Oliver!
Tags: romantic, murder, melodrama

Plot synopsis:
=== Act I ===
The musical opens in the workhouse, as the half-starved orphan boys are entering the enormous dining room for dinner . They are fed only gruel, but find some solace by imagining a richer menu, ("Food Glorious Food"). Oliver gathers up the courage to ask for more. He is immediately apprehended and is told to gather his belongings by Mr. Bumble and the Widow Corney, the heartless and greedy caretakers of the workhouse ("Oliver!"). Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney are left alone, and Mr. Bumble begins to make amorous advances. Mrs. Corney pretends to resent his attentions, but ends up on Mr. Bumble's lap, as he eventually proposes to her ("I Shall Scream!"). Mr. Bumble then takes Oliver and sells him as an apprentice to an undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry ("Boy for Sale"). He and his wife taunt Oliver and Mr. Bumble ("That's Your Funeral"), causing Mr. Bumble to become angry and storm out. Oliver is sent to sleep in the basement with the coffins ("Where is Love?").
The next morning Noah Claypole, another employee of Sowerberry, insults Oliver's dead mother, whereupon Oliver begins pummeling him. Mrs. Sowerberry and her maid, Charlotte, also Noah's girlfriend, run in, and Mr. Bumble is sent for. He and the Sowerberrys lock Oliver in a coffin, but during all the commotion Oliver escapes. After a week on the run, he ends up in the city of London and meets a boy about his age known as the Artful Dodger. Dodger seems a kindly boy, and invites Oliver to join him and his friends ("Consider Yourself"). Dodger is, unknown to Oliver, a boy pickpocket, and he invites Oliver to come and live in Fagin's lair. Fagin is an elderly criminal, now too old to thieve himself, who now teaches young boys to pick pockets. Oliver is completely unaware of any criminality, and believes that the boys make handkerchiefs rather than steal them. Oliver is introduced to Fagin and his boys, and is taught their ways ("You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two").
The next day, Oliver meets Nancy, an older member of Fagin's gang, and the live-in wife of Fagin's terrifying associate Bill Sikes, a brutal house-burglar whose abuse she endures because she loves him. Nancy, along with her younger sister Bet and the boys, sing about how they don't mind a bit of danger ("It's a Fine Life"). Oliver bows deeply to Nancy and Bet, trying to be polite. All the boys laugh and mimic Oliver. Nancy singles out Dodger to demonstrate the way the rich people treat each other ("I'd Do Anything"). Nancy and Bet leave and Oliver is sent out with the other boys on his first pickpocketing job ("Be Back Soon"). Dodger, another boy named Charley Bates, and Oliver decide to stick together, and when Dodger and Charley rob Mr. Brownlow, a wealthy old man, they run off, leaving the horrified Oliver to be arrested for the crime ("The Robbery").
=== Act II ===
In the Three Cripples pub, to help take her mind off of Sikes's neglect towards her, Nancy strikes up an old tavern song with the low-life ruffians, ("Oom Pah Pah"). Bill Sikes makes his first appearance, and disperses the crowd ("My Name"). Dodger runs in and tells Fagin about Oliver's capture and removal to the Brownlow household. Scared he will betray the gang's whereabouts, Fagin and Bill decide to abduct Oliver and bring him back to the den, with Nancy's help. Nancy, who has come to care for Oliver, at first refuses to help, but Bill physically abuses her and forces her into obedience. In spite of this, Nancy still loves Bill, and believes he loves her too ("As Long As He Needs Me").
The next morning, at Mr. Brownlow's house in Bloomsbury, Mrs. Bedwin the housekeeper sings to Oliver ("Where Is Love? [Reprise]"), and Oliver wakes up. Mr. Brownlow and Dr. Grimwig decide that Oliver is well enough to go outside, so Brownlow sends Oliver to return some books to the library. Oliver sees a group of street vendors and joins them in song ("Who Will Buy?"). As the vendors leave, Nancy and Bill appear and grab Oliver. They bring him back to Fagin's den, where Nancy saves Oliver from a beating from Sikes after the boy tries to flee. Nancy remorsefully reviews their dreadful life, but Bill maintains that any living is better than none. Fagin tries to act as an intermediary ("It's A Fine Life [Reprise]"). Left alone, Fagin wonders what his life might be like if he left London and began an honest life ("Reviewing the Situation"), however, after thinking of various excuses, he elects to remain a thief.
Back at the workhouse, Mr. Bumble and the Widow Corney, now unhappily married, meet the dying pauper Old Sally and another old lady, who tell them that Oliver's mother, Agnes, left a gold locket when she died in childbirth. Old Sally stole the locket, which she gives to the Widow Corney. Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney, realizing that Oliver may have wealthy relatives, visit Mr. Brownlow, who has advertised in newspapers for news of him, hoping to profit from any reward given for information ("Oliver! [Reprise]"). Mr. Brownlow realises they are not interested in Oliver's welfare, but only money, and throws them out, but recognizes the picture inside the locket as a picture of his daughter, and realizes that Oliver is actually his grandson.
Nancy visits Mr. Brownlow, explains how she and Bill abducted Oliver, and remorsefully promises to deliver Oliver to him safely that night on London Bridge. She ponders again about Bill ("As Long As He Needs Me [Reprise]"). Suspecting that Nancy is up to something, Bill follows her as she sneaks Oliver out of Fagin's den. At London Bridge, he confronts them, knocks Oliver unconscious, and clubs Nancy to death. He then grabs Oliver and runs off. Mr. Brownlow arrives and discovers Nancy's body. A large crowd forms, among them the distraught Bet. Bullseye, Bill's terrier, turns on his master and returns to the scene of the crime and the crowd prepares to follow him to the hideout. Fagin and his boys leave their hideout in panic. Not finding Bill at the hideout, the crowd returns to the Thames Embankment. Bill appears at the top of the bridge, holding Oliver as hostage and threatening to kill him. Two policemen sneak up on him. One of them shoots Bill and the other grabs Oliver. After Oliver is reunited with Mr. Brownlow, the mob disperses offstage in order to track down Fagin. He appears and decides that the time has never looked better for him to straighten out his life ("Reviewing the Situation [Reprise]").

Review: Brimming with unforgettable songs and dances (that choreography by Onna White is timeless), it is so well cast--down to the smallest roles--and so faithful to the spirit of Dickens' work that you can no longer imagine that classic without the songs.Fagin is played to perfection by Ron Moody.
Later, during the summer of 1969, I was pleased to see this film was still playing at a prominent cinema in Leicester Square, London, after it had won the Academy Award for Best Picture of the previous year.Th success of "Oliver!" on both the stage and screen reminded me that not all talent begins on Broadway and ends in Hollywood.
This film introduced me to musicals at the age of 5 or 6, starting a trend which has lasted for over two decades since - it remains my favourite for a lot of reasons - the great treatment of Dickens' admittedly complicated book; memorable characters who do not sing, alongside those who do (stellar performances from everyone); fun and frolics, and a few heartbreaking moments; and Lionel Bart's tremendous score.
She was so good as the sweet, loving Nancy who took a shine to little Oliver and gave her life saving him (her murder scene still makes me shiver, even Charles Dickens said that bothered him when he wrote it!).
The list of classic tunes goes on and on, and if nothing else, young people today should watch the film purely for its educational value - to be introduced to the sweet music of yesteryear, and to see that a film's qualities extend beyond the realms of special effects."Oliver!" will rightfully go down as a classic film of its time, and with any luck will keep its place as a family favourite, for years to come.
Charles Dickens famous novel of an orphan boy, Oliver Twist, who escapes from his poor life to seek his fame and fortune in London, is adapted as a glossy musical.Who would have thought that a story from the brilliant Dickens could be so sweet and endearing?
The cast are uniformly strong, notably Ron Moody {Fagin}, Oliver Reed {who as Bill Sykes is probably playing himself!}, Mark Lester {Oliver} and the fabulous Jack Wild {The Artful Dodger}.
The leader of this gang is named Fagin, an older fellow who sells all the stolen goods.But all is not well in London town when Bill Sykes played by Oliver Reed and his loving girlfriend Nancy get tangled up with Oliver, Fagin and his young troops, and the law.
Ron Moody IS Fagin just as Jack Wilde makes an ideal Artful Dodger and seriously is it possible to imagine a more darker, more brooding more down-right nasty evil Bill Sykes than Oliver Reed?
He doesn't just act the role, he doesn't just sing it and dance it, he slips into the character's skin and he IS Fagin, in a way that makes it impossible to imagine anyone else in this role.Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger.
Oliver Reed really makes the movie work, because he brings genuine menance and sexuality to his role, which serves as a counterpoint for the sweetness of the musical as a whole.And finally, Mark Lester.
I just love looking at Mark Lester, he's such a beautiful and dreamy-looking child.This movie is about as good as a musical gets: it's visually stunning, in the sets and the cinematography and the costumes, and in the staging of the musical numbers.
The film which is based on Lionel Bart's musical adaptation of Charles Dickens's novel, Oliver Twist, had been produced for the stage in London before they decided to turn it into a film.
I am a huge fan of Charles Dickens and I really believe this film lived up to it although it was very loosely based on the novel because you just can't fit everything into the movie and some of the characters had to be left out (Monks, Mrs. Maylie, Henry and Rose for example), or they didn't have much screen time as is the case with Mr. Bumble.The movie begins in a workhouse several miles from London where several young orphans are forced to work and live under harsh conditions.
i'm really getting old,,am in the midst of watching this 40 year old flick,and wonder what my grandchildren will be watching 40 years from now,,its an old saying,,but they don't make em like that anymore..it's not only the story,its the music,the acting both by young and old..the cast ,it would seem,were born to play their roles,,young oliver,,old Fagin..too many to mention them all,the role played by the judge oliver stands before,i've seen in other roles over the years..the artful dodger,,Ron moody as Fagin,,Mr and Mrs bumble,,the movie not only won 5 Oscars,,but took a few golden globe awards too..if you decide to see this film..do yourself a favor,,take a few if not all the children,to see this masterpiece.
This was my favourite film as a child, and I have been in the stage production a few times so it will always remain my favourite muscical and I doubt anybody could ever re-make the story of Oliver Twist on screen, any better than this one did.My all-time favourite ''bad guy'' has to be Oliver Reed as Bill Sikes.
Not only did he scare the life out of my when I watched it as a 6 year old, but now as a woman I can empathize more with Nancys character, the bar maid/prostitute who helps Oliver get the life he deserves.Jack Wilde as the artful dodger, was fantastic, and I don't think anybody could ever out-do him, as the street-pocket picker, and best friend of Fagin.
The music is fantastic, especially Fagin's numbers, I'm also quite thankful they didn't give Bill Sikes a musical number, it wouldn't of worked with him being such a sinister character.I think Carol Reed did an excellent job of Nancy's sticky ending, keeping it a G rated movie by disguising her beating, but giving enough away to show the violence of Bill towards her.
is a fine movie and a good musical adaptation of the classic Dickens novel, Oliver Twist.
What is better than a movie adaptation of a Broadway musical based on a Charles Dickens novel that I saw as a child?
You probably know the plot of this tale but I will tell it anyway: After young orphan Oliver Twist dares to ask for more gruel at an English workhouse, he is punished, runs away, and finds himself among young pickpockets in the great city of London.
While renowned authors from Shakespeare to Hemingway have had inconsistent translations of their work filmed Dickens with his descriptive style and well defined characters (not to mention their unforgettable monikers) has a had some distinguished translations such as Leans Great Expectations and Oliver Twist.
With this musical version of Twist (adapted from the Lionel Bart play) Dicken's movie career continues to advance.Whether it be large chorus numbers (Consider Yourself, Who Will Buy) or solos ( Reviewing the Situation) Director Carol Reed and company energetically deliver this grim tale about homeless waifs in sumptuous and high spirited style.
Among the adults Harry Seecombe as Mr. Bumble and Oliver Reed as Bill Sykes display convincing child intimidation while Ron Moody as Fagin oozes criminal intent with such musical joviality it becomes impossible not to like the beak nosed miscreant as he contributes to the delinquency of minors en masse.The sets are lavish, the costumes lushly haute shanty and Reed's directorial eye just as sharp as his Odd Man Out, Third Man period though he does understandably restrain his angles.
This is one of my favourite musicals and still feels as fresh today although it was released many years ago.It is a film I have seen a few times now but it is still a firm family favourite and it is easy to see why.Firstly,the songs are terrific and many of them have become standards in their own right.'As Long As He Needs Me','Food Glorious Food','Pick A Pocket Or Two','I'd Do Anything',the list goes on and on.The dance numbers are equally impressive with the segments for 'Consider Yourself' and 'Who Will Buy?' a triumph in imagination and choreography.Then there is the cast which is excellent.Although Mark Lester can't really sing or dance he is a delight as Oliver.Jack Wild scores highly as Dodger,Shani Wallis is fine as Nancy and many of the supporting roles are very well played.I have always felt though that Ron Moody is the real standout here as Fagin.He is fabulous in the role.Charming,sly,corrupt and very entertaining.Special mention must also go to Oliver Reed as Bill Sikes.I do feel that his role sometimes gets overlooked but for me his is the best performance of the role I have seen.He exudes menace and most definitely looks like a man that would slit your throat in an instant.A very good and underrated performance.This is a very entertaining movie and a real treat for the whole family.The settings are brilliantly mounted and give a real feel to the world of Dickens that truly transport you back to the grime and dirt of the period.Very well directed and well worth a look..
You can tell, for example, that those boys really worked hard getting the routines down to perfection.TRAVIS: Three actors really stood out IMO; Nancy (Shani W.), Bill Sykes (Oliver Reed), and Artful Dodger (Jack Wild).
No matter how much it deviates from the Dickens story(and I will say I am very fond of David Lean's classic Oliver Twist) or how long it is, it is a timeless unforgettable musical gem.
Oscar-winning director Carol Reed helmed this expansive, expensive musical-adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist", which had been a stage hit and here is successfully opened up on the screen.
Good timing and some sympathy for director Carol Reed would be enough to lift this suspect musical to the top of the cinematic universe in 1968 as the year's Best Picture Oscar winner.
However, he's more than helped by Moody (who's exceptional), Jack Wild (as the Artful Dodger), Oliver Reed and Shani Wallis (Mr and Mrs Sykes).
My personal favorite is I'll Do Anything-and the ending is pretty humorous.Other fun songs include: You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two, Oom-Pah, Pah,Food Glorious Food,Where Is Love(which is actually tear inducing rather than fun) and a few others.The movie also won Best Picture for 1968, and I think this was indeed one of the best choices the Academy ever made.
That's kind of a shame, and that proves my point in a way that Beauty and the Beast should have won Best Picture instead of The Silence of the Lambs!But anyways, Oliver!, as my title states, is a fun musical and it's a movie the whole family can enjoy.
And then, suddenly, along came "Oliver!"- an all-singing, all-dancing screen musical in the best Broadway/Hollywood tradition, made in Britain by a British studio with a British director and all-British cast.
This change was probably motivated by concerns over Dickens' perceived anti-Semitism; both Lionel Bart, who wrote the stage musical on which the film was based and Ron Moody, who created the character of Fagin, were Jewish.
I have never thought that Lester, who comes across as too well-scrubbed and middle-class to be credible as a workhouse boy, was the ideal choice to play Oliver, but with that caveat the acting is generally of a very high standard, with fine contributions from Reed, Moody, Secombe and the young Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger.
Her dilemma is expressed in the film's most heart-rending song "As Long as He Needs Me", although Nancy also gives expression to the lighter, fun-loving side of her nature in "It's a Fine Life" and "Oom-Pah-Pah".The musical numbers are nearly all tuneful and memorable, with some fine lyrics.
Besides those already mentioned the ones that stood out for me were "Food, Glorious Food", in which the workhouse boys sing of their hopes of a better (or at least better-fed) life, "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two" and "Reviewing the Situation", in both of which Fagin sets out his cynical philosophy of life, and screenplay directed by and "Consider Yourself" and "Who Will Buy?", both exuberant song-and-dance numbers set against a vividly recreated Victorian London.
I mostly liked the songs on the whole, although sometimes they seemed a little stuffy.Unlike the novel, the film focuses away from the main character of the story-Oliver, and focuses more on the villains and there are quite a few of them.
Great musical adaptation of Oliver Twist, the Charles Dickens novel.
Cute and beautiful as the handsome orphan boy from the dirty Work Houses of the period, he contains a spirited singing voice and a fresh face which is in great company when played against the enormous talent of Ron Moody who does a fantastic job as Fagin.
Therefore, the movie retains everything that made the musical good in the first place.Luckily, and smartly, the film also decided to retain Ron Moody in the central role of Fagin, recreating his Broadway performance, rather than wedge some big-shot movie star into the film who would look ridiculous mouthing the words to someone else's singing voice.
Some of the show-stopping highlights include the "Consider Yourself" number, Fagin's "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two," in which he teaches Oliver how to be a crack petty thief, the "Who Will Buy?" dance sequence, and Nancy's boozy song, "Oom-Pah-Pah," which serves a different and more effective purpose in the film than it did in the stage version.Carol Reed, known for his stylish Graham Greene screen adaptations "The Fallen Idol" and "The Third Man," does directing honors here, and he won the Best Director Oscar for his efforts, most likely because the Academy felt guilty for not awarding him for much worthier efforts (the exact same reasoning landed George Cukor an Oscar for "My Fair Lady" four years earlier).Grade: A.
Fagin is amazing, the music memorable, Dicken's story is faithfully treated and is also directed skillfully by Sir Carol Reed.
Oliver Reed is perfect as Bill Sykes, and though Fagin is treated lightly, his evil conniving clearly shows through because Sykes is the product of Fagin's teaching and schemes.Just simply a spectacular film, with memorable musical sequences and glorious, colourful imagery.
Sir Carol Reed, known primarily for directing British dramas of the 1940s and 1950s, hit the jackpot in this Oscar-winning 1968 musical based on "Oliver Twist," by Charles Dickens.A poor boy begs for food at an orphanage.
It is a musical to the core, with a song every two minutes and certainly these are the songs one often hears in school singing competitions.The choreography is enchanting, the performances gripping, especially of the young boys, Oliver and Dodge are amazing.This movie should be seen by children because it will enchant them and they will certainly enjoy it all through their lives..
Oliver Reed was a menacing Bill Sikes (who thankfully has no musical numbers, lol), and Mark Lester as Oliver and Jack Wild as the Dodger were great too.
Mark Lester is the lovely perfect Oliver Twist, Ron Moody is absolutely splendid as Fagin, Jack Wild so funny in the role of Artful Dodger and the rest of crew was simply perfect.
First class film adaptation of Lionel Bart musical based on the classic Dickens story.
In OLIVER!, Reed directed his nephew, the late Oliver Reed as Bill Sikes, the great Ron Moody as Fagin, the bewitching, pixie-like Shani Wallis as Nancy and newcomer Mark Lester as Oliver, the love-starved waif looking for a home of his own.
The set designer really knocked himself/herself out, and the costumes are all great- you can see this especially in the 'Consider Yourself' number..the attention to detail on the different trades at the time and how they went about their work is just phenomenal.AS for the adaptation, I have seen movies based on Oliver Twist, and this film,IMO,  is dead on with the social commentary that more 'serious' films make.
The Best:  the young boy who played Dodger and of course, Ron Moody as the lovably-crooked  Fagin..just great performance.
Ron Moody is brilliant, not to mention hilarious, as Fagin, Oliver Reed is great too as Sikes, as is Shani Wallis.
Based on Charles Dickens' classic OLIVER TWIST, the film tells of a young orphan boy(Mark Lester) who escapes from his drab life of workhouse servitude, only to fall in with a band of young pick-pockets led by the incorrigible Fagin(Ron Moody, Oscar-nominated).
Sir Carol Reed's superlative direction rightly won him the Oscar for best director in 1968 for Oliver.Ron Moody's Fagin was a masterpiece of comedy and menace - I rewind the video just to see him performing "Be back soon" and " Reviewing the situation" The late Oliver Reed was perfect as the villainous Bill Sykes and Harry Secombe was a memorable Mr Bumble.The juveniles, Mark Lester as Oliver and Jack Wild as The Artful Dodger ( "Ain't yer never seen a toff before?") were excellent.Hugh Griffiths brief appearance as a drunken magistrate was a comedy gem.Add Onna White's wonderful choreography to Lionel Bart's music and you have a winning combination.
Fagin(Ron Moody) gives an excellent performance and is very beliveable as the back street thief who employs children to do his dirty work.As for Ollie Reed well i think he was born to play the roll of bill sykes and Shani Wallis played the best verson of Nancy that i've ever seen.I think that Mark Lester >played a weak Oliver but Jack Wild really is the Artful dodger.
Ron Moody's performance as Fagin is fantastic, though, and Oliver Reed makes a very good villain.
but i digress, Oliver is a great film and worth the watch if you like musicals, or for a school day.
Nancy was my role model, and I thought the fact that the Artful Dodger and Oliver himself were quite young when acting in this wonderful film, the talent is amazing.