Oliver! (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Oliver!' (a 1968 movie musical directed by Carol Reed, & based on Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist) won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, along with 5 other accolades; including a special award to choreographer, Onna White. I don't know if I'd say it is thaaat good, but this stage-to-screen musical adaptation is a high achievement that many an audience member enjoyed back then, and now. Though the budget was some $10 million - large for the time - 'Oliver!' did incredible business at the box office; turning quite the profit in the end. This film is presented in 2 distinct acts with an intermission in-between. It all takes place in grimy Victorian England. And the 1st act opens in a dingy workhouse located in dismal Dunstable.
There, 9 yr. old orphan Oliver (Mark Lester) is encouraged by the other lads to ask for a 2nd portion of gruel {"Please sir, I want some more"}. This enrages the holier-than-thou caretaker, Mr. Bumble (Harry Secombe), who intends on selling Oliver to the highest bidder. He is eventually bought by miserly undertaker, Soweberry (Leonard Rossier), but Oliver isn't there for long; running away to London. Once there, he meets 15 yr. old aptly-named The Artful Dodger (Jack Wild), a sprightly pickpocket who brings him to a hideout for young thieves lead by the conniving Fagin (Ron Moody).
Also involved with Fagin's gang are villainous Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed), & his lowly girlfriend, Nancy (Shani Wallis), who is devoted to him despite his BRUTAL abuse of her. On Oliver's 1st mission with the gang, he takes the fall when The Artful Dodger's thievery is noticed by his victim, wealthy old Mr. Brownlow (Joseph O'Conor). At the trial, Brownlow takes pity on the young boy's earnest pleas of innocence so much so that he agrees to foster him. Act II commences with Oliver happily entrenched in his large new home ... but unable to shake his recent past.
Concerned that Oliver will eventually reveal their names, Fagin & Bill rustle up a scheme to kidnap him. With Nancy's aid, they succeed, but she feels terrible because she had befriended young Oliver & immediately regrets the part she played in the scheme. Bill, who has become increasingly hostile toward Nancy, forces Oliver to help him with an upcoming robbery. When that goes all wrong, he blames Oliver but, before he can enact punishment, Nancy arranges a secret meeting with kindly old Mr. Brownlow. Bill finds out and, well, tragedy ensues. A hostage situation occurs, followed by police activity, and culminating in Oliver marvelously discovering his true heritage with someone who couldn't have been closer to him all along.
'Oliver!' marked the end of an era. Between 1961-1968, shimmering, picturesque movie musicals like this one won the Best Picture Oscar an astounding 4 times. In the next decade, only 4 movie musicals were nominated and, none of 'em won; it wouldn't be until 2002 when movie musical Chicago would triumph at the Oscars. This movie contains several themes: critiques of workhouses, & showing the sad state of the poor. But mostly, this film intends to entertain you, sadden you, & then lift you up again. The songs are mainly around to keep things light. i.e., "Food, Glorious Food", "Consider Yourself", "I'd Do Anything", "Oom-Pah-Pah" {try to get that one outta your head}, and Nancy's big, heart-rending torch song, "As Long As He needs Me".
The "Who Will Buy" number that opens Act II is memorable & beautifully staged. It takes place on the West End square and, that is just one of the many INCREDIBLE 19th c. English sets that were designed by John Box. Costumes by Phyllis Dalton were also superb. Oscar-nominated Ron Moody makes for a charismatically sinister Fagin. Jack Wild was nominated as well, for his spirited, street-smart The Artful Dodger; who contrasts Mark Lester's sweetly innocent, Oliver. Oliver Reed brings proper menace to utterly evil Bill Sikes; making Moody's Fagin seem tame by comparison. And Shani Wallis is superb as the troubled tart-with-a-heart-of-gold, Nancy. 'Oliver!' - in all of its old school movie musical sensibilities - might have been better regarded in 1968, but I love it for what it is today.
There, 9 yr. old orphan Oliver (Mark Lester) is encouraged by the other lads to ask for a 2nd portion of gruel {"Please sir, I want some more"}. This enrages the holier-than-thou caretaker, Mr. Bumble (Harry Secombe), who intends on selling Oliver to the highest bidder. He is eventually bought by miserly undertaker, Soweberry (Leonard Rossier), but Oliver isn't there for long; running away to London. Once there, he meets 15 yr. old aptly-named The Artful Dodger (Jack Wild), a sprightly pickpocket who brings him to a hideout for young thieves lead by the conniving Fagin (Ron Moody).
Also involved with Fagin's gang are villainous Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed), & his lowly girlfriend, Nancy (Shani Wallis), who is devoted to him despite his BRUTAL abuse of her. On Oliver's 1st mission with the gang, he takes the fall when The Artful Dodger's thievery is noticed by his victim, wealthy old Mr. Brownlow (Joseph O'Conor). At the trial, Brownlow takes pity on the young boy's earnest pleas of innocence so much so that he agrees to foster him. Act II commences with Oliver happily entrenched in his large new home ... but unable to shake his recent past.
Concerned that Oliver will eventually reveal their names, Fagin & Bill rustle up a scheme to kidnap him. With Nancy's aid, they succeed, but she feels terrible because she had befriended young Oliver & immediately regrets the part she played in the scheme. Bill, who has become increasingly hostile toward Nancy, forces Oliver to help him with an upcoming robbery. When that goes all wrong, he blames Oliver but, before he can enact punishment, Nancy arranges a secret meeting with kindly old Mr. Brownlow. Bill finds out and, well, tragedy ensues. A hostage situation occurs, followed by police activity, and culminating in Oliver marvelously discovering his true heritage with someone who couldn't have been closer to him all along.
'Oliver!' marked the end of an era. Between 1961-1968, shimmering, picturesque movie musicals like this one won the Best Picture Oscar an astounding 4 times. In the next decade, only 4 movie musicals were nominated and, none of 'em won; it wouldn't be until 2002 when movie musical Chicago would triumph at the Oscars. This movie contains several themes: critiques of workhouses, & showing the sad state of the poor. But mostly, this film intends to entertain you, sadden you, & then lift you up again. The songs are mainly around to keep things light. i.e., "Food, Glorious Food", "Consider Yourself", "I'd Do Anything", "Oom-Pah-Pah" {try to get that one outta your head}, and Nancy's big, heart-rending torch song, "As Long As He needs Me".
The "Who Will Buy" number that opens Act II is memorable & beautifully staged. It takes place on the West End square and, that is just one of the many INCREDIBLE 19th c. English sets that were designed by John Box. Costumes by Phyllis Dalton were also superb. Oscar-nominated Ron Moody makes for a charismatically sinister Fagin. Jack Wild was nominated as well, for his spirited, street-smart The Artful Dodger; who contrasts Mark Lester's sweetly innocent, Oliver. Oliver Reed brings proper menace to utterly evil Bill Sikes; making Moody's Fagin seem tame by comparison. And Shani Wallis is superb as the troubled tart-with-a-heart-of-gold, Nancy. 'Oliver!' - in all of its old school movie musical sensibilities - might have been better regarded in 1968, but I love it for what it is today.