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Post by snsurone on Sept 9, 2019 20:15:22 GMT
IMHO, this is one of David Lean's best movies.
I like it far better than his overblown epics: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, DR. ZHIVAGO and RYAN'S DAUGHTER.
And it's far superior to that overrated musical!
Lean perfectly captured the seediness of the London slums, and the actors were letter-perfect, especially Robert Newton as the slimy ape Bill Sikes.
As a youth, Dickens was incarcerated in one of those parish workhouses, while his father was in debtors prison.
The main purpose of the novel was to disclose the hellish conditions of those institutions.
I wonder if it was successful in that endeavor.
I'd be interested if Queen Victoria herself read the novel and took steps to repeal those "Poor Laws" that inflicted such hardships on the downtrodden.
Does anybody know?
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Post by mikef6 on Sept 9, 2019 20:44:37 GMT
IMHO, this is one of David Lean's best movies. I like it far better than his overblown epics: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, DR. ZHIVAGO and RYAN'S DAUGHTER. And it's far superior to that overrated musical! Lean perfectly captured the seediness of the London slums, and the actors were letter-perfect, especially Robert Newton as the slimy ape Bill Sikes. As a youth, Dickens was incarcerated in one of those parish workhouses, while his father was in debtors prison. The main purpose of the novel was to disclose the hellish conditions of those institutions. I wonder if it was successful in that endeavor. I'd be interested if Queen Victoria herself read the novel and took steps to repeal those "Poor Laws" that inflicted such hardships on the downtrodden. Does anybody know? A respectable Dickens adaptation that catches the spirit of the novel. The detail in the set design and costumes makes the London slums and its crowd of denizens almost another character in the story. The huge prosthetic hook nose sported by Alec Guinness makes one flinch whenever he turns his profile to the camera. This might be a problem for some people. It is an unnecessary and regrettable distraction in an otherwise fine movie.
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Post by teleadm on Sept 10, 2019 8:32:41 GMT
Oliver Twist 1948, one of those movies I can watch at any time.
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Post by snsurone on Sept 10, 2019 11:01:37 GMT
IMHO, this is one of David Lean's best movies. I like it far better than his overblown epics: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, DR. ZHIVAGO and RYAN'S DAUGHTER. And it's far superior to that overrated musical! Lean perfectly captured the seediness of the London slums, and the actors were letter-perfect, especially Robert Newton as the slimy ape Bill Sikes. As a youth, Dickens was incarcerated in one of those parish workhouses, while his father was in debtors prison. The main purpose of the novel was to disclose the hellish conditions of those institutions. I wonder if it was successful in that endeavor. I'd be interested if Queen Victoria herself read the novel and took steps to repeal those "Poor Laws" that inflicted such hardships on the downtrodden. Does anybody know? A respectable Dickens adaptation that catches the spirit of the novel. The detail in the set design and costumes makes the London slums and its crowd of denizens almost another character in the story. The huge prosthetic hook nose sported by Alec Guinness makes one flinch whenever he turns his profile to the camera. This might be a problem for some people. It is an unnecessary and regrettable distraction in an otherwise fine movie. The aquiline nose was, sadly, a stereotypical symbol of the Jew, which Fagin was supposed to be. In fact, that look was adopted in stage versions and movies prior to Lean's. After the novel was published, the wife of a Jewish friend of Dickens sharply criticized him for his depiction of Fagin, so in later versions, Dickens removed most references of Fagin's ethnicity. Unfortuately, anti-Semitism was rampant in the UK, as well as most of the rest of Europe--just as it is today!
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Post by claudius on Sept 11, 2019 1:34:29 GMT
I believe some of Guinness' scenes were trimmed in some releases for semitic reasons.
This film does serve a template for OLIVER! A new connection between Oliver and Mr. Brownlow is created, and Oliver remaining a prisoner to the climax.
And young Oliver here ends up producing MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS (turning 50 next month).
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Post by london777 on Sept 12, 2019 3:00:44 GMT
I'd be interested if Queen Victoria herself read the novel and took steps to repeal those "Poor Laws" that inflicted such hardships on the downtrodden. Does anybody know? Although the monarch probably had a little more influence than today, it was not really up to her to initiate reforms. It has always been said that Dicken's novels did have a beneficial influence, but I do not know if this claim has ever been evaluated. Dickens himself was a Tory, and thus opposed the efforts of the Liberal Party. Having said that, it was Disraeli, the Tory Prime Minister, who pushed through many of the great social reform acts of parliament (the Nixon/China syndrome).
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Post by london777 on Sept 12, 2019 3:16:04 GMT
Unfortunately, anti-Semitism was rampant in the UK, as well as most of the rest of Europe - just as it is today! A libellous remark as far as the UK today is concerned, and I would suspect for most of Western Europe. It is certainly rampant in Eastern Europe, but nothing new there. There may be a few instances (and one is too many) in the UK, but these are being blown up out of all proportion by those with a political agenda. In particular, any criticism of Israel (and there is a lot of that around) is labelled "anti-semitism". Similarly, President Trump labels any criticism of himself as an attack on American values.
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Post by snsurone on Sept 12, 2019 10:52:56 GMT
Sorry, but you're wrong, london.
A friend of mine spent several months in Europe (primarily Paris), and she said that anti-Semitism was so rampant, that Jewish schoolboys are forced to wear baseball caps instead of yarmulkes to avoid being beaten or pelted with rocks.
Same is true in the UK.
It's basically due to the huge Musim populations there.
I definately agree with you about Trump, though.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Sept 12, 2019 11:46:57 GMT
Sorry, but you're wrong, Lebow. isn't even in this thread and he is rarely (if ever ) wrong 
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Sept 12, 2019 11:51:08 GMT
Sorry, but you're wrong, Lebow. isn't even in this thread and he is rarely (if ever ) wrong I've also never even seen Oliver Twist (1948), of this I know I am correct! 
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Post by BATouttaheck on Sept 12, 2019 11:56:04 GMT
Lebowskidoo 🦞 isn't even in this thread and he is rarely (if ever ) wrong I've also never even seen Oliver Twist (1948), of this I know I am correct! Maybe your next Quest will be all the movies based on The Works of Charles Dickens and you can catch it then.
That would might keep you busy and out of trouble for a while
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Sept 12, 2019 12:04:21 GMT
I've also never even seen Oliver Twist (1948), of this I know I am correct! Maybe your next Quest will be all the movies based on The Works of Charles Dickens and you can catch it then.
That would might keep you busy and out of trouble for a while Sounds like a cool idea, although not gonna lock myself into any marathons for awhile now. I like my freelance movie watching at the moment. 
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Post by BATouttaheck on Sept 12, 2019 12:11:02 GMT
Lebowskidoo 🦞Multi-marathons run simultaneously and interspersed with "freelancing" are a good winter diversion.  I like that freelance movie watching term !
Might check out the Dickens possibilities me-own-self… maybe in a thread even !  With photos !
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Sept 12, 2019 12:36:25 GMT
Lebowskidoo 🦞 Multi-marathons run simultaneously and interspersed with "freelancing" are a good winter diversion. I like that freelance movie watching term !
Might check out the Dickens possibilities me-own-self… maybe in a thread even ! With photos ! I just finished Elvis' entire filmography, freelance movie watching is nice right now. You should embark on a Dickens quest, it could be a long trip though.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Sept 12, 2019 12:45:36 GMT
Lebowskidoo 🦞 I did the Christmas Carol Quest a couple of years ago and great tho' it was … the Elvis one was probably a LOT more fun!
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Post by BATouttaheck on Sept 13, 2019 14:12:46 GMT
... it's far superior to that overrated musical! " ... Oliver! is one of the shining lights in the genre, a true uplifter guaranteed to have the feet a tapping and the smile firmly implanted on ones face. So if you have yet to see and be charmed by it? Come on in, join our number and consider yourself one of us."  quote from a noted and well respected film reviewer and film historian diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks
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Post by snsurone on Nov 9, 2019 19:04:06 GMT
Not that many of Dickens' novels have been filmed.
There is OLIVER TWIST, DAVID COPPERFIELD, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (and the novel was never finished!), NICHOLAS NICKELBY, THE PICKWICK PAPERS, and especially, A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
I don't believe there are films of LITTLE DORRIT, MARTIN CHUZZELWICK, OUR MUTUAL FRIEND or THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP.
Of course, I may be mistaken; maybe there some obscure prints somewhere.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Nov 10, 2019 1:06:21 GMT
Not that many of Dickens' novels have been filmed. There is OLIVER TWIST, DAVID COPPERFIELD, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (and the novel was never finished!), NICHOLAS NICKELBY, THE PICKWICK PAPERS, and especially, A CHRISTMAS CAROL. I don't believe there are films of LITTLE DORRIT, MARTIN CHUZZELWICK, OUR MUTUAL FRIEND or THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP. Of course, I may be mistaken; maybe there some obscure prints somewhere. Info included in above link : Writer Movie: 97 credits Writer TV 221 Credits Writer short :74 credits
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Post by claudius on Nov 10, 2019 2:00:40 GMT
You left out GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Several films, including another David Lean adaptation).
Well, not counting any TV productions, there is the six-hour LITTLE DORRIT (1987) starring Sarah Pickering, Derek Jacobi, Alec Guinness, and Joan Greenwood, split into two parts, both telling the same story (Part 1 is Arthur's POV, Part 2 is Dorrit's POV). Also, there is MR. QUILP (1972) A musical version of THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP with Anthony Newley, Michael Hordern, and David Hemmings.
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Post by snsurone on Nov 10, 2019 2:32:44 GMT
Lebowskidoo 🦞 isn't even in this thread and he is rarely (if ever ) wrong I've also never even seen Oliver Twist (1948), of this I know I am correct! I corrected the mistake. Sorry for the goof.
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