Oliver!

9/13/2019

I consider Oliver! the movie to be my mate. 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? So it be with Carol Reed's (Best Director Winner) unforgettable 1968 Best Picture Winner. Yes it's some way away from the essence of the source, those in need of that should be seeking out David Lean's fabulous 1948 version, but with an array of wonderful tunes and choreography, this Oliver is a treat for all the family. 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

6/3/2023

Sir Carol Reed has delivered a belter of a film that I'm certain would have Charles Dickens dancing with delight. Mark Lester is ideally cast as the weedy title character; brought up in the harshness of a Victorian workhouse. After daring to ask for "more" at supper time, he is sold to the local undertaker; runs away to London and the rest is the stuff of well known literature. Ron Moody is outstanding as "Fagin", with Shani Wallis "Nancy"; Oliver Reed as the dastardly "Bill Sikes" and Jack Wild as the "Artful Dodger" all making the best of Lionel Bart's cracking musical adaptation of this tale of 19th century London squalor and violence. I did a version of this on stage in Glasgow when I was but a child, and when I see it again now I remember almost all of the words (that, and the looks I