–nineteenth century.". It is at the point I will admit I have only read certain chapters and sections for a literary analysis paper. I have never read faithfully in its entirety. All in all, I say: READ IT - it's a classic and it's Dickens.

**No picture of the playbill, but I saw this as a play and it has been done as a play many times and many more times than it has been made into a movie. All in all, I say: SEE IT as a play - you won't regret it**

In 1922, the classic book was made into a movie. It was made into a play first. This version was scary at least to me when I saw it as a kid. Coogan (Uncle Fester in The Adams Family) was Oliver. All in all, I say: SEE IT. I should mention this version is an American made version,

Also, an American made version. This one is not as good as the earlier one. This one is 1933 and was in black in white until Ted Turner got his hands on it. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Below you see the poster for the musical - Oliver! which was done in 1968. It is a UK production, and my grandparents owned it on VHS and I must have watched it at least a dozen times. This one has a place in my heart. All in all, I say: SEE THIS ONE if you are only going to watch one.

By 1948 England finally put a horse in the race. No this is what I'm talking about. This is a good one. Guinness (Star Wars) is Fagan. All in all, I say: SEE IT

In 1974 we get a non-Disney animated version. All in all, I say: NO

Then we get a tv movie in 1982 with Scott (Patton) and Curry (Family Affair). All in all, I say: SEE IT - shown below

1985 & 1999 - we see two more made for tv movie version that are not memorable. All in all, I say: SKIP THEM both

Below you see the poster for the Disney animated and musical version called Oliver & Company.

This one had Cheech Maron, Billy Joel, and more. The songs are very catchy - this one is a classic. All in all, I say: SEE IT

In 1997, another American production is done for tv. This one has Wood (Sin City) and Dreyfuss (Mr. Holland's Opus). This one is a Disney version not animated. All in all, I say: SEE IT - below