WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, THE: OLIVER TWIST (TV)

Summary

One of this series of family programs presented under the umbrella title "The Wonderful World of Disney," hosted by Michael Eisner, chief executive officer of Disney. This made-for-television film is adapted from the classic 1838 novel by Charles Dickens. Eisner opens the program by briefly describing how the Dublin filming locations were transformed into 19th-century London.

The story begins as a young pregnant woman staggers across the moors of England and finally makes it to a workhouse. She gives birth to a son, saying that she has nothing to give him except a locket containing her mother's picture, and she tells him that "goodness is rewarded" in life before she dies. The boy is christened "Oliver Twist" and Widow Corney, the miserly head of the workhouse, holds onto the locket. As the years pass, Oliver toils hard alongside the other children, asking only to see the locket occasionally, dreaming of his true family. Shortly before his twelfth birthday, he draws straws with the other boys and is selected for the daring feat of asking Widow Corney for another helping of their pitiful dinner. She is outraged at his audacity and throws him onto the street, though he sneaks back at night and steals the locket from around her neck, then heading off to London to find his family.

Oliver makes it to the bustling city and encounters Jack Dawkins, also known as The Artful Dodger, who offers to help him. He takes him to his rundown home, where he lives with "the old man" and a number of other young boys, warning him that he must never "peach," or tattle, on what he sees in the house. Fagin, the boys' leader, welcomes Oliver to his new home and takes the locket for "safekeeping," then providing him with food and clothes. Bill Sikes barges in, accompanied by the kindly Nancy, and demands payment from Fagin, accusing him of cheating him. Later, Oliver goes out with Dodger and the other boys and observes them pickpocketing people on the street. He tells Dodger that he wants to find his family in Grosvenor Square, but Dodger prefers a life of fun and mischief. Late at night, Fagin is angered when he spots Oliver watching him as he looks through his box of treasure, including the locket. The next day, however, he begins teaching him how to be a thief, calling it a "redistribution of wealth." Oliver sings on the street as Fagin's gang robs the distracted onlookers, and Dodger tells him that prison is an excellent place to learn the tricks of the trade from other thieves. Finally, it is time for Oliver to pick his first pocket, and Fagin quizzes him on the "three golden rules" of stealing. He tries to steal a man's pocketwatch at a book market, but he is caught and thrown in jail, though Dodger escapes. Fagin berates Dodger, worried that Oliver will "peach" on all of them, but Dodger assures him that the boy is trustworthy.

In court, Oliver refuses to give up Dodger and Fagin's names, but a young woman named Rose Maylie speaks up for him, saying that he needs a good home rather than jail time, and Oliver is released and taken to the house of the wealthy Mr. Brownlow, Rose's uncle, which he is excited to learn is in Grosvenor Square. As Dodger searches for him, Oliver enjoys a comfortable evening at Brownlow's home, and then spots a portrait on the wall depicting the same woman as in the locket. Rose tells him that the woman is Brownlow's late wife, meaning that Oliver could be his grandson and heir. Elsewhere, Sikes is furious at Oliver's disappearance, and Fagin agrees that he "knows too much" and must be found. Brownlow, having grown to trust Oliver, gives him some money and books to take to the bookseller, but Sikes and the others grab Oliver off the street and take him back to Fagin. Oliver swears that he did not peach on them, upset that Brownlow will believe that he has stolen from him after all, and Nancy tries to defend him. Sikes tells Fagin that he has a plan for the young boy, and Fagin later tells Oliver that Sikes will "employ" him. Nancy shows Oliver a locket of her own, explaining that Bill used to be kind and took her in years ago, and when he tells her how much he enjoyed being at the Brownlows', she resolves to take him back. Sikes catches them, but Oliver distracts him by mentioning Fagin's hidden box of treasures, which intrigues Sikes.

Later, Sikes takes Oliver to the Brownlows' home and steals a bagful of silver, but when Sikes sneaks into Rose's room, Oliver causes a commotion to awaken her and they are forced to flee. Fagin is impressed with their haul, but declines to give Sikes his share right away, and Sikes again believes that he is being cheated. Oliver talks with Dodger, feeling bad that Brownlow spotted him stealing, realizing that their lives are "not a game anymore." Dodger tells him to escape, saying that he belongs in the fancy house. Sikes then pays Dodger to follow Nancy, and Nancy hurries to the Brownlows' and explains that Oliver was taken against his will and forced to steal, begging them to help him. She refuses to name names, but promises to bring Oliver to them on London Bridge at midnight. Dodger tries to cover for her, but when Sikes threatens to kill him, he spills the truth about the plan. Dodger then offers to take Oliver to the Bridge himself, and Sikes tracks down Nancy as Rose and her uncle wait anxiously. Sikes attacks Nancy for betraying him, and then returns to Fagin's, where he finds Oliver trying to recover his locket from Fagin's box. Elsewhere, Nancy's body is found, and Sikes' dog leads the police off towards his master. Sikes attempts to kill Oliver and Fagin, but a furious Dodger intervenes, revealing that Sikes killed Nancy, and as the police attempt to break down the door, Sikes grabs Oliver as protection and flees onto the roof.

Sikes informs Oliver that he plans to escape on a ship, but he ends up falling off the roof and accidentally hanging himself. Fagin reappears and Oliver demands his locket, threatening to turn him in, and Fagin reluctantly hands it over. However, Oliver then admits that Fagin took him and cared for him, to a degree, and promises not to peach. He reunites with a very relieved Rose and her uncle, and when he shows them the locket, they realize he is family after all. Oliver then offers to enlist his grandfather's help to free Dodger, but Dodger tells him that he prefers to go to jail, eager to learn more skills to become an even better pickpocket. Oliver returns home with the Brownlows, recalling his mother's words that "goodness is rewarded." Includes commercials and promos.

(Series title varies: From 1954 to 1958 this series was telecast under the title "Disneyland"; from 1958 to 1961 this series was telecast under the title "Walt Disney Presents"; from 1961 to 1969 this series was telecast under the title "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color"; from 1969 to 1979 this series was telecast under the title "The Wonderful World of Walt Disney"; from 1979 to 1981 this series was telecast under the title, "Disney's Wonderful World"; and from 1997-2005 this series was telecast under the title "The Wonderful World of Disney.")

(Network varies; this series was telecast on ABC from 1954-1961, on NBC from 1961 to 1981; on CBS from 1981 to 1983; and on ABC from 1997-2005.)

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: November 16, 1997 7:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:51692
• GENRE: Children's programs
• SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Drama
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2008
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - AT&T telephone services
  • TV - Commercials - Aflac insurance
  • TV - Commercials - Aquafresh Whitening toothpaste
  • TV - Commercials - Baby Gap stores
  • TV - Commercials - Betty Crocker Stir 'n Bake mixes
  • TV - Commercials - Bisquick biscuits
  • TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Children's Advil medication
  • TV - Commercials - Children's Tylenol medication
  • TV - Commercials - CoverGirl cosmetics
  • TV - Commercials - Disney VoluntEARS program
  • TV - Commercials - Domino's Pizza restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Duracell batteries
  • TV - Commercials - Fisher-Price Little People toys
  • TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Garnier Belle Color hair coloring
  • TV - Commercials - K-Mart stores
  • TV - Commercials - Listerine mouthwash
  • TV - Commercials - M&M's candies
  • TV - Commercials - Mattel See 'n Say toys
  • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - National Car Rental
  • TV - Commercials - Nintendo 64 video games
  • TV - Commercials - Orville Rederbacher's popcorn
  • TV - Commercials - Pantene Pro-V hair conditioner
  • TV - Commercials - Philips Magnavox DVD video
  • TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - PrimeStar satellite television
  • TV - Commercials - Robitussin Cold medication
  • TV - Commercials - Sears stores
  • TV - Commercials - Sudafed allergy medication
  • TV - Commercials - Taco Bell restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Toys 'R' Us stores
  • TV - Commercials - Tropicana Bursters juices
  • TV - Commercials - Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum
  • TV - PSA - Children First mentoring hotline
  • TV - Promos - "Absentminded Inventions and the Search for Flubber" special
  • TV - Promos - "Adventures with the Duchess"
  • TV - Promos - "America's Funniest Home Videos"
  • TV - Promos - "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas" home video
  • TV - Promos - "Dharma & Greg"
  • TV - Promos - "Flubber" motion picture
  • TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
  • TV - Promos - "Grace Under Fire"
  • TV - Promos - "Home Improvement"
  • TV - Promos - "I Survived A Disaster"
  • TV - Promos - "Medusa's Child"
  • TV - Promos - "One Saturday Morning"
  • TV - Promos - "Sabrina the Teenage Witch"
  • TV - Promos - "Soul Man"
  • TV - Promos - "Spin City"
  • TV - Promos - "The Wonderful World of Disney: The Santa Clause"
  • TV - Promos - ABC Monday Night Football

CREDITS

• Laurence Mark … Executive Producer
• John Baldecchi … Executive Producer
• Stephen Sommers … Co-Executive Producer
• Steven North … Producer
• Richard Dreyfuss … Co-Producer
• Morgan O'Sullivan … Co-Producer
• Tony Bill … Director
• Monte Merrick … Writer
• Charles Dickens … Based on the novel by
• Van Dyke Parks … Music by
• Michael Eisner … Host
• Richard Dreyfuss … Cast, Fagin
• Elijah Wood … Cast, The Artful Dodger
• David O'Hara … Cast, Bill Sikes
• Alex Trench … Cast, Oliver Twist
• Antoine Byrne … Cast, Nancy
• Olivia Caffrey … Cast, Rose Maylie
• Anthony Finnegan … Cast, Mr. Brownlow
• Maria Charles … Cast, Widow Corney
• Des Braiden … Cast, Magistrate
• Eileen Colgan … Cast, Mrs. Bedwin
• Eilish Moore … Cast, Cook
• Lisa Dwan … Cast, Agnes
• Conor Evans … Cast, Chief Constable
• A.J. Kennedy … Cast, Police Constable
• Jeffrey O'Toole … Cast, Hugh
• Ned Dennehy … Cast, Prosecutor
• Sean Madden … Cast, Bookseller
• Max Reynolds … Cast, Oliver (6 Years)
• Ferdia Murphy … Cast, Colin
• Alan Devlin … Cast, Doctor
• Fiona York … Cast, Lady in Pink
• Frank Coughlan … Cast, Man in Park
• Caitriona Lawlor … Cast, Match Girl
• Michael Sheridan … Cast, Hanger On
• Dan Foley … Cast, Farmer
• Ross Callaghan … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Gerard Cannon … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Eoin Chaney … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Thomas Dalton … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Simon Jewell … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Steven Delaney … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Gavin Dowdall … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Christopher Doyle … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Shane Ebbe … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Stuart Danell Foran … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Mark Hannigan … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Sam Lambert … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Chris Lawlor … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Kevin MacClancy … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• David Flaherty … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Ross O'Leary … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Alan Pentony … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Gary Rafferty … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Ross Scanlon … Cast, Fagin's Gang
• Derek Walsh … Cast, Fagin's Gang