| Oliver Twist | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Running time | 190 minutes |
| Director(s) | Coky Giedroyc |
| Writer(s) | Charles Dickens (novel) Sarah Phelps |
| Starring | William Miller Adam Arnold Timothy Spall |
| Country of origin | UK |
| Language(s) | English |
| Original channel | BBC1 |
| Release date(s) | 2007 |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
Oliver Twist is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist, written by Sarah Phelps and directed by Coky Giedroyc. It consists of five episodes, broadcast on BBC1 from 18 to 22nd December 2007.[1][2]
Contents |
Differences
The adaptation makes several major alterations to the plot of the source material, which include both alterations of events as well as familial relationships. Rose Maylie is living with Mr Brownlow, and she addresses him as "uncle", but explains that he is in fact her guardian who took her and her sister, Agnes, in when her mother died. Her sister has been missing for many years, and the search for her has been ongoing. Mr Brownlow is now a part of the overall family tree, since Edward Monks is made his grandchild. As in the book, Monks becomes aware that Oliver is his half-brother, born to the missing Agnes who had a relationship with his father, and seeks to end his life so that there is no competition to his inheritance. As a result, Oliver is ultimately revealed to be Mr Brownlow's grandchild, in addition to being Rose's nephew and Monks' half-brother, as in the novel. After being shot in the house which Sikes attempts to rob, Oliver is taken back to Fagin's lair to recover, rather than being nursed back to health in the countryside by the Maylie family, as in the novel. It is Nancy's informing Rose, and a highly sceptical Mr Brownlow, of Oliver's whereabouts that results in her demise at the hands of Sikes. Her ghost continues to haunt him when he returns to London with Oliver, resulting in him choosing to hang himself in the sewers on escaping the London crowds who chase him. Meanwhile, Monks' murderous motive is discovered by Mr Brownlow and Rose; he is disowned and sent to the West Indies, and Oliver, escaping the clutches of the crazed Sikes, returns to the Brownlow household, and is welcomed. It is the Artful Dodger, rather than Oliver, who visits the condemned Fagin in prison, and goes to his public execution. Sikes dog finds Dodger and the two disappear into the crowds together.
Cast
- William Miller as Oliver Twist
- Julian Rhind-Tutt as Monks
- Edward Fox as Mr. Brownlow
- Adam Arnold as The Artful Dodger
- Tom Hardy as Bill Sikes
- Sophie Okonedo as Nancy
- Morven Christie as Rose Maylie
- Timothy Spall as Fagin
- Gregor Fisher as Mr. Bumble
- Sarah Lancashire as Mrs Corney
- Anna Massey as Mrs. Bedwin
- Nicola Walker as Sally
- Rob Brydon as Mr. Fang
- John Sessions as Mr. Sowerberry
- Michelle Gomez as Mrs. Sowerberry
- Connor Catchpole as Pearly
Episodes
| No | Title | Length | Writer | Director | Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | 60 minutes | Sarah Phelps | Coky Giedroyc | December 18, 2007 |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | 30 minutes | Sarah Phelps | Coky Giedroyc | December 19, 2007 |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | 30 minutes | Sarah Phelps | Coky Giedroyc | December 20, 2007 |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | 30 minutes | Sarah Phelps | Coky Giedroyc | December 21, 2007 |
| 5 | "Episode 5" | 30 minutes | Sarah Phelps | Coky Giedroyc | December 22, 2007 |
External links
Notes
- ^ All-star cast announced for BBC adaptation of Oliver Twist, BBC (25 July 2007)
- ^ Hemley, Matthew Drop the Dead Donkey duo creates new BBC1 comedy, The Stage (11 July 2007)
