''Oliver and the Artful Dodger'' is a 1972 American
animated
Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most anim ...
television film
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
and a sequel to
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...
' 1838 novel ''
Oliver Twist
''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...
''. It was broadcast as part of ''
The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie
''The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie'' — retitled ''The New Saturday Superstar Movie'' for its second season — is a series of one-hour animated made-for-television films (some of which also contained live action sequences), broadcast on the ABC ...
'' and originally aired in two parts on October 21 and 28, 1972.
Plot
In 1860,
Mr. Brownlow
Mr Brownlow is a character from the 1838 novel '' Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens. Brownlow is a bookish and kindly middle-aged bachelor who helps Oliver escape the clutches of Fagin. He later adopts Oliver Twist by the end of the novel.
T ...
lays dying. In his final moments, he reveals to
Oliver Twist
''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...
that his will, leaving his entire
estate to Oliver, is concealed in a secret drawer in his bedroom furniture. However, he dies before he can reveal its exact location. Overcome with grief, Oliver flees the house.
When he returns, he finds that, without the will, the estate has been awarded to Mr. Brownlow's only living relative- his criminal nephew Sam Sniperly. Sniperly has sold the house and the furniture. Homeless again, Oliver wanders the streets of
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
until he encounters his old friend the
Artful Dodger
Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger, is a character in Charles Dickens's 1838 novel '' Oliver Twist''. The Dodger is a pickpocket, so called for his skill and cunning in that occupation. He is the leader of the gang of child criminals ...
. Dodger has reformed from his previous criminal ways and now works as a
costermonger
A costermonger, coster, or costard is a street seller of fruit and vegetables in British towns. The term is derived from the words ''costard'' (a medieval variety of apple) and ''monger'' (seller), and later came to be used to describe hawkers i ...
to support a group of orphans that he has rescued from
Mr. Bumble
Mr. Bumble is a fictional character and minor antagonist in the 1838 novel ''Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens.
Character
When the story was first serialised in ''Bentley's Miscellany'' in 1837 Mr. Bumble is the cruel and self-important bead ...
's
workhouse
In Britain, a workhouse () was an institution where those unable to support themselves financially were offered accommodation and employment. (In Scotland, they were usually known as poorhouses.) The earliest known use of the term ''workhouse'' ...
.
Upon hearing of Oliver's predicament, he volunteers to help. They search for the furniture dealer who completed the sale and learn that it was sold to a Master Dreadly, to furnish his country manor. They decide to travel to the estate on foot to attempt to retrieve the will. They're followed by Sniperly who plans to destroy the will to preserve his claim.
Cast
*
Gary Marsh
Gary Marsh was President and Chief Creative Officer for Disney Branded Television, where he used to develop and produce Disney Channel Original Series, Disney Channel Original Movies and Disney Junior Series (formerly Playhouse Disney). He also o ...
as
Oliver Twist
''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...
.
*
Michael Bell as The
Artful Dodger
Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger, is a character in Charles Dickens's 1838 novel '' Oliver Twist''. The Dodger is a pickpocket, so called for his skill and cunning in that occupation. He is the leader of the gang of child criminals ...
and Fishmonger.
*
Richard Dawson
Richard Dawson (born Colin Lionel Emm; 20 November 1932 – 2 June 2012) was a British-born American actor, comedian, game-show host and panelist in the United States. Dawson was well known for playing Corporal Peter Newkirk in ''Hogan's Hero ...
as Sam Sniperly and Furniture Man.
* Michael Evans as Narrator.
*
Pam Ferdin as Louisa and Lilibit.
*
Bernard Fox as Doctor, Farmer, Constable, and Master Dreadly.
*
Joan Gerber
Joan Gerber (July 29, 1935 – August 22, 2011) was an American voice actress who provided voices for a variety of cartoons.
Her most challenging voice role was "all the children in a Japanese train wreck" for a ''Godzilla'' television episode. ...
as Mrs. Puddy, Rose, Tess, and Old Hag.
*
Anna Lee
Anna Lee, MBE (born Joan Boniface Winnifrith; 2 January 1913 – 14 May 2004) was a British actress, labelled by studios "The British Bombshell".
Early life
Anna Lee was born Joan Boniface Winnifrith in Ightham, (pronounced 'Item'), Kent, the ...
as Mrs. Grunch, Mistress Dreadly, Farmer's Wife, Old Crone.
*
Ronald Long
Ronald Long (January 30, 1911 – October 23, 1986), was a British actor who appeared principally in American television shows of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Early years
Long was born in London and performed at the Old Vic Theatre ther ...
as
Mr Bumble
Mr. Bumble is a fictional character and minor antagonist in the 1838 novel ''Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens.
Character
When the story was first serialised in ''Bentley's Miscellany'' in 1837 Mr. Bumble is the cruel and self-important bead ...
and Coachman.
*
Don Messick
Donald Earle Messick (September 7, 1926 – October 24, 1997) was an American voice actor. He was best known for his performances in Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
His best-remembered vocal creations include Scooby-Doo, Bamm-Bamm Rubble and Hoppy in ...
as Pastry Cook, House Agent, Midget, Workman, and Hero.
* Darryl Pollack as Deacon, Happy Harry, and Twig.
*
John Stephenson as
Mr. Brownlow
Mr Brownlow is a character from the 1838 novel '' Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens. Brownlow is a bookish and kindly middle-aged bachelor who helps Oliver escape the clutches of Fagin. He later adopts Oliver Twist by the end of the novel.
T ...
, Mr. Grunch, Goodfriend, Butcher, and Mr. Highbottle.
*
Jon Walmsley
Jon Walmsley is a musician, songwriter, actor and producer.
Acting career
Walmsley is known for his accomplishments as an actor, most notably a nine-season run as Jason Walton on ''The Waltons''. He also returned for all of the ''Waltons'' re ...
as Flip and Boy.
*
Lucille Bliss
Lucille Theresa Bliss (March 31, 1916 – November 8, 2012) was an American actress, known in the Bay Area and in Hollywood as the "Girl With a Thousand Voices".
A New York City native, Bliss lent her voice to numerous television characters, in ...
as Additional Characters.
* Ngaire Thomson as Additional Characters.
Home media
''Oliver and the Artful Dodger'' was released on VHS. It is available on DVD as part of Warner Archive's Hanna-Barbera Specials Collection set, released September 15, 2015.
Hanna-Barbera Specials Collection (MOD) , WBShop.com
/ref>
See also
* List of works produced by Hanna-Barbera
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby union ...
* Oliver Twist (disambiguation)
'' Oliver Twist'' is a novel by Charles Dickens.
Oliver Twist may also refer to:
*Oliver Twist (character), the protagonist of Dickens' novel
Films
* ''Oliver Twist'' (1909 film), first adaptation of Dickens' novel, a silent film starring Edith ...
External links
*
*
References
1972 television films
1972 animated films
1972 films
Films set in 1860
Hanna-Barbera animated films
Hanna-Barbera television specials
The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie
Films directed by William Hanna
Films directed by Joseph Barbera
1970s American animated films
Films based on Oliver Twist
1970s children's animated films
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