SYMPHONY OF THE CITY: OLIVER TWIST AND DAVID LEAN’S FILM ADAPTATION
Abstract
This paper compares Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens’s literary classic, and David Lean’s film adaptation, widely regarded as the best of the many adaptations of the source novel. The first part focuses on two of the novel’s relevant topics: firstly, Dickens’s depiction of London, which is not only the setting, but also a central facet of the novel, and secondly, on two of the most important characters in the book, Fagin and Sikes, both excellent examples of how Dickens excelled in portraying memorable and larger-than-life characters. The second part of the paper explores similar topics in David Lean’s cinematic adaptation. Lean also concentrates on the novel’s nightmarish urban setting, which even prompted some critics to call the film Victorian film noir. The basic underlying structural element of both the novel and the film is the principle of contrast in which, in the incessant battle between good and evil, villainous characters are punished, while the virtuous are rewarded and triumph.
Keywords: metropolis, contrast, evil, Gothic, adaptation.
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Filmography
Arliss, L. (1943) The Man in Grey
Arliss, L. (1945) The Wicked Lady
Brooks, R. (1967) In Cold Blood
Cromwell, J. (1936) Little Lord Fauntleroy
Edzard, C. (1987) Little Dorrit
Lean, D. (1945) Brief Encounter
Lean, D. (1946) Great Expectations
Lean, D. (1948) Oliver Twist
Lean, D. (1949) The Passionate Friends
Lean, D. (1950) Madeleine
Lean, D. (1952) The Sound Barrier
Lean, D. (1954) Hobson's Choice
Polanski, R. (2005) Oliver Twist
Powell, M. (1941) 49th Parallel
Powell, M.; Pressburger, E. (1942) One of Our Aircraft Is Missing
Wattis, N. (1985) David Lean: A Life in Film; documentary film.
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