City types, stratified by class

Background: Charles Dickens was undoubtedly one of the most important literary
observers of mid-19th century urban life and urban poverty. Oliver Twist is as much
about mid-19th century London as it is about the story of an orphan boy. And in my
view, Polanski does a masterful adaptation of the original novel. Alternatively, I
could have assigned "Gangs of New York" by Martin Scorsese based on Herbert
Asbury's book. However, I find Scorsese far less successful in recreating NYC than
Polanski is in recreating London. Of course, you do NOT need to share my
enthusiasm for this film. The point is, treat the movie as an interpretation of mid-
19th century London, and analyze it accordingly.

Assignment: This is an urban history course, and hence your review must focus on
the urban history aspect of Roman Polanski's version of Charles Dickens's Oliver
Twist. I suggest that you focus on one (or a few closely related) aspect(s) of the
film: for instance, how does the film depict urban poverty; social inequality; urban
space; residential segregation; urban vice; criminality; migration; gender roles;
sensory experiences like city sounds and smells; clothing; etc.? These are just
examples: feel free to focus on ANY reasonable subject of your own choosing.
Importantly, do NOT do ANY outside research for this assignment. Simply, watch
the film, think about it, choose your own topic(s) of interest, and then write a
coherent critical analysis of the film from the viewpoint of an urban historian. This
is your chance to use your imagination, and apply the things you have learned on
this or other classes about 19th century cities.

Length: 1200-1500 words (about 4-5 double-spaced pages). Please, do NOT

exceed the word limitation.

Due date: Please, turn in both a print and an electronic copy of your review. The
assignment is due on March 21 in class (if you cannot make it to class that day,
make sure to email me your review by 9AM)

Grading: The review is 15% of your final grade. It will be graded based on the
following criteria:
(1) Thoroughness of your evaluation of the film as an interpretation of mid-19th
century London: urban society, urban space, poverty, social problems, built
environment, etc.
(2) Overall argument about the film (e.g. does the review have an insightful and
credible thesis; does it develop an argument; does it substantiate its points with
evidence and examples; etc.)
(3) Organization of the paper (e.g. is the paper easy to understand? Does it flow
logically and persuasively?)
(4) Writing style (e.g. word choice, grammar, and basic writing style)

59:28 – fighting cocks sign

9:03 – rich men dinner

9:27 – donkey

Sight Sound Smell Taste Touch

Rich The reason

fight bw ot
and ob is so
alarming is
because
the house is
otherwise
so peaceful

Poor Getting
smacked
20:50 –
getting hit
Bare feet –
rats, mud,
etc.

10:16 – rich men meal

10:36 – rich people room

12:09 – snuff

12:30 – city streets

48:55 – policeman and “hardened scoundrel”

13:02 - MC room

14:15 – coal? bits for dog

Sensory experience and city planning

Argument: that the rich and the poor would have experienced England viscerally in
totally different ways

15:33 – kitchen

16:03 – outside for poor man’s work

17:51 – shutters

28:34 – bustling city

30:25 – pretty cityscape

Dogs barking

31:41- babies crying

32:45

Idea! Shout-out paper to simmel on city characters

Oliver – innocent but hardened

Artful dodger – hardened

Country types – a mix, but soft

36:19 – looting jewelry

Teaching them to loot – 41:25

Recreation cards – 43:07

44:34 – Dodger (or ot?) becoming “greatest man of the time”

Recreation hoops – 45:30

Reading 45:50

separation of class within the urban landscape

like poverty filth
56:07 – chess

omnibus

conclusion: underplaying urban integration is not factually wrong but misses an important part of
the story

Chimney sweep hauling donkey down street seeing sign, people leading ponies down street

Two men outside court, Carriage goes by, sign right outside of courtroom

At night, so time has passed – entering residential area – paul revere man leading ot down street
to middle-class home

Ot running away – residential area opens on to church at edge of city. Though not like mexico,
etc., seems unlikely that lower-class religious building would be on edge

Then horsecarts people in lines people with signs more crowded backstreets and they have to
walk up stairs – more crowded streets, long walk from city center, vertical WORD – all accurate

Nancy going to policeman’s quarters in nicer part of town

Gated house – how would dog have gotten there? So far from lower-class dwellings

Fighting cocks café – would it have been right next door to HOME/SHOP???! of the rich men?
all the while horse carriages coming through

Nancy to rich person house

CUT AWAY Scenes in carriage are either in dark or barely show through window