Streamlining the Plot

  Streamlining the Plot | Maintaining Character Relationships | Reinterpreting Fagin | Cinematography

            When comparing the novel Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, to the film adaptation by Roman Polanski, it is clear that Polanski’s vision for his film was to follow the fidelity model of adaptation.  The fidelity model emphasizes similarities from the original text source.  Dickens’s original text was a very developed plot full of character connectivity.  Each character appeared to be related in some way to another character.  In the end of the novel, it was almost as if Oliver had a connection with every individual.  When any novel is adapted into a film, the producer needs to decide what to keep, add, and remove from the original piece.  Because Dickens’s text was filled with character connectivity and complex plot lines, Polanski needed to streamline the characters and plot.  A film with too many characters, and connections between each character, makes it difficult for viewers to focus on what they are watching.  Despite the elimination of major characters, Polanski still retained the central premise of the initial story and was able to further develop core character relationships in order to adapt the piece for a contemporary audience

     The process of streamlining could potentially make or break the film’s overall success.  One of the most obvious differences in plot between the novel and the film is the film’s exclusion of the Maylies.  If “Life at the Maylies” would have been added into the movie, the film would have well exceeded two hours.  For this reason, Polanski also eliminated the character Monks.  It would not have been believable for Monks to end up being Oliver’s half-brother.  The original novel was able to include the seemingly unrealistic connections because of the time period it was written in, and also because it was published serially.  Stories published in segments need to have dramatic, cliffhanger plot lines.  This is notable throughout Oliver Twist.  However, by eliminating the Maylies and Monks Polanski also eliminated characters that added to the novel’s theme of connectivity.   

     In making the film, Polanski was focused on getting the main themes and plots from the novel across, but not necessarily making sure all of the characters were included. If all of the original characters would have been included in the film, then there would have been too many side-stories that would detract from what Polanski believed to be the main focus of the source text.  Additionally, because of the film’s release date: 2005, Polanski had to make a story set in nineteenth century London appeal to a twenty first century American audience.  The idea that almost every character Oliver encountered throughout his journey was connected or related to him would not have been believable for a contemporary audience. Additionally, by dropping the idea of connectivity, Oliver’s journey and end result seemed much more notable.  Instead of Oliver overcoming his surroundings because of who he was biologically related to, he was able to overcome his surroundings because of his perseverance and determination.