My Review of Oliver! (1968)

 

Written by Vernon Harris

Directed by Carol Reed

Fagin: "If you go on the way you started, you will be the greatest man of all time. Sweet dreams, Oliver."

During the next two months, don't be shocked to see more musicals being reviewed on here. One of my favourites being this one of course. It's one that I've watched as a kid and appreciate as much as an adult too.

Victorian England was a miserable time and more so in the average Charles Dickens. This movie adaptation of the 1960 musical certainly had a time with honing in on the Misery factor with our orphaned protagonist Oliver (Mark Lester). No parents and in a workhouse, Oliver wasn't getting the best start in life.

He also had the misfortune to draw a tangled straw and ask Mr. Bumble (Harry Secombe) and Widow Corney for more gruel. That only got him sold to undertaker Mr. Sowerberry (Leonard Rossiter) where the latter's wife (Hylda Baker) and apprentice Noah Claypole (Kenneth Cranham) were especially horrible to him. 

Oliver made the right decision in getting away that lot and headed off to London. By doing that, Oliver met the Artful Dodger (Jack Wild) and ended up being taken in by master pickpocket expert, Fagin (Ron Moody) himself. In some ways, Oliver probably had the least messed up family by being a member of Fagin's gang of pickpockets. Except for two obvious factors.

First of all, Oliver's pretty bad at being a pickpocket and ended up getting caught. He also ended up getting taken in by kind rich guy, Mr. Brownlow (Joseph O'Conor), who'd later in the film would turn out to be an actual relative of Oliver's, ensuring an eventual happy ending for the orphaned lad.

However the biggest obstacle to Oliver and several other characters was violent brute, Bill Sykes (Oliver Reed). It's a masterful performance in sheer villainy from Reed as Sykes was a legitimately terrifying and rather pathetic villain in his desperate need to control the world around him. His relationship with the sympathetic Nancy (Shani Wallis) gave layers to both characters as the latter was the closest to a maternal figure for Oliver before her tragic death. 

- Some versions of the movie have removed the Overture, Intermission and Entr'acte. 

- I had no idea that Oliver Reed was both Carol Reed's nephew and that he had a song that was cut from the film.

- Standout music: Food, Glorious Food, Oliver!, Where Is Love?, Consider Yourself, I'd Do Anything, As Long As He Needs Me and Oom-Pah Pah.

- Chronology: Set in Victorian times in Dunstable and London.

One of my favourite musicals of all time, Oliver! is a true classic. A brilliant adaptation of Charles Dickens classic novel. There's so many brilliant performances from the leads and so many fantastic musical numbers.

Rating: 9 out of 10