OLIVER TWIST-1948
A young, very pregnant woman gives birth to a boy in a workhouse and dies. The boy grows up in that horrible place and, one day, asks for more gruel and is punished. He escapes and ends up on the streets of London where he is taken in by Fagin, the head of child thieves. The Artful Dodger takes Oliver under his wing to teach him the fine ways of being a pickpocket.
This is the best, in my opinion of all the versions I have seen (we shall not mention that musical) and it is a book I still must read. Have any of you read this book? Alec Guinness created his Fagin look by using the illustrations in the first edition of the book which caused much consternation among the Jewish community for being too anti-Semitic. David O’ Selznick lunged at Guinness when he saw him at some party. Both Israel and Egypt banned the film.....Israel was upset by how anti-Semitic it was but Egypt said it was not strong enough...ya can never win.
haha nope, can't ever win indeed. It was a good one. I think I've seen the musical too, was pretty meh from what I recall. Haven't read the book either.
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI have not read the book but I recently watched this film version of Oliver Twist for the very first time when my grandchildren visited. It is masterfully produced with brilliant performances all around. It doesn't surprise me that the portrayal of Fagin by Alec Guinness sparked controversy on both sides.
Have a great day, dear friend BB!
Well, I liked the musical very much! The music was memorable. And the cast was great. Ron Moody was an amazing Fagin. Neddy Seagoon - oops, Harry Secombe! - as Mr Bumble, Oliver Reed as Bill Sykes...
ReplyDeleteThe novel WAS anti-Semitic, but Fagin was based on a real person, Ikey Solomon, who had a connection with Australia. He was being taken to prison in a coach after sentencing, but the coachman was his father-in-law. He got as far as America, but when his wife was sent to Van Diemen's Land(Tasmania), he went after her. Everybody in Hobart KNEW who he was, but they couldn't arrest him till the paperwork came from England. When it did, they took him back, tried him again and ... transported him to Van Diemen's Land! You couldn't make this stuff up! I believe Dickens was a journalist covering the second trial, so that was where he got the idea.
Aussie children's writers - O Is For Wendy Orr
https://suebursztynski.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/a-to-z-blogging-challenge-o-is-for.html
Well, I have not seen this but would like to read the book. I saw the musical play that starred one of the Monkees I think. That was a century ago, LOL.
ReplyDeleteBirgit,
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I've ever seen 'Oliver Twist' of any version but I'd like to see this old one, though. Whenever you get a chance, you're invited to check out my daily A2Z iPad Art Sketch of a big-eyed owl.
Back on territory I know! Saw this as a child - a real Sunday-afternoon-on-the-TV film. I liked the musical - I was at an impressionable age, 11 or 12, when musicals still appealed. I also read the book as a child in an abridged version. Couldn’t handle Dickens now - too many words 😉!
ReplyDeleteNot sure if I've seen this or not, but odds are that I have. Since it get repeated play on TCM, it's likely that I will watch it again (or for the first time) at some point in the future.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out / Battle of the Bands
I've never seen any of the versions. Dickens... I read something by him a long time ago, but I can't quite get into his works. But it's a beloved story, so I can see why you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteHi Birgit - I'm ashamed to say I've never read it ... but have definitely watched various versions and the musical ... so interesting to read about the 1948 film - historically thoughtful - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI read the book a long time ago - I also had to sing the songs from the musical at a school show in my much younger days!
ReplyDeletehttps://iainkellywriting.com/2018/04/17/o-is-for-ogre-latvia/
Saw the musical on film but wasn't much like the story, and yes, I read it too, also a long time ago, I also saw a film, not sure which version, but I don't think it was Alec Guinness playing Fagin. Just Googled, it was Ron Moody in '68. He was brilliant in the part. IMHOP
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten to see this version. The only filmed version I've seen was the musical you didn't care for, which was one of my earliest exposures to Charles Dickens' work. Hopefully I'll get to check this one out someday.
ReplyDeleteI never saw this version
ReplyDeleteHm, interested. I haven't read the book or seen the movie. There is a lot of anti-Semitic undertones to stories of old. I like the story and had no idea that it was controversial.
ReplyDeleteKeep going. You're doing great, and you're closer to Z than A!
I think the only Charles Dickens book I read was a Tale of Two Cities and that was for English class years ago. I haven't seen any of the Oliver Twist movies, maybe a snippet of one over the years, but nothing that stands out in my memory as being worthy to remember, LOL :)
ReplyDeletethanks for the comment and the welcome back :)
betty
I must have missed out on my formative years, because I have only heard of the Dickens novel, but never read it, or knew anything about it. I also have never heard of this film, or the musical, for which, I assume, I am lucky!
ReplyDeleteI would like to read some Dickens, especially after watching The Man Who Invented Christmas. Dumb name for the film, but it got me interested in Dickens all over again.
ReplyDeleteI remember studying the book when I was 12 or something and I hated it. I'm planning on reading it though and I'll definitely check out this adaptation as it sounds like a very good film.
ReplyDeleteMy husband can't stand the musical that should not be mentioned either ;). I know I have seen this version of Oliver Twist, but I don't remember the details of it. Should look it out again.
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings - Movie Monsters