Oliver Twist | 1922 | Drama

Title: Oliver Twist | 1922 | Drama Director: Frank Lloyd Studio: First National Pictures / Jackie Coogan Productions Starring: Jackie Coogan, Lon Chaney, Edouard Trebaol, Gladys Brockwell, George Siegmann, James A. Marcus, Aggie Herring, Lewis Sargent, Joan Standing, Lionel Belmore, Esther Ralston, Joseph Hazelton, Carl Stockdale, Taylor Graves, Florence Hale Based on: Novel *Oliver Twist* by Charles Dickens Release Date: 1922 Runtime: Approximately 74 minutes Format: Silent black and white with English intertitles Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Drama Literary Adaptation --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Oliver’s birth and workhouse years 00:15:00 Asking for more gruel and punishment 00:30:00 Apprenticeship with Sowerberry 00:45:00 Flight to London and meeting the Dodger 01:00:00 Life with Fagin’s gang and kidnapping 01:15:00 Rescue, resolution and heritage revealed --- Summary: Oliver Twist is a 1922 American silent drama adapted from Charles Dickens’ classic 1838 novel about the trials of an orphan boy in Victorian England. After a harsh upbringing in a workhouse and a brutal apprenticeship, young Oliver travels to London where he becomes entangled with Fagin, a manipulative criminal who trains children to steal. Amid misadventures, betrayal, and peril, Oliver’s innate innocence and dignity lead him toward refuge with a kindly gentleman and the revelation of his true heritage. The narrative explores social injustice, poverty, exploitation, and resilience as Oliver navigates the criminal underworld and the rigid class structures of the period, ultimately finding compassion and belonging. --- Background: Directed by Frank Lloyd and produced for First National Pictures, this 1922 adaptation was designed as a prestige vehicle for child star Jackie Coogan following his success in *The Kid*. Lon Chaney’s striking portrayal of Fagin added dramatic weight, and the film was praised as one of the best pictures of 1922 by major U.S. newspapers. The production was considered lost until a surviving print was found in Yugoslavia and restored with recreated intertitles. --- Trivia: Jackie Coogan, at the height of his silent era popularity, stars as Oliver Twist in one of his most notable dramatic roles. Lon Chaney’s performance as Fagin showcases his transformative character work and makeup artistry. The film was long thought lost until a print surfaced in the 1970s and was restored with assistance from Coogan and producer Sol Lesser. Esther Ralston appears in an early role as Rose Maylie. 6 A tie-in song titled “Oliver Twist” by Vaughn De Leath was introduced in connection with the film’s release. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: 1922 Original Studio / Distributor: First National Pictures / Jackie Coogan Productions Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #OliverTwist1922 #JackieCoogan #LonChaney #SilentFilm #CharlesDickens #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain