Those only familiar with the musical version of Charles Dickens famous British novel will being perplexed by much of this TV adaption. The basic premise of the story remains with young Oliver Twist (Richard Charles), a sweet faced workhouse orphan, running away after being treated cruelly and ending up in the den of pickpockets led by George C Scott's Fagin. There he meets the kind-hearted Nancy, played with sweet innocence by Cheri Lunghi, and victimized by her lover, Tim Curry and the well dressed criminal Oliver Cotton who wants young Oliver dispatched of because of a family secret he holds. Nancy's determination to keep Oliver in the upper class household of noblemen Michael Horden results in gruesome violence and some shocking twists that may have indeed been in the novel but were cut out of Lionel Bart's 1960 British musical that took Broadway by storm in 1963 and became an 1968 best picture Oscar winner.
Of course this was not the first non-musical version of "Oliver Twist", having been filmed as a low-budget poverty row film in 1933 and then immortalized by David lean in the opulent 1948 version. each version has taken its own twist on the classic story, but this is by far the most unique if not the best. Performance-wise however, it is brilliant, with Scott, Curry and especially Lunghi claiming top honors for their acting performances. I found Tim Curry's Bill Sykes to be far less Sinister than previous versions although that of course changes when he is pushed to the brink. The true villain is Oliver Cotton's character of Monks coolest motivations are truly evil for the others are simply trying to survive.
The fantastic George C Scott has a twinkle in his eye and provides a lovable insight into the character of Fagin, commanding every scene he appears in. Lunghi, whom I became fascinated by with her performance as the Bohemian lesbian in the TV mini-series "Ellis Island", shows a beautiful vulnerability in her tragic character, and while she has had some impressive big budget credits hasn't gotten the exposure in American films that she deserves. Young Richard Charles is appropriately innocent yet determined in the title role, but not much Insight is given to the character of The Artful Dodger, played as basically a bit part by Martin Tempest. Having seen the musical version several times when I first saw this on TV and its 1982 premier, I can't help but think of the songs while watching it but it is unique and its own style and opulently made. Dickens purists may be very disappointed in the changes and eliminations, but I can't see anybody being upset by the realistic atmosphere of England during a time when indeed it was wretched to be a workhouse orphan.
Of course this was not the first non-musical version of "Oliver Twist", having been filmed as a low-budget poverty row film in 1933 and then immortalized by David lean in the opulent 1948 version. each version has taken its own twist on the classic story, but this is by far the most unique if not the best. Performance-wise however, it is brilliant, with Scott, Curry and especially Lunghi claiming top honors for their acting performances. I found Tim Curry's Bill Sykes to be far less Sinister than previous versions although that of course changes when he is pushed to the brink. The true villain is Oliver Cotton's character of Monks coolest motivations are truly evil for the others are simply trying to survive.
The fantastic George C Scott has a twinkle in his eye and provides a lovable insight into the character of Fagin, commanding every scene he appears in. Lunghi, whom I became fascinated by with her performance as the Bohemian lesbian in the TV mini-series "Ellis Island", shows a beautiful vulnerability in her tragic character, and while she has had some impressive big budget credits hasn't gotten the exposure in American films that she deserves. Young Richard Charles is appropriately innocent yet determined in the title role, but not much Insight is given to the character of The Artful Dodger, played as basically a bit part by Martin Tempest. Having seen the musical version several times when I first saw this on TV and its 1982 premier, I can't help but think of the songs while watching it but it is unique and its own style and opulently made. Dickens purists may be very disappointed in the changes and eliminations, but I can't see anybody being upset by the realistic atmosphere of England during a time when indeed it was wretched to be a workhouse orphan.