''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

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 ...

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 ...

. * Michael Bell as The

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 ...

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. 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
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External links

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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 {{HannaBarbera-stub

Plot

Cast

Home media

See also

External links

References