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'Oliver! [DVD] [1968]' starring Mark Lester and directed by Carol Reed. (StaEAN 5035822004832)

Film buffs and critics can argue until their faces turn blue about whether this lavish Dickensian musical deserved the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1968, but the movie speaks for itself on grandly entertaining terms. Adapted from Dickens's classic novel, it's one of the most dramatically involving and artistically impressive musicals of the 1960s, directed by Carol Reed with a delightful enthusiasm that would surely have impressed Dickens himself. Mark Lester plays the waifish orphan Oliver Twist, who is befriended by the pickpocketing Artful Dodger (Jack Wild) and recruited into the gang of boy thieves led by Fagin (played to perfection by Ron Moody). The villainous Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed) casts his long shadow over Oliver and his friends, but the young orphan is still able to find loving care in the most desperate of circumstances. Full of memorable melodies and splendid lyrics, Oliver! is a timeless film, prompting even hard-to-please critic Pauline Kael to call it "a superb demonstration of intelligent craftsmanship", and to further observe that "it's as if the movie set out to be a tribute to Dickens and his melodramatic art as well as to tell the story of Oliver Twist." --Jeff Shannon

This had always been one of my favourite musicals but I hadn't seen it for a while. I bought this DVD at a very reasonable price and watched 'Oliver' again and was pleased that it has truly stood the test of time.

This is still a treat from start to finish and is full of memorable songs. 'Consider Yourself','Who Will Buy?','As Long As He Needs Me', and 'Food Glorious Food' have all become classics and rightly so. Most of the performances are top rate with Ron Moody particularly memorable as Fagin. Shani Wallis is a treat as Nancy and Jack Wild is great as Dodger. In the title role Mark Lester can't sing or dance but certainly looks the part and Oliver Reed is the best Bill Sykes I have seen,he simply oozes menace.

The movie is full of great set pieces and the picure looks great on this DVD. The extras aren't much to write home about but it is the film that counts and 'Oliver' is a delight for all the family.

You know this classic story by now of the boy who asked for more...Oliver Twist played touchingly in the best version on celluloid by Mark Lester...He is one of many workhouse orphans lead by the authoritarian Mr Bumble (Harry Secombe) who decides to sell Oliver to a local Funeral Director in the form of (Leonard Rossiter) of Rising Damp fame. Oliver escapes from here after a fight only to find himself making his way to 19th Century London where he befriends "The Artful Dodger" (Jack Wild) a steetwise pick pocket who takes Oliver for shelter to the affable professional pick pocket Fagin (Ron Moody) whose role probably will be remembered for a most fantastic performance. Here Oliver comes to know Fagin in an touching way.Oliver learns of his past with fate determining his destiny. The infamous Bill Sykes (Oliver Reed) is the only person that can hold Oliver from his childhood dream but Oliver is aided by Sykes girlfriend Nancy (Shani Wallis)...Therein lies the finale of one of the most perfect musical scores of all time ....From the tear jerking "Where is Love" performed by (Mark Lester) to the toe tapping "Be Back Soon" performed by Ron Moody there is much to recommend about this classy musical...backed up with hits galore you will also hear "Food Glorious Food","As Long as He needs me", "Consider Yourself", "Oom-pah-pah" and more..... you will be totally awestruck of the sheer brilliance of this Top rated Family Musical that has entertained millions since it's 1968 release and is likely to entertain millions of young and old in years to come....Superb Family entertainment

I have always loved this film, since seeing it when it was pretty new, and perfoming in a school production of it shortly afterwards -
it is a fantastic musical, and in my mind definitely the best ever British film musical.
The performances of Jack Wild, Ron Moody and the young Oliver Reed are all fantatsic, the songs and the choreography are a joy to behold.

However, I have just read the book Oliver Twist for the first time. It is a brilliant early Victorian novel, but the film is quite far from being true to the storyline or intention of the novel.
In the book, the portrayal of Fagin is much more negative than in the film; there is little or nothing pleasant about him, and he is purely out for himself, but in a conniving way. In the film he is more of a figure of fun.
There are whole episodes in the book which have been cut from the musical, and the story has been simplified. The end for Bill Sykes is somewhat different, more dramatic in a sense, but less horific.
I think the original story makes more sense but was quite a shocking book at the time, satirising the Poor Laws, the legal system, and workhouse system as cruel and unfair.
Much of this is lost in the film, in which only Bill Sykes is really painted as unpleasant, plus possibly Mr Bumble the Beadle.
anyway, it's still a great film, and can be enjoyed onit's own merits.

Remembered from my own childhood, bought recently to watch with my 7 year old daughter. Fantastic film, great music, good story, a real classic. Daughter loves it and can sing all the songs. Prepare to watch it many times over and over.

One note of caution - the ending is quite scary and unpleasant for young children - Bill Sykes is chased through a dark London and shot dead - I would save this until a child was 6-7 years old.

This is without doubt one of the all time greats. A world class cast with an adaptation of Dickens` story that hasn`t had a total Hollywood rewrite and everybody knows the story so no need to repeat it here. Fabulous sets and backdrops make you feel that you are in Victorian London and as usual the music from Lionel Bart will leave you singing (or humming) the tunes for days after. It is a Sunday afternoon movie tucked up on the couch with the kids (if you havn`t got, borrow some)and a box of chocolates.