Oliver Twist (Full Frame)

Oliver Twist, BBC: 1985

Legendary characters come to vivid life in this magnificent BBC production of Dickens's most beloved tale, the story of the poor boy who asked for more. Born into a miserable workhouse orphanage, Oliver eventually flees to London, where the cheerful Artful Dodger immediately befriends him and introduces him to the villainous Fagin (Eric Porter) and his gang of thieves. Temporarily rescued from the prospect of the life of crime by the kindly Mr. Brownlow (Frank Middlemass), Oliver finds himself pursued by the savage thief Bill Sikes and the enigmatic Monks. Though he is beset by the evils of the dark criminal underworld surrounding him, Dickens once wrote, "I wished to show, in little Oliver, the principle of good surviving through every adverse circumstance, and triumphing at last". "An Audience With Charles Dickens: Sikes and Nancy" - In this 30-minute film, Simon Callow recreates the author's most famous public reading - the scene between Sikes and Nancy from "Oliver Twist". Subtitles: English (Closed Captioned).