Oliver Twist | |
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Directed by | J. Stuart Blackton |
Written by | Charles Dickens Eugene Mullin |
Based on | Oliver Twist 1837 novel by Charles Dickens |
Produced by | J. Stuart Blackton |
Starring | Edith Storey |
Release date |
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Country | United States |
Languages | silent film English intertitles |
Oliver Twist is a 1909 American film and the first film adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1838 novel Oliver Twist . [1] It starred Edith Storey as Oliver Twist, Elita Proctor Otis as Nancy, and William J. Humphrey as Fagin. [2] It was directed by J. Stuart Blackton.
The film was made by Vitagraph Studios and marketed with emphasis on the participation of Elita Proctor Otis, who was said to have made the role of Nancy "famous throughout the world". [3]
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The story begins with the birth of Oliver Twist in a workhouse, where his mother dies shortly after his birth. As an orphan, Oliver is subjected to harsh treatment and meager living conditions. One of the most iconic scenes occurs when Oliver, after being underfed, dares to ask for more food, prompting outrage from the workhouse authorities.
Oliver is eventually sold to an undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry, but runs away after enduring mistreatment. He travels to London, where he encounters the Artful Dodger, a street-savvy boy who introduces him to Fagin, the leader of a gang of child pickpockets. Unaware of their criminal activities, Oliver is drawn into their world.
During a pickpocketing attempt, Oliver is mistakenly accused of theft but is later cleared of the crime by Mr. Brownlow, a kind and wealthy gentleman. Mr. Brownlow takes Oliver into his home, offering him a chance at a better life. However, Fagin and his associate Bill Sikes conspire to bring Oliver back to their gang, fearing he might expose their illegal activities.
Nancy, Sikes’ partner, becomes sympathetic to Oliver’s plight and secretly works to help him escape the gang’s clutches. Her efforts, however, lead to tragic consequences. In the end, Oliver’s true heritage is revealed, and he is reunited with his family, securing a life of safety and happiness.