It becomes clear very quickly, even within the initial scenes of David Lean’s impressive version of this well-known Dickens novel, that something special is unfolding. The gloomy skies mirror the plight of a desperate mother searching for any kind of refuge from an approaching storm, and so Oliver's story starts with his birth in the workhouse. Francis L. Sullivan and Mary Clare are excellent as representations of the harshness and cruelty of the institution where he begins life, and he is eventually sold out of it. Following a short period spent leading funeral processions for deceased children, Oliver finds himself connecting with the Artful Dodger (Anthony Newley) and getting involved with some very questionable characters. Alec Guinness and Robert Newton are remarkable in their portrayals of Fagin and Skyes respectively, embodying wickedness, greed, aggression, and brutality – and with Kay Walsh, Henry Stephenson, and even Frederick Lloyd contributing memorable performances, it’s evident that the story is being handled by a truly talented group. It's an absorbing film that deserves to be part of any collection.

Source on TMDB