Oliver!
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Movie Reviews of Oliver!
Movie Review: A rousing and gripping DIckens movie musical
Summary: 5 Stars
OLIVER! (1968) is director Sir Carol Reed's Oscar-winning film of Lionel Bart's smash London and New York stage musical, which in turn is based on Charles Dickens' novel. I think Dickens would recognize his story here, despite 14 Bart songs. An orphan named Oliver Twist (newcomer Mark Lester) falls in with a gang of pickpockets led by Fagin (spectacular Ron Moody) in the London underworld. Oliver's age, the Artful Dodger (Oscar nominee Jack Wild) shows Oliver how it is done. But a case of mistaken identity in crowded Covent Garden leads Oliver to have a new home in beautiful Bloomsbury. INTERMISSION.
Part two of OLIVER! has the terrifying criminal Bill Sykes (Oliver Reed) and his likeable girlfriend Nancy (sensational Shani Wallis) on the trail of Oliver, kidnapping him back to Fagin's den to find out what he has told his rich benefactor. Bill is so brutal that Nancy sides with Oliver, leading to a bleak plot development and eventually to a double happy ending.
The songs in this dazzling Broadway musical are magnificent and have the vocal talents to do them justice: The fabulous "Who Will Buy?" as a part two showstopper; Shani Wallis' exuberant "Oom-Pah-Pah" at the end; Ron Moody's "Pick a Pocket or Two" and "Be Back Soon"; "Consider Yourself" and "I'd Do Anything". Choreographer Onna White, who did THE MUSIC MAN six years earlier, earned a Special Oscar here. The movie runs 153 minutes with roadshow and Intermission music restored, so it is probably the entire stage production.
No one seems as well treated by filmmakers as Charles Dickens, from Selznick's towering DAVID COPPERFIELD and A TALE OF TWO CITIES (both 1935 MGM), to David Lean's GREAT EXPECTATIONS (1946, British) and OLIVER TWIST (1948, British), to everyone from Alistair Sim to the Muppets doing A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Carol Reed's fabulous musical remake does not quite top Lean's non-musical OLIVER TWIST, but it is awfully good. Oswald Morris gives the movie a B&W color look in Panavision, and John Box's Oscar-winning sets are a marvel-bridges over rivers leading one way to Fagin's den and the other way to a downtown tavern, plus the crescent row of Bloomsbury mansions and parks that are the setting for the miraculous "Who Will Buy?"
The cast could not be better, especially Oscar nominee Ron Moody as a cunning Fagin, Oliver Reed as a chilling and brutal Bill Sykes, and a luminous Shani Wallis who brings the whole tavern to life with her exhilarating "Oom-Pah-Pah" as Nancy. Newcomer Mark Lester as Oliver and young Jack Wild (another deserved Oscar nominee) as the Artful Dodger are very good. Yet the grim and gripping Dickens story is not lost amid a whopping fourteen songs. Everyone here does right by Dickens' complex and frightening plot; he would probably love the imaginative production. This is one Best Picture and Director Oscar winner that really deserves to win Best Picture and Director, and four other awards.
Movie Review: Moody's Fagin steals classic OLIVER!
Summary: 5 Stars
Until CHICAGO reenergized the movie musical genre, this musical version of Charles Dickens' immortal "Oliver Twist" was widely regarded as one of the last of the great movie musicals. Indeed, with its high-energy performances, infectious music, steady direction by Sir Carol Reed and glorious sets, this movie won the 1968 Best Picture Oscar over such formidable competition as THE LION IN WINTER, CHARLEY, and FUNNY GIRL. Of course, most people are familiar with the classic story of young Oliver Twist, whose mother dies giving him birth and is forced to be raised under the cruel supervision of the English workhouse officials. When he dares beg for more than his meager ration of gruel, the youngster is apprenticed to an undertaker and his extremely nasty family. After escaping this hostile environment, he finds himself taken in by the roguish Fagin, the Artful Dodger(Fagin's best pupil), and the rest of his band of young pickpockets. In time, however, Oliver will find his home, but not before dealing with the likes of the brutal Bill Sikes with the help of Sike's sympathetic lover, Nancy, and the kindly Mr. Brownlow.
As musical films go, it is hard to fault the wonderful casting in this film. Mark Lester makes a perfectly, if maybe overly, innocent Oliver, while Jack Wild is a delight as the rascally Artful Dodger. Shanie Wallis is heart-rending as the tragic Nancy. Oliver Reed (Sir Carol's nephew) is truly scary as the menacing Bill Sikes. Harry Secombe displays a glorious tenor in the comic role of Mr. Bumble, the beadle of the workhouse. However, it is Ron Moody's fantastic performance of the rascally Fagin that steals this movie. It is not surprising, when you consider that he created the role when the musical was first produced in London. Of course, the character itself has gone quite a change from Dickens' original, going from the debatably nasty anti-Semitic portrait of the novel to that of a lovable, if sneaky, eccentric. Indeed, Moody's excellent portrayal would set the tone for almost all future performances of the role to date, including those of such actors as George C. Scott and Richard Dreyfus, among others.
Some Dickens fans may quibble about the liberties taken with the book, from the softening of Fagin to the elimination of Oliver's evil step-brother Monks from the storyline. And it isn't a perfect film by any means. (The child singer who dubbed Mark Lester's songs sounds like she's in an echo chamber of some sort, which makes Oliver's singing a jarring contrast to the rest of the cast.) But, as a musical film, it is a wonderful entertainment and superb introduction to the classic story. As a result, this is one musical that I would DEFINITELY recommend.
Movie Review: Social Statement, Great Acting, Incredible Music
Summary: 5 Stars
"Oliver!" is the first musical I ever came to love, to learn the words to, and to want to see again. When people think of this wonderful adaptation of Charles Dickens' dark and occasionally hopeful "Oliver Twist," the music might come first to mind. Why wouldn't it? The songs are remarkable, and worth ever acclaim. Take away the music (and I hope you never would), and there is left a strong story with a strong message played by strong actors, all well-produced.
The younger viewers will see the trials and tribulations of Oliver Twist. Older viewers will connect with Nancy or Bill Sikes, or look deep into the tyranny of poverty and those who would profit from the vulnerable poor.
Ron Moody is the star as Fagin, but a not often talked about enough performance of Jack Wild's Artful Dodger. He has an insightfulness and an almost innocent prying likeability that infects audiences. He's a thief, working for the top thief, and trying to involve young and lonely Oliver, but only so to protect him and befriend him.
Peggy Mount is endearing as Mrs. Bumble, with a personality not unlike Mrs. Butterworth of pancake syrup fame.
The tone is ironically whimsical, demonstrating a contrast in the tenor of the rich and poor, of those singing and those in need.
The settings are impressively realistic, keeping in mind the time this was produced. Not as big budget as epics like "The Ten Commandments," it still can carry the audience into believing they were really there. We see the humanity behind the poor culture of London. We see the tragedies of lives that could have been beautiful, and grimace with the fates of some.
Even though the music is fun and memorable, so is the not as happy message. Across England, homeless children were being abused and put into near-slavery in a black-market pickpocket scheme. Dickens took what he saw around him and developed one of the English's most compelling literary social statements.
I fully recommend "Oliver!" To balance out your classic Victorian England DVD musical collection, try "My Fair Lady," with Audrey Hepburn.
Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com
Movie Review: Something Old, Something New
Summary: 5 Stars
"Oliver" is a remarkable achievement for a musical. Each scene expertly envelops the listener and viewer into a feast of a visual and audio masterpiece. For those who hate musicals or are at least less partial, the Dicken's story will quell some of the sentimentality associated with this genre. The rough atmosphere helps with some of the songs and invites those who would have a cursory interest to join in for the fun. The characters are engaging enough to begin with, but the performances are superb. Ron Moody's Fagin is masterful, especially that he can take a hardened character and make him seem likable. An emotional connection is easily made with every character: We like Dodger (Jack Wild), love Nancy, root for Oliver (Mark Lester), and sneer at Bill Sykes (Oliver Reed), a nuanced and menacing enemy.
The technical achievements are also hallmark. It is no small thing that the camera angles are expertly framed for the wide view as well as for the intimate, closer shots. (Take a look at the first "Annie" movie and see if you don't agree.) The editing, too, is great, making the scenes unfold with grandeur and a timing that is as close to perfect as a musical movie gets. The songs are great, also, even if they sometimes linger too long, especially "As Long as He Needs Me," but at least it gives the audience a moment to pause and catch its collective breath. Some are sing-alongs, like one would expect at a lively pub, including "Oom Pah Pah," "Consider Yourself" and "It's a Fine Life". Then, there are songs with the grandeur of "Who Will Buy?" Variety is enhanced with other songs, like "Boy for Sale," which seems rooted in opera.
This movie makes one believe it could be made today; it is so timeless. Yet, it draws so much from the old musicals and innovates with new elements, that it could only have been made in this place and time (England, 1968). It is hard to find anything (except maybe "The Sound of Music" or "An American in Paris") that matches the quality of this film. It is heart-warming, suspenseful, and engaging throughout.
Movie Review: Wonderful musical adaptation of a classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great film and true in spirit and basic plot to Dickens. The songs are melodically wonderful and the choreography is original, fresh and keeps your eyes constantly on the screen. The movie is very well cast and Ron Moody is wonderful as Fagin. He is "nicer" than in the book (maybe it's the pet owl they gave him) but his basic motivations and actions remain the same albeit he has a happier more ambiguous ending in the film. Oliver Reed is probably a more physically attractive Bill Sikes than the one most people imagine from reading Dickens' work but he is certainly menacing and scary. Nancy, also, is much lovelier (as well as older) than the novel describes but the part is excellently acted and sung by Shani Wallis. The child actors are all engaging and do not have the smugness (well the Artful and Charlie are supposed to be "cheeky") too many times seen in young kids in movies.
The plot is simplified from the book and a few characters like Rose and Oliver's evil half brother Monks are left out for time's sake but it does not hurt the story since it could be argued that the original has too many complicated subplots. Some "exciting" scenes are added for the action loving moviegoer and rather disturbingly innocent Oliver is present at the scenes of both Nancy and Bill's demise. Mr. and Mrs. Bumble do not have the larger, very comic, parts they play in both the novel and the originial musical though Mr. Bumble's "the law then sir is a bachelor...and may he learn from experience" speech is included and is almost word for word from Dicken's original writing as are many other critical speeches throughout the film. Oliver is a wonderful gem the whole family can enjoy. The DVD does have to be flipped over and there are not many extras but these are minor quibbles in such a great viewing experience.