with Mr. Brownlow and goes to visit Fagin in jail. He is sad to see Fagin, who was kind to him, hallucinating and even more devastated to hear that Fagin will be executed for his crimes. The film ends with Oliver and Mr. Brownlow returning home to continue their lives, whilst a crowd gather to witness preparations of Fagin's hanging. Cast Ben Kingsley as Fagin Jamie Foreman as William "Bill" Sikes Barney Clark as Oliver Twist Leanne Rowe as Nancy Edward Hardwicke as Mr. Brownlow Harry Eden as The Artful Dodger (Jack Dawkins) Mark Strong as Toby Crackit Frances Cuka as Mrs. Bedwin Lewis Chase as Charley Bates Michael Heath as Mr. Sowerberry Gillian Hanna as Mrs. Sowerberry Chris Overton as Noah Claypole Jeremy Swift as Mr. Bumble Paul Brooke as Mr. Grimwig Ian McNeice as Mr. Limbkins Alun Armstrong as Magistrate Fang Liz Smith as Old Woman Patrick Godfrey as Bookseller Production In Twist by Polanski, a bonus feature on the DVD release of the film, Roman Polanski discusses his decision to make yet another screen adaptation of the Dickens novel. He realized nearly forty years had passed since Oliver Twist had been adapted for a feature film, and felt it was time for a new version. Screenwriter Ronald Harwood, with whom he had collaborated on The Pianist, welcomed the opportunity to work on the first Dickens project in his career. For authenticity, all scenes featuring pickpocket skills were choreographed by stage pickpocket James Freedman and magician Martyn Rowland. The film was shot in Prague, Beroun, and Žatec in the Czech Republic. Differences from the Novel Due to the complex plot, several characters and events were omitted or changed. The film does not explain where Oliver was raised prior to arriving at the workhouse. Mr. Bumble's role is reduced - there is no mention of him losing his job at the workhouse. Additionally, the characters of Monks (Oliver's half brother) and the Widow Corney are absent, therefore omitting any plot to destroy the locket proving Oliver's identity as well as Fagin and Monks' plan to prevent Oliver from inheriting his father's fortune by having him commit a crime. To make up for the absence of Monks, there is a plot in which Fagin and Sikes conspire to murder Oliver - an event which does not occur in the novel. In the novel, it is left ambiguous as to how