Oliver Twist, BBC: 1985 [DVD]

Extremely close to the book. Good actors! Worth the time to watch and the cost of the product!

About a year ago I read Oliver Twist for the first time. I knew much of the story from various movies and adaptations, but only in reading the entire book did I understand just who all of these people are.While I still find it odd that we know almost nothing about the past of Fagin, Dodger, Charlie Bates, Nancy or Sikes (to name only a few), we learn a lot about Oliver, Monks and their past. Even that is diminished in most movies. Don't get me wrong - I love Oliver! and the 1948 version with Robert Newton as Sikes.But this 1985 version is A-one. Ben Rodska(looking slightly like a young Prince Harry) is beautifully reserved and yet registers everything needed. (Another boy plays the youngest Oliver.) Each of the actors show the wonderful character training actors get in England. They portray everything you could want. The 6 hour length is a lot, true, but it didn't seem so much longer as richer. The 12 installments can be watched in any size grouping you want - 1, 4 or even all 12 at once (if you have that much time.) I loved it, and remembered every scene clearly from the book.

This version of Oliver Twist was a real pleasure! While a dramatization that stays fairly close to the original, the producers did this one right by giving it the time it needed. While the cast is of people little-known in the US, fans of classic literature should sit up and take notice of this one.Ben Rodska does a wonderful portrayal of Oliver Twist that really brings home just how difficult life was in the workhouse. Dickens' book brought the plight of the poor into the public light in Britain, causing the dismantlement of the workhouse system and the poor laws. The actors and acresses in this episodic telling of the story convincingly prove to the viewer just how bad life could be in the early-to-mid 1800s.Bill Sikes is frighteningly well played. Fagin is absolutely disreputable. Nancy is pitiable and trapped in a life filled with misery--and knows it.Performed in twelve half-hour episodes, Oliver Twist has a simple musical score that enhances the rich visual imagery. People and places abound. This is the England of 1825 you long to see.Oliver says it best: "Please, sir. I want some more!"

This is by far the best film rendition of Oliver Twist that I have ever seen. So often it is sugar coated or a great deal of the story is left out. That is not the case here. It is top notch all the way. The acting is excellent. The costumes are perfect. The sets are awesome. Do I sound a bit biased? For good reason. I have seen this beautiful story on film many times, but none can hold a candle to what you will experience here. The BBC did an outstanding job with this one! Although made over thirty years ago, it has yet to be surpassed. Absolutely excellent!

This is a 6 hour long version of Oliver. It was very interesting to watch, but not the maybe 2 hour version you might be expecting. There is a lot of back story in this version. I really enjoyed it though.

By far the best version of oliver twist told

I decided to try this version since the 2009 one is so filled with extreme and unintelligible accents it is hopeless to watch. Here I was reasonably pleased. One can follow the dialog without difficulty, the accents are not bizarre and exaggerated and the production is good. The one drawback is that it is so drawn out it becomes a bit tedious. I suppose if you are so "into" Dickens that you can spend hours watching a dramatization this would be of no concern. I, however, found that I would have been happier with a more condensed adaption.

The 1985 BBC production of Oliver Twist is the closest to the actual book that I've seen. It's one of those films that bring out the best of a Charles Dickens classic. The characters are memorable and engaging. Every character is portrayed the way Charles Dickens had them in his book. You have the sinister Bill Sikes (Michael Attwell) and Monks (Pip Donaghy). You also have the likable characters such as the lovely Rose Maylie (Lysette Anthony). You don't have to read the book Oliver Twist to appreciate this movie version. A couple of the other film versions of the story retell it in some way. Not this one! Its closeness to the book makes this BBC version a nice introduction to Charles Dickens.

I remember watching this adaptation in 1987 on Saturday nights and I was thrilled watching it back then.Now whilst much older I can still say it is probably faithful to Dickens' masterpiece more than any other adaptation but to be honest five and a half hours is much much too much to hold my interest even though the story is fantastic and thrilling.I think that the acting of Oliver is fantastic. Also Bill Sikes is magnificent as the character is shown to have depth and not just not just be evil.Also Eric Porter is fantastic as Fagin as he also brings a humanity and vulnerability to the character.Amanda Harris is also a very strong Nancy and the parts of The Artful Dodger and Charley Bates are absolutely fantastic as well.The actor playing Monks (Pip Donaghy)is a terrific actor as well.Bradley James is just way too over the top as Mr Bumble.I really couldn't stand his melodramatic performance and annoying mannerisms.Miriam Margolys is very good as uptight bossy Widow Corney.The actress playing Rose Maylie is dreadful, she is so insipid and doesn't show any real emotion.Harry Maylie is too much of a goody goody as well.The part of Mr Brownlow is played very well and Mrs Bedwin is great and Mr Grimwig is played very well.The part of Noah Claypole is played very well. Overall this is definitely worth seeing as a very faithful interpretation of Oliver Twist but it really drags at times (such as with the characters of Giles and Brittles who are boring characters) and some of the acting is way too forced.That said most of the acting is absolutely superb and amazing. I love the 1948 David Lean black and white film with fantastic acting by Francis L Sullivan as Mr Bumble and Alec Guiness as a much more chilling Fagin (not that Eric Porter's Fagin isnt equally magnificent because it is).I also think that the 1982 film with Tim Curry as Bill Sikes and George C Scott as Fagin is absolutely fantastic and very under praised.

I didn't like it since it came from America and it wouldn't work on a UK DVD player

A very good re telling of the oft told Dickens novel. Eric Porter is an excellent Fagin, and Michael Attwell is an excellently menaceing Bill Sikes. The story has all the familiar characters, and the background that is Jacobs Island is perfect. A Very good D.V.D. well worth catching!

Was so pleased to get this, I watched it years ago when it was originaly televised, did have a VHS copy for a while and wanted DVD version. Great to watch it again, Once again an excellent DVD

This TV series was the best rendition of Charles Dickens original novel that I had found.Unfortunately this DVD is not complete as originally televised. Every episode is edited shorter than the TV series. Consequently many really good scenes and characters are missing.