Olivier Twist

Actually, the "best" version is a matter of opinion, whether you prefer the 1922 Frank Lloyd version, the 1948 David Lean version, the 1968 Carol Reed musical version, or the 2005 Roman Polanski version. But there is little doubt that the 1922 version is the "best" in terms of being the most faithful to Dickens' original novel, virtually every major character and subplot is included with little in the way of changes, quite a feat for a 74-minute movie. I rank it alongside of the 1951 version of Scrooge with Alistair Sims and the 1948 version of Great Expectations as one of the finest adaptations of Dickens on screen.

I eagerly popped this DVD into my player because I've always been captivated by early still and motion photography. I was pleased with the beauty of this silent film: some scenes have a brownish color cast resembling a calotype while others look bluish like a cyanotype. This film follows the novel closely, so dickensians and purists should like it. Lon Chaney is convincing as Fagin, and child star Jackie Coogan - who enjoyed a resurgence later as Uncle Fester on "The Addams Family" - earns the sympathy of the viewer. There are the usual histrionics for this period: this is a silent film, and so they come with the territory. Highly recommended to those who like silent films. A must-see for Dickens devotees and Chaney completists.

In Victorian England, young "Oliver Twist" is born in poverty. His mother dies and his father is unaccounted for (assuming you know the story, this version drops hints). The innocent kid grows into Jackie Coogan (as Oliver Twist). A sprightly waif, young Coogan is sent to a workhouse and gets in trouble for requesting more gruel. Running away from abusive conditions, Coogan heads for "polluted" London. He meets "The Artful Dodger" Edouard Trebaol (as Jack Dawkins) and joins a gang of boy pick-pockets led by the crafty old Lon Chaney (as Fagin). The shriveled scoundrel's henchman George Siegmann (as Bill Sikes) and his woman Gladys Brockwell (as Nancy) come to play an important part in Coogan's life...

Sol Lesser and the Coogan family correctly saw Charles Dickens' classic story as an excellent vehicle for their young star, who adds a touch of his own personality to the character. This major production was found and restored in the 1970s. Another famed version, Paramount's 1916 "Oliver Twist" starring Marie Doro is presently unavailable. Although Ms. Doro is miscast for more than one reason, it would be nice to see her "Oliver" in circulation. That "all-star" version featured a cast even more acclaimed (for the time) than this one; notwithstanding the presence of Mr. Chaney, of course. Carl Stockdale (as Monks) plays his role in both. This film is a great one to see if you're not familiar with "silent" films, but know the Dickens.

******** Oliver Twist (10/30/22) Frank Lloyd ~ Jackie Coogan, Lon Chaney, George Siegmann, Gladys Brockwell

OLIVER TWIST (First National Pictures, 1922), a Sol Lesser production, directed by Frank Lloyd, is another one of many screen adaptations taken from Charles Dickens' immortal story. Dickens himself described it best in a reprinted passage displayed during the opening credits: "When that tale was first published, I fully expected it would be objected to on high moral grounds. It set a very coarse and shocking circumstance that among the characters in my story, I had chosen from the filthiest, most criminal and degraded of London's population. The character of Sikes is a thief, Fagin a receiver of stolen goods, the boys are pick-pockets and Nancy is a prostitute. Yet I saw no reason, when I wrote the book, why the dregs of life, so long as their speech did not offend the ear, should not serve the purpose of a moral. In this spirit, I wished to show in little Oliver the principle of Good surviving through every adverse circumstance and triumphing at last among what companions I could try him best."

In the now familiar story for anyone who's either read the literary tale or seen the latter screen or made for TV adaptations, the introduction begins with a woman, reportedly found lying on the street and taken inside a workhouse by a Mrs. Thingummy, having given birth to an infant boy. The mother dies, and the old hag, noticing an expensive looking locket in the dead woman's possession, takes it before arranging for the orphan to be sent away and raised in a workhouse. Nine years later, the boy, known to all as Oliver Twist (Jackie Coogan), living on charity along with other workhouse orphans, lives a cruel and abusive life doing two days work in one under strict supervision of Bumble the Beadle (James Marcus). When asking for more gruel/porridge for supper, as punishment, Oliver is confined to his room where the hungry boy dreams of food, glorious food. Later taken to Mr. Sowerberry (Nelson McDowall) where he's to work an undertaker's apprentice, Oliver is further tormented by Noah Claypool (Lewis Sargent), a fellow workmate, through comments said about his deceased mother. A fight ensues, causing Oliver to be put away in a gloomy room. Seeing a way out, he escapes and journeys towards London so not to be sent back to the dreaded workhouse. After seven days of begging for money and food, Oliver finally makes it to his destination where he meets Jack Dawkins (Edouard Thebaol), better known as "The Artful Dodger." Later introduced to Fagin (Lon Chaney) and placed in his Field Lane slum apartment for food and lodging, Oliver, now in the company of thieves, including Bill Sikes (George Siegmann), Fagin's henchman; and Nancy (Gladys Brockwell), Bill's woman; the boy is taught a game of stealing. Oliver is later arrested for stealing while at the same time a stranger named Monk (Carl Stockdale), with some possible connection to Oliver's family history, comes searching for him.

Other members of the "all-star cast" include Aggie Herring (Mrs. Corny), Joan Standing (Charlotte); Esther Ralston (Rose Maylie); Taylor Graves (Charles Bates); and Eddie Boland (Toby Crackitt). Lionel Bellmore, who plays Mr. Brownlow here, would assume another role as Mr. Bumble in the 1933 sound adaptation to OLIVER TWIST (Monogram, 1933) starring Dickie Moore.

In spite of its age and this being a silent movie (with most circulating prints with organ score by John Muri, and you-tube edition with scoring that leaves impressionable thoughts of being played on a toy piano), this 1922 76 minute edition holds up quite well for film buffs, thanks to Lloyd's authentic direction of 19th century London setting believably captured on screen. Though it would be logical for Lon Chaney's bearded Fagin, giving that character actor Tully Marshall feel to it, to steal every scene he's in. He does, but many of the film's best moments belong to little Jackie. It's certainly hard to forget his sad face emotions capturing the essence of Dickens character, particularly one who's never experience happiness. Even in a courtroom scene where the accused thief is forced to stand on a platform as he fights dizziness and keeping his eyes open to what's happening around him, brings forth emotional pity, though not by his stern judges. Only when taken in by the wealthy Mr. Brownlow is he given that opportunity to find the true meaning of happiness and considering himself one of the family. After abducted back to the gang of thieves who strip him of his luxury clothing and revert him back to his former pauper looking appearance is quite an emotional impact for little Oliver, especially when in the clutches of the likes of Bill Sikes. No wonder Coogan became the most popular child actor of his time.

Once feared lost, a print was reportedly discovered in Yugoslavia around 1975. How fortunate to now have OLIVER TWIST available in our mist. Distributed to video cassette in the 1980s by Blackhawk and later Republic Home Video, it's latter distribution by Kino Video on VHS and later DVD format, with same organ scoring by Muri, contains some color tinting as well. After many years of obscurity, OLIVER TWIST was finally presented on cable television's TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES (TCM premiere: August 15, 2011) where it occasionally plays as part of its "Silent Sundays" festival. A worthy rediscovery of both film and Jackie Coogan from anyone wanting more. (***)

With a good cast headed by Jackie Coogan and Lon Chaney, plus decent atmosphere that conjures up the sights of Dickens' world, this version of "Oliver Twist" works well. The Dickens story makes wonderful movie material, but it is also quite melodramatic, and for a film version to succeed requires convincing characters and a believable recreation of the world of the novel. Coogan, Chaney, and director Frank Lloyd all get the job done.

Coogan was of course the best and obvious choice in his day to play Oliver. But Chaney, although much more limited in his screen time, is even more memorable. Fagin is the kind of role that Chaney most excelled at. His make-up, mannerisms, and gestures are all impressive, and it is amazing the way that without dialogue he can so quickly and efficiently define his character's relationships with the other characters. The rest of the cast are mostly lesser-known names, but they all do a good job of establishing their characters, too. The settings are a bit plain at times, but are always consistent with the story, and they do the job of showing us the varied places where Oliver lived the different stages of his young life.

There have many versions of the Oliver story, and the terrific David Lean version from the 40's is still the one by which all others should be measured. But this is a good adaptation, and it has almost everything you could ask for in a silent version of the story.