MovieChat Forums > Oliver Twist (1951) Discussion > The 'Artful Dodger'

The 'Artful Dodger'

posted 18 years ago by WavyG
17 replies | jump to latest

Next to Alec Guinness, I thought this was the best performance in the picture. That scene when he first encounters Oliver, and we see him "sizing him up," it was clear right away that the young actor had the character down perfectly. The strange thing was, when I was watching, I knew I recognised that crooked, crumpled mug from somewhere...I couldn't figure it out where. After watching the movie, I got on IMDB and found out his name is Anthony Newley. Looking through his list of credits, it hit me; I suddenly realised where I knew him from: He was, of course, the wonderful old cockled-faced Captain in "The Garbage Pail Kids Movie"!!!!@!@ Mystery solved!

Now I just can't decide which of these roles were better, LOL?

Love,
Wavy G

[–] kkskinner-1 18 years ago

I like garbage, and I like kids! We have so much in common.

-Katy

[–] WavyG 18 years ago

****PLONK***88*

[–] kkskinner-1 18 years ago

Did you know that .88 cents is the new .99 cents?

That's what my brother in law says.

--Katy S.

[–] janet-conant 16 years ago

Yes Tony Newley was quite wonderful in this version. I always remembered him playing Dodger and enjoyed his performance before he "talked to the animals" or made "What Kind of Fool Am I" a hit. You could see as a boy of 15 he had acting in his blood. My question: Whose performance did you like better Tony Newley or Jack Wild? Of course Wild's Dodger had to sing and dance and he never gave Nancy's plan away to Bill Sykes the way Fagin made Newley follow her and tell all. Also I think in the end of "Oliver" Fagin and Dodger go off together continuing a life of crime.

[–] mtevens 16 years ago

Of course in the book it isn't Dodger who grasses on Nancy. By the time this happens, he's already been pinched, and transported to Australia (where I suspect he became a very sucessful man eventually).

It is that awful Noah from the mortician's who spies on Nancy. He and his girlfriend from the shop show up in London and immediately get recruted by Fagin and Company. Since he doesn't know Nancy, he has no qualms about it.

And Fagin does get hanged. No "Reviewing the Situation" for him in the book.

[–] Kinematico 16 years ago

Besides Alec Guinnes I think Robert Newton (Bill Sikes) and Francis L. Sullivan (Mr. Bumble) delivered great performances as well.

Overall this is pretty well acted and directed movie.

[–] MerchantVenturer 15 years ago

Although a great admirer of Robert Newton's work generally, I felt that in this film his Sikes somehow lacked menace.

Oddly, the sanitised musical 'Oliver' gave us a much more evil Sikes in Oliver Reed.

[–] onepotato2 14 years ago

Although a great admirer of Robert Newton's work generally, I felt that in this film his Sikes somehow lacked menace.

by - MerchantVenturer
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That's about all he offered.
Sikes is completely one dimensional.

[–] TooSlim 12 years ago

I agree about Newton's portrayal of Sikes, he just wasn't as threatening as Oliver Reed in the musical version. Enjoyed both portrayals of Dodger...

[–] SharonTheHarper 15 years ago

I think that this is my favourite performance of Anthony Newley's.

I'm not so keen on his adult work - mostly because he did a lot of musical roles and I'm not very keen on his singing voice.

He was very good as The Artful Dodger.

I actually let out a little bit of wee....

[–] mowglidavid 15 years ago

jack wild rip is and always will be dodger

[–] lroy77 14 years ago

I fancy the actor who played Noah Claypole (who's on as I type this).

But I liked Anthony Newley (saw him in concert once!) ever since I was six watching him in Dr Dolittle...that's 42 years now.

When I watch him in this movie I think he is SO hot...but then I remember he is no longer 17 and this movie was made 12 years before I was even born. So go figure.

[–] virgiltx 13 years ago

I agree about Jack Wild's Artful Dodger, but that's due in good part to the profoundly different treatments.

However, I can't forget the fact that Anthony Newly co-wrote "The Candy Man". So he recovers his stature, in my mind.

____________________

[–] lroy77 12 years ago

I always liked Anthony Newley. Saw him perform live once.

Anyway, when watching it I think "oh, he's so cute". Then I remember that Anthony Newley-the actor, is no longer 17 and this movie was made twelve years before I was even born.

[–] WavyG 12 years ago

Wait...are you tellin' me he was 17 in this movie???

[–] MovieNerdsSuck 11 years ago

Me too that is one of the best performances ever if I recall. He was all sorts of things.
He was so many things in that movie. He was likeable, caring, doubtful, scared and you even feel sorry or worried for him. Really was such an amazing performance.

[–] nicoledesapio 8 years ago

"Me too that is one of the best performances ever if I recall. He was all sorts of things. He was so many things in that movie. He was likeable, caring, doubtful, scared and you even feel sorry or worried for him. Really was such an amazing performance."

My thoughts exactly! I'm always especially impressed by the part when Dodger discovers Nancy's body: Newley's horror and shock seem so real here, and are quite moving when you consider the fact that Dodger is really too young to be seeing such things.