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Here are some interesting notes about Oliver Twist
which have appeared in various trivia questions on Internet boards or
could well appear.
- The Artful Dodger is one of three classical literary
roles that Elijah Wood has created, the others being Huck Finn and Frodo
Baggins.
- Oliver Twist was made for TV and the DVD has
retained the woodblocks that freeze frame into commercial.
- Elijah Wood is not the first famous young actor to
receive top billing for the role of Jack Dawkins. The other was Jackie
Cooper back in the 1930’s. Cooper went so far as to perform the role
with peanuts stuck in his nose because Dickens depicts the Artful Dodger
as a nose picker. This reviewer is glad Elijah left that out of his
interpretation.
- Mrs. Corney in this production gets a promotion. She’s
the combination of at least 4 roles including Mr. Bumble. There must
have been an actor shortage somewhere???
- Mr. Bumble appears in the film, but is not referred
to as such. He is also not credited in the cast list.
- Mr. Brownlow is Oliver’s father’s best friend and lawyer
who is raising Rose after she’s orphaned. In the film, somehow, Mr.
Brownlow is now Oliver’s Grandfather. Oliver’s stepbrother is completely
deleted from the plot line, which removes most of the motivation and
credibility factor from Oliver’s own drifting state.
- Bill Sikes’ dog, Bullseye, remains exactly as he does
in the book; one of the scripts’s few exceptions.
- In the Novel, Fagin is imprisoned along with the Dodger.
There’s a very gripping scene between Oliver and Fagin in prison. Fagin
goes to the gallows. The Dodger matriculates to a really bad place.
- Bill Sikes bludgeons Nancy in a psychotic rage in their
shack, where her body is found. In the film, he does it by the river
and the Dodger finds the body. I guess the river-set was available that
week.
- Fagin keeps his treasures behind a brick in the fireplace.
In the film, it’s in a false bottom of a chair??? Is nothing at all
sacred?
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