Oliver Twist 1948   N/R, 116 min.
Genre: Drama / Adventure
Director: David Lean
Cast: Robert Newton, Alec Guinness, Kay Walsh, Francis L. Sullivan, John Howard Davies, Anthony Newley, Henry Stephenson, Diana Dors, Mary Clare, Henry Edwards, Josephine Stuart, Ralph Truman, Kathleen Harrison, Gibb McLaughlin, Amy Veness
This is a very good version of Charles Dickens' story about the inhumane world of apprenticeship in 19th-century England. Beginning with his being left at an orphanage as a baby and enduring a hard life at the orphanage, the story then continues to Oliver's (John Howard Davies) escape to the streets. Now, Oliver, under the watchful eye of his tutor, the cruel Fagin (Alec Guinness) becomes a pickpocket on London's streets where more problems follow–until good luck finally shines on Oliver. 1 User Review
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| | harewood 03/09/2012 | | masterful portrayal of Fagin |
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The Rocking Horse Winner 1950 N/R, 91 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Anthony Pelissier
Cast: Valerie Hobson, John Howard Davies, Ronald Squire, John Mills, Hugh Sinclair, Charles Goldner, Susan Richards, Cyril Smith, Anthony Holles, Melanie McKenzie
Young Paul (John Howard Davies) lives with his spendthrift mother (Valerie Hobson) and gambling father (Hugh Sinclair), who is in debt. Paul receives a strange-looking rocking horse for Christmas and is taught to ride it like a jockey by the handyman (John Mills). When Paul rides the horse very fast, he is able to predict the outcome of real horse races, and the family becomes wealthy. But wealth is fleeting for the family that likes to spend money, and Paul is egged on to faster and faster riding to predict more and more winners until tragedy strikes and lessons are learned. Based on a short story by D.H. Lawrence, the film is well directed and acted.
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Tom Brown's Schooldays 1951  N/R, 93 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Gordon Parry
Cast: John Howard Davies, Robert Newton, Diana Wynyard, Hermione Baddeley, Kathleen Byron, James Hayter, John Charlesworth, John Forrest, Michael Hordern, Max Bygraves, Francis De Wolff, Amy Veness, Brian Worth, Rachel Gurney, Michael Brennan
In this remake of Thomas Hughes' novel, John Howard Davies takes on the role of Tom Brown, a first-year student at Rugby School. Tom must deal with his new surroundings at boarding school and makes friends with East (John Charlesworth). Unfortunately, Tom and East must deal with bully Flashman (John Forrest) who adds stress to their lives. The new headmaster, Dr. Arnold (Robert Newton), tries to deal with the problem but is ineffective–until matters rise to a head, and Dr. Arnold expels Flashman from Rugby.
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| 1. Oliver Twist (1948)
2. The Rocking Horse Winner (1950)
3. Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951)
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