by Arnoldhenryrufus

Created on: March 01, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

~~ Oliver ~~

I am on a DVD buzz at the moment and enjoying watching them and also enjoying telling you all about them. Oliver Twist is a classic Rags to Riches story.

~~ The Film ~~

Well this is Oliver (The Musical 1968 version), based on Oliver Twist, written by Charles Dickens. It is set in Victorian London and Oliver Twist is an orphan in one of London's workhouses. The story starts in the workhouse with all the children going down to have there supper (Gruel), after eating Oliver gets up and says those immortal words "Please Sir, can I have some more", he is dragged into the other room where the bosses are eating their food and sent out with Mr Bumble to be sold. (I will describe the songs later on in the review).

Oliver is sold to an Undertaker and very soon he runs away, he ends up being found by the Artful Dodger who takes him to Fagin, this leads us to the eventful, funny and entertaining life of a thief. On Oliver's first day on the streets as a pickpocket he gets caught, but he has not actually stolen anything he was just watching, he ends up in court but gets let off when a witness comes forward. After the court has finished the victim of the pickpocket incident takes Oliver home.

Just as Oliver is settling into his new home, the evil Bill Sikes with the help of Nancy grab him and take him back to Fagin's. Nancy has a soft spot for the boy and is worried for his well being around Mr Sikes, so she goes to see the wealthy Mr Brownlow that had taken Oliver in. They arrange to meet up so she can hand Oliver over to him and get him safely home where he belongs.

~~ Movie Trivia ~~

Oliver hit the theatre in 1960 and was a big hit show, it finally became the musical movie in 1968.

The Director Carol Reed could not have been more pleased to be picked for the show, his own father Herbert Beerbohm Tree played Fagin in a 1905 show. Carol had always dreamed of filming his own version of Oliver Twist.

Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart

Oliver won 5 Oscars including Best Director and Best Film, it was actually the last musical to win Best Film in the 20th Century.

~~ The Cast ~~

Ron Moody - played Fagin - who ran a gang of young pickpockets, he would 'fence' the stolen goods that the young boys got and what Bill Sikes bought in. But he had a soft spot as well.

Carol Reed really wanted Ron Moody for the part of Fagin, but Columbia Pictures wanted Peter Sellers to play the part, fortunately Peter Sellers was not available and Carol Reed got his way. This in my opinion was the right

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>