Oliver!'s Jack Wild
Jack Wild was fifteen years old when he got the part of the Artful Dodger in this film, and still they had to fit his shoes with 'lifts' that he would appear taller, and therefore older, then Mark Lester (Oliver), who was ten! Before that, he had played in a stage version of Oliver!- but he was to short to play the Artful Dodger. It was Phil Collins who played the Artful in the version- in fact, it was Phil Collins mother who suggested that Jack and his brother enroll in acting school! Prehaps the reason Oliver!, the movie's Artful Dodger seems not really as a bad guy, is the fact that he appears younger. If an older Artful Dodger had beguiled Oliver away to a life of theivery, I think he would appear much more guilty. Anyways, I felt the need to say something about Jack Wild here, for he is the person who I think of when I think of the Artful Dodger. True, it may have something to do with Ron Moody as Fagin as well, but I don't know much about him, and I knew a little about Jack Wild.
*The picture one this page was taken from Mary's Jack Wild Page. Thanks so much- if you don't want me to have it up, then I'll take it down, just say the word!
Heres another great Jack Wild page: Dffclt1's Jack Wild Page
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