Anthony Newly
Anthony Newly was the actor that played the Artful Dodger in the old film, and was the same person to go on and become a famous actor, and I beleive he even wrote the musical 'Stop The World I Want To Get Off'! The old black and white movie’s Artful Dodger is much closer to the novels view of him.
Distant, almost concieted, and buisness-like, though through it all irripresible. He is a dedicated right hand of Fagin, and they think with the same principles and motives, very much like each other. In the movie, however, there are some interesting facts, and some changed. For instance, it was Charley Bates, who in the book, turned on Bill Sikes and swore he’d turn him in, for the Artful was already in jail by that time, whereas in the movie, that betrayal is given to the Dodger. Also, in the movie, it’s the Dodger who Fagin asks to ‘dodge’ or shadow Nancy, (hinting at the origan of his name, too), where in the book that was reserved for Noah Claypole. It seems they took all the bigger acts that Fagin'’ pickpockets did and lumped them all into the Artful Dodger, which at least establishes one solid character. You really get a taste of the Artful’s dress in this one, although he takes off his top hat a lot, his clothes are quite absurd in his surrondings, its sort of funny. *grin* His facial features are a lot different from the round, pouty sort of look of Jack Wild, but it grew on me, cause now I like it. ;) He’s got big ears, but for the original actore to play the Artful Dodger, Anthony Newly wasen’t a dissapointment at all. Ack, I’m sounding like a bloody critique, he was great. :O)
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