Directed by William J. Cowen and released by Monogram Pictures, Oliver Twist (1933) is notable as the first sound film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved 1838 novel. Starring child actor Dickie Moore as Oliver, the film was produced on a modest budget and has since fallen into the public domain, making it widely available—though often in poor-quality prints due to lack of copyright renewal.
Plot Summary
Set in 1830s London, the story follows orphan Oliver Twist, who escapes the cruelty of a workhouse only to fall into the hands of a gang of thieves led by the sinister Fagin (Irving Pichel) and the violent Bill Sikes (William “Stage” Boyd). As Oliver struggles to find kindness and justice, he’s aided by Mr. Brownlow (Alec B. Francis) and Rose Maylie (Barbara Kent), while the tragic figure of Nancy (Doris Lloyd) risks everything to protect him.
Cast Highlights
- Dickie Moore as Oliver Twist
- Irving Pichel as Fagin
- William “Stage” Boyd as Bill Sikes
- Doris Lloyd as Nancy
- Barbara Kent as Rose Maylie
- Alec B. Francis as Mr. Brownlow
- Sonny Ray as The Artful Dodger
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The film was announced in 1930 as an MGM production with Lionel Barrymore attached to direct, but it was ultimately produced by Chadwick Pictures and distributed by Monogram
- It includes the powerful “Fagin in the Death Cell” chapter, often omitted from other versions
- The earliest documented TV broadcast was in New York City on May 31, 1947, followed by airings in Cleveland, Chicago, and Los Angeles through 1949
- Though overshadowed by later adaptations—like David Lean’s 1948 version and the 1968 musical—it helped spark a Hollywood “Dickens fad” that lasted through the mid-1930s
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