Oliver!

Oliver!


Warwick, Romulus / Columbia, 1968, Color, 145 minutes, ****

Released September, 1968 (UK)

Released December, 1968 (USA)

Consider yourself right in when you watch this lively musical adaptation of the Dickens classic that garnered six Oscars, including Best Picture. Mark Lester stars as the plucky orphan lad, Jack Wild is his pal, the Artful Dodger, and Ron Moody is the rapscallious Fagin. Delightful score from composer Lionel Bart includes "Food, Glorious Food," "Where Is Love?" and more. With Oliver Reed, Hugh Griffith and Shani Wallis.
Definitely one of my favorites! Wonderful performances by the entire cast, and a great song score. Lionel Bart really outdid himself on this one! Somehow it seems that 40 years of movie musicals came to a climax with this wonderful film! Ron Moody is positively magnificent as Fagin, and Shani Wallis' rendition of "As Long as He Needs Me" is simply the best - no one could have done it better! If you haven't seen this film, it's required viewing for any movie musical fan!
Produced by: John Woolf

Produced hy Arrangement and in Association with: Donald Albery

Production Supervisor: Denis Johnson

Directed by: Carol Reed

Assistant Director: Colin Brewer

Screenplay by: Vernon Harris

Freely Adapted from Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist"

Book, Music and Lyrics by: Lionel Bart

Music Supervised, Arranged and Conducted by: John Green

Associate Music Supervisor: Eric Rogers

Choreography and Musical Sequences Staged by: Onna White

Production Designer: John Box

Art Director: Terence Marsh

Assistant Art Directors: Roy Walker, Bob Cartwright

Set Dressers: Vernon Dixon, Ken Muggleston

Costume Designer: Phyllis Dalton

Wardrobe Supervision: John Wilson-Apperson

Make-Up Supervisor: George Frost

Chief Hairdresser: Bobbie Smith

Sound Supervisor: John Cox

Director of Photography: Oswald Morris

Filmed in Panavision, Colour by Technicolor

Filmed at Shepperton Studios, England

Special Effects: Allan Bryce

Film Editor: Ralph Kemplen



Awards: Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Score (Musical), Best Art Direction - Set Decoration, Best Sound; Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (Ron Moody), Best Supporting Actor (Jack Wild), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing and Best Costume Design



Cast: Ron Moody [Fagin], Shani Wallis [Nancy], Oliver Reed [Bill Sikes (Biw Soiks)], Harry Secombe [Bumble], Mark Lester [Oliver], Jack Wild [The Artful Dodger], Hugh Griffith [Magistrate], Joseph O'Conor [Mr. Brownlow], Peggy Mount [Mrs. Bumble], Leonard Rossiter [Sowerberry], Hylda Baker [Mrs. Sowerberry], Kenneth Cranham [Noah Claypole], Megs Jenkins [Mrs. Bedwin], Sheila White [Bet], Wensley Pithey [Dr. Grimwig], James Hayter [Mr. Jessop], Elizabeth Knight [Charlotte], Fred Emney [Chairman - Workhouse], Edwin Finn, Roy Evans [Paupers - Workhouse], Norman Mitchell [Arresting Policeman], Robert Bartlett, Graham Buttrose, Jeffrey Chandler, Kirk Clugeston, Dempsey Cook, Christopher Duff, Nigel Grice, Ronnie Johnson, Nigel Kingsley, Robert Langley, Brian Lloyd, Peter Lock, Clive Moss, Ian Ramsey, Peter Renn, Bill Smith, Kim Smith, Freddie Stead, Raymond Ward, John Watters [Fagin's Boys], Additional Cast: Veronica Page [Oliver's Mother], Henry Kay [Doctor], Jane Peach [Rose the Maid], Keith Roberts [Policeman in Magistrate's Court], Peter Hoar [Court Clerk], John Baskcomb, Norman Pitt, Arnold Locke, Frank Crawshaw [Workhouse Governors]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture 1: "As Long as He Needs Me" (played by Orchestra); [0:03] Main Title: "Oliver!" / "Pick a Pocket or Two" / "Where Is Love" / "Be Back Soon" / "Oom-Pah-Pah" (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:07] Food, Glorious Food (sung and danced by Mark Lester and Workhouse Boys); [0:13] Oliver! (sung by Harry Secombe, Peggy Mount and Workhouse Boys); [0:15] Boy for Sale (sung by Harry Secombe); [0:19] Boy for sale (played as dirge by Orchestra during funeral procession); [0:25] Where Is Love? (sung by Mark Lester); [0:33] Consider Yourself (production number sung and danced by Jack Wild, Mark Lester and Ensemble); [0:43] Pick a Pocket or Two (performed by Ron Moody and Fagin's Boys); [0:56] It's a Fine Life (sung and danced by Shani Wallis, Sheila White and "The Three Cripples Crowd"); [1:07] I'd Do Anything (sung and danced by Jack Wild, Shani Wallis, Sheila White, Mark Lester, Ron Moody and Fagin's Boys); [1:14] Be Back Soon (sung and marched by Ron Moody and Boys); [1:26] Entr'acte: "Where Is Love?" (played by Orchestra); [1:29] Who Will Buy? (sung by Mark Lester and Chorus, danced by Ensemble); [1:42] As Long as He Needs Me (sung by Shani Wallis); [1:57] Reviewing the Situation (sung by Ron Moody); [2:12] Oom-Pah-Pah (sung and danced by Shani Wallis, Sheila White, "The Three Cripples Crowd" and Chorus); [2:28] Reviewing the Situation (reprised by Ron Moody and Jack Wild); [2:31] Finale: Consider Yourself (sung and danced by Chorus); [2:32] Exit Music: "Be Back Soon" (played by Orchestra)