Customer Reviews

Oliver (With CD Premium) Giftset

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If only movies were made like this today. This film is filled with witty comedy, wonderful music, and great acting. One of the best musicals out there!! This film displays a boy's life going from the lowest of low (an orphanage) and slowely rising to a better life. The only thing is, it makes stealing look a little. .. well . . fun! But i'm sure we can all live with that right?

Until CHICAGO reenergized the movie musical genre, this musical version of Charles Dickens' immortal "Oliver Twist" was widely regarded as one of the last of the great movie musicals. Indeed, with its high-energy performances, infectious music, steady direction by Sir Carol Reed and glorious sets, this movie won the 1968 Best Picture Oscar over such formidable competition as THE LION IN WINTER, CHARLEY, and FUNNY GIRL.

Of course, most people are familiar with the classic story of young Oliver Twist, whose mother dies giving him birth and is forced to be raised under the cruel supervision of the English workhouse officials. When he dares beg for more than his meager ration of gruel, the youngster is apprenticed to an undertaker and his extremely nasty family. After escaping this hostile environment, he finds himself taken in by the roguish Fagin, the Artful Dodger(Fagin's best pupil), and the rest of his band of young pickpockets. In time, however, Oliver will find his home, but not before dealing with the likes of the brutal Bill Sikes with the help of Sike's sympathetic lover, Nancy, and the kindly Mr. Brownlow.

As musical films go, it is hard to fault the wonderful casting in this film. Mark Lester makes a perfectly, if maybe overly, innocent Oliver, while Jack Wild is a delight as the rascally Artful Dodger. Shanie Wallis is heart-rending as the tragic Nancy. Oliver Reed (Sir Carol's nephew) is truly scary as the menacing Bill Sikes. Harry Secombe displays a glorious tenor in the comic role of Mr. Bumble, the beadle of the workhouse. However, it is Ron Moody's fantastic performance of the rascally Fagin that steals this movie. It is not surprising, when you consider that he created the role when the musical was first produced in London. Of course, the character itself has gone quite a change from Dickens' original, going from the debatably nasty anti-Semitic portrait of the novel to that of a lovable, if sneaky, eccentric. Indeed, Moody's excellent portrayal would set the tone for almost all future performances of the role to date, including those of such actors as George C. Scott and Richard Dreyfus, among others.

Some Dickens fans may quibble about the liberties taken with the book, from the softening of Fagin to the elimination of Oliver's evil step-brother Monks from the storyline. And it isn't a perfect film by any means. (The child singer who dubbed Mark Lester's songs sounds like she's in an echo chamber of some sort, which makes Oliver's singing a jarring contrast to the rest of the cast.) But, as a musical film, it is a wonderful entertainment and superb introduction to the classic story. As a result, this is one musical that I would DEFINITELY recommend.

"Oliver!" is the first musical I ever came to love, to learn the words to, and to want to see again. When people think of this wonderful adaptation of Charles Dickens' dark and occasionally hopeful "Oliver Twist," the music might come first to mind. Why wouldn't it? The songs are remarkable, and worth ever acclaim. Take away the music (and I hope you never would), and there is left a strong story with a strong message played by strong actors, all well-produced.

The younger viewers will see the trials and tribulations of Oliver Twist. Older viewers will connect with Nancy or Bill Sikes, or look deep into the tyranny of poverty and those who would profit from the vulnerable poor.

Ron Moody is the star as Fagin, but a not often talked about enough performance of Jack Wild's Artful Dodger. He has an insightfulness and an almost innocent prying likeability that infects audiences. He's a thief, working for the top thief, and trying to involve young and lonely Oliver, but only so to protect him and befriend him.

Peggy Mount is endearing as Mrs. Bumble, with a personality not unlike Mrs. Butterworth of pancake syrup fame.

The tone is ironically whimsical, demonstrating a contrast in the tenor of the rich and poor, of those singing and those in need.

The settings are impressively realistic, keeping in mind the time this was produced. Not as big budget as epics like "The Ten Commandments," it still can carry the audience into believing they were really there. We see the humanity behind the poor culture of London. We see the tragedies of lives that could have been beautiful, and grimace with the fates of some.

Even though the music is fun and memorable, so is the not as happy message. Across England, homeless children were being abused and put into near-slavery in a black-market pickpocket scheme. Dickens took what he saw around him and developed one of the English's most compelling literary social statements.

I fully recommend "Oliver!" To balance out your classic Victorian England DVD musical collection, try "My Fair Lady," with Audrey Hepburn.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Forget all that overrated David Lean posturing. This film is the second greatest film version of a Dickens novel - ever. The best is George Cukor's DAVID COPPERFIELD (1935).

Ahhh Robin Hood...what a crook...gave away...what he took,
Charity's fine subscribe to mine...you've got to pick a pocket or two.
Now I know you were mentally singing that as you read it...good ain't it though. For all those little bleeders out there who point blank refuse to grow up and become 'respekible'...there must be someone who will buy.

Carol Reed's "Oliver!" is the musical version of Dicken's Oliver Twist. It stars Mark Lester as the irrepressible street urchin, suckered into the lair of a vagabond by The Artful Dodger (Jack Wild) and forced into a life of crime by Fagin (Ron Moody). But when Oliver is salvaged from the slums by a benevolent philanthropist, Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed) decides to make a quick buck off of the trade. Shani Willis costars as Sikes' girlfriend, Nancy, who thwarts the kidnapping plot and pays for her betrayal with her life. This is a very stoic, stagy and rather dry musical that may capture the essence of Dickens in its settings characters and plot but seems totally out of touch with the effervescence of the traditional Hollywood musical. Even with such main staple songs as "Consider Yourself", "Boy For Sale" and "Food, Glorious Food", truly, the spoon full of sugar remains a bitter pill to swallow on this occasion.

Columbia Tri-Star has made "Oliver" available in a startlingly good looking transfer. Colors are solid, rich, vibrant and bold. Contrast levels are exactly where they should be. Blacks are incredibly deep. Fine detail is fully realized. Only occasionally do age related artifacts betray the vintage of the film. The audio is 5.1 and wonderfully spread across all five channels of the sound field. There are no extras. This film is spread across two sides of a single disc. The break comes at the point of intermission.

Oliver is possibly the most entertaining musical I have ever viewed. Many of the songs in this movie became huge hits and continued to be part of major performers repertoire during the latter part of the 20th century. The movie sets are authentic, the casting is perfection....the song productions are unforgettable. Add to this a classic story line embellished with both drama and humor and you have a masterpiece that will be enjoyed by the entire family. The DVD transfer is pristine.

Big production. Beautiful sets, catchy songs, great actors - many of them also singers/dancers.
A sweeted Dickens tale on human nature and hope.
Beware, might pull on your heart strings, if you're so inclined.

Like so many other reviewers, this film holds a special place in my life. Dickens' story is masterfully translated to film and the score adds a whole other level to the charm and power of this story. It is hard to imagine this story without the musical numbers. A great addition to any DVD library and sure to entertain generations to come.

Great movie, but is there a soundtrack? I can not find one.