Oliver! [DVD] [1968] by Mark Lester

My favourite musical of all time and by far the best version of all time! ❤️❤️ I’ve watched this film so many times now I‘ve lost count but the picture quality with this blu ray disc is AMAZING! Excellent bonus features about the making of it which I loved watching! ❤️

Classic actors, classic movie.

Gift for my boy, great quality.

Hired this for my daughter as she was learning about Oliver Twist at school. This is still a great movie today. Only negative is the price and that you only get so long to watch once started, as we watched in two parts.

I loved this movie! It is easily one of the best musicals ever made. First of all, the songs are absolutely marvelous, and I mean it. "Boy for sale" is sombre though very good; but all the other songs are glorious, and will put a smile on your face: "Consider yourself"; "You've got to pick a pocket or two"; "It's a fine life," "Come back soon," I'd do anything," "Who Will Buy," "Reviewing the Situation;" "Oom-pah-pah" are just some of the examples that have stayed in my memory after just one viewing. To say that they are wonderful is an understatement. They are also beautifully sung. One reviewer notes that Oliver's singing voice (dubbed by a girl) irritates him. Don't worry about that. I agree that perhaps it could have been better, and yet I think the singing voice matches Oliver's speaking voice very well, as well as his presentation as a timid little boy. After all, they couldn't have cast Julie Andrews in all of the roles, in all of the musicals ever made. The singing of Nancy, played beautifully and convincingly by Shani Wallis, is very good, as is the singing of the Artful Dodger.All of the actors shine in their roles: Oliver is portrayed as a timid and naive little boy. The kind hearted and devoted Nancy, who sacrifices herself for the sake of others,won my sympathy right away. Fagin is one of the best comical characters I have ever seen on screen, and you simply get attached to him. There were in fact moments when I was deeply touched by this man so entrapped in a life of crime, that he cannot escape it. The boy playing the Artful Dodger, one of the most talented thieves of Fagin's gang, is amazing - look out for the expressions on his face throughout the film, very artful indeed, and very touching at the same time; I could not avoid loving him. Bill Sykes emerges as a perfect villain, with only a touch of repentance at the end. All of the characters are supremely convincing. Pay attention to the accents, set to match the social status of each character.Besides, the settings are lavish, and the colours superb, especially the market and Bloomsbury Square, and the food shown in the movie made me hungry (I actually ran to the kitchen at one point). Food, of course, is one of the major themes of the movie, from its opening, where the little boys starving at the workhouse and singing "Food, Glorious Food" send Oliver to ask for more (he is refused, almost needless to say); to the gang of thieves who must "pick a pocket or two" to eat; to the gentlemen and gentlewomen in the market who have money to buy their food.As other reviewers have mentioned, the street dances are beautifully choreographed. I was impressed by the coordination of movement between the masses of dancers performing all at the same time. Also, look out for the amazingly coordinated scene of the workhouse boys' dinner at the beginning of the movie, one of the most impressive symbolic scenes ever seen on screen. This is soon followed by the unforgettable scene where Oliver asks for more, and which also features in the movie trailer.One reviewer writes that this movie can get boring if watched repeatedly. I strongly disagree with that statement. The contrary is true: this is one of those movies that one never tires of, because it has some of the elements that make a classic: believable and likeable characters, memorable lines, and unforgettable, truly unforgettable, songs.I also do not think it is a particularly dark version of Dickens' novel. Only the beginning is really dark, and the killing of Nancy, which is somehow redeemed by the knowlege that her sacrifice will benefit Oliver, as well as put a stop to Bill Sykes' life of crime. The rest is truly life affirming, with Fagin and the Artful Dodger providing comic relief most of the time, despite their wily ways and persistance in crime.One word of warning: you may find the beginning of the movie somewhat slow, as I did at first, especially because of the long and in my opinion far from impressive overture, and the overlong film credits; the first couple of scenes or so can be a bit slow too, but expect to be absolutely blown away soon afterwards.In sum, this is definitely a movie to see, to own, to rewatch, a true classic of the kind they really don't make anymore, and wholeheartedly recommended. I give it more than five stars, I give it ten out of ten.

Love Oliver great film my granddaughter and I think it’s brilliant

Nostalgic musical. Thoroughly enjoyed it

How do you describe Oliver it's a great film on so many levels from just a bit of escapism to heavy scrutiny of victoriana slums

Oliver was among the very last of the big musical extravaganzas produced by a major studio (that studio being British in this case). It garnered just about every award imaginable. In this film's case, those awards were well deserved. This film is also notable in that it played in many cinemas for months at a time, a feat that hadn't been equaled since The Sound of Music.At first blush, a musical based on Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens would seem unlikely source material, especially as the transformation of stories like The Phantom of the Opera & Les Miserables into modern operas was still decades in the future. However, just as with those stories, the people who created Oliver created something entirely sublime. And time has not dimmed that brilliance at all.It goes without saying that Oliver Twist is one of English literature's seminal works. Dickens was a master storyteller, a writer who was able to catalogue, in detail, all of the hypocrisy, greed, indifference & calamity that was Britain during the Industrial Revolution. There was no such thing as a social safety net. If you fell on hards times, you had extremely limited options, sometimes only a choice between slow starvation, or the horrors of the Work House (where you effectively sold yourself into slavery to pay your debts (see A Christmas Carol). Charity, such as it was, was relegated to either churches or other "Christian" institutions. The degradation associated with such "charity" is on ample display in Oliver & encapsulated in the famous phrase "Please Sir, can I have some more?"When Oliver moves to London as a member of Fagin's gang of nascent thieves & pickpockets, he is literally jumping from the fire into the frying pan. Whitechapel encompassed some of the worst slums in the world. It was not for nothing that Jack The Ripper would stake out this area as his hunting ground. Although you know the young thieves who serenade Fagin with "I'd Do Anything For You," aren't really as grimy & ill kept as they appear, the denizens of Whitechapel those characters are based on were that dirty & ill kept & diseased and, . . . well, you get the idea.This musical manages to transcend that reality though. One among its many attributes are the large scale musical numbers that, in an age before CGI, are as intricate as a 19th Century time piece, but still wildly entertaining. For instance, pay attention to Oliver's first morning in his well to do digs far from Whitechapel. As he stares about, the square before him comes to life, starting with a single voice selling bread. By the time this number has finished, Oliver, & us too, have witnessed the wonders that can be had when you're on the right side of the tracks. Britain was at the zenith of her power in this period, the home of the Industrial Revolution as well as financier to, & workshop of, the world. The sun never set on Victoria's dominions & all that wealth & privilege is on display, for the taking, for those "Who Can Buy This Beautiful Morning."Since the cast of this movie is English, the acting, singing, what have you, is flawless. Ron Moody effectively steals (no pun intended) the show as Fagin, a conniving career criminal who still manages to make you smile, especially when he explains his philosophy of life to Oliver with the song "You Gotta Pick A Pocket, Or Two."And no great work is complete without a great villain. In this case, it's Bill Sykes, as portrayed by Oliver Reed. Reed was usually typecast as the bad guy. Here, he gives Sykes a smouldering violence that can, & does, erupt without warning. This man has no morals - he can't afford any. His world is literally dog eat dog & you do unto others first, before they can do unto you! Reed owns this role. He makes sure you have no doubt about who you're dealing with when you deal with Bill Sykes.And carrying the whole movie, he's in almost every scene, is young Mark Lester. Fortunately, Lester is equal to the task. He manages to instil into his interpretation of Twist an innate innocence & nobility. No matter what trials he faces, Twist remains pure at his core. When the movie ends, & Twist returns to that magical square, you feel he's finally going home to a place where that purity & innocence belongs. (A contrast to Twist is Jack Wild's Artful Dodger, the young thief who introduces Oliver to Fagin & his crew. The Dodger is content with his lot. He's a nascent Fagin & that's alright with him. Posh environs are okay for Twist - the Dodger is content in Whitechapel.)So, if you'd like to watch some wonderfully presented Dickens, without having to read the book, then this movie is for you. Butter up the popcorn & settle in a for a great time.

Die Jahre 1968 bis 1970 markieren einen gewissen Wendepunkt in der Oscargeschichte. Während bei der Oscarwahl 1969 das opulente Musical "Oliver" von Carol Reed zum großen Sieger erklärt wurde, ging der innovative Konkurrent "2001 - Odyssee im Weltraum" mit nur einer Trophäe für die besten visuellen Effekte nach Hause. Er wurde damals auch nicht in der Kategorie "bester Film" berücksichtigt. Der Oscar brauchte eine Verjüngungskur, denn die Academy versuchte damals althergebrachte Erfolgsmuster weiter am Leben zu erhalten. Die 60er Jahre brachte alleine in der Kategorie "Bester Film" vier Musicals als Sieger hervor: West Side Story, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music und Oliver. Die Oscarnacht 1970 brachte dann eine Überraschung zustande: "Hello Dolly" mit Topstar Barbra Streisand wurde in dieser wichtigsten Kategorie von einem sehr düsteren Film geschlagen, denn John Schlesingers "Asphalt Cowboy" gewann diesen Hauptpreis. Und "Easy Rider " ein Film der 68er Generation erhielt immerhin 2 Nominierungen."Oliver" brachte dem britischen Regisseur Carol Reed ein echtes Comeback, denn seine größten Erfolge wie "Ausgestoßen" und vor allem "Der dritte Mann" lagen schon lange Jahre zurück. "Oliver" basiert auf dem gleichnamigen Bühnenmusical von Lionel Bart, ein Adaption des berühmten Romans "Oliver Twist" von Charles Dickens. Dieser düstere Roman über ein Waisenkind, das im Armenhaus groß wird wurde mehrfach verfilmt. Die Versionen von David Lean aus dem Jahr 1948 und von Roman Polanski aus 2007 sind nahezu perfekt. Bei Reeds Muscialversion muss man sich vielleicht daran gewöhnen, dass viele Szenen gesanglich und tänzerisch sind. Dennoch ist Carol Reed ein bezaubernder Film gelungen mit sehr vielen klasse Szenen und genauso guten Darstellerleistungen. Gute Kasse machte das Musical auch und landete mit 74 Millionen Dollar auf Platz 5 der Kino-Jahrescharts.In einem Arbeitshaus in Dunstable wird den Waisenkindern der tägliche Haferbrei serviert. Eine Gruppe von Jungen ziehen Lose, wobei der kleine Oliver (Mark Lester) als einziger den verhedderten Strohhalm zieht. Dies zwingt ihn dazu aufzustehen und Mr. Bumble (Harry Secombe) und der Witwe Corney (Peggy Mount) um ein weiteres Tellerchen Brei zu bitten. "Ich will noch mehr, bitte Sir" wird aber als solche Frechheit angesehen, dass der Junge verkauft werden soll. Mr. Sowerberry (Leonard Rossiter) kauft den Jungen, weil er ihn besonders für Kinderbeerdigungen als Bestatter brauchen könnte. Sowerberrys etwas älterer Lehrling Noah Claypole (Kenneth Granham) schikaniert den Neuling wo er nur kann. Als er Olivers Mutter, die bei der Geburt starb, aufs übelste beledigt, kommt es zum Rinkampf der Beiden und anschließend wird Oliver in den Keller gesperrt. Er kann fliehen und versucht in London ein neues Leben zu beginnen. Dort trifft er auf den Artful Dodger (Jack Wild), der ihn sofort unter seine Fittiche nimmt und ihm auch ein Quartier zum Schlafen anbietet. Das befindet sich bei Fagin (Ron Moodey), Der jüdische Hehler verköstigt Oliver und Fagin hat eine ganze Meute von elternlosen Jungs bei sich beherbergt. Alle diese Jungs wurden von ihm zu versierten Taschendieben ausgebildet. Artful Dodger ist der Beste von Ihnen. Noch ehe Oliver die Kunst des Stehlens erlernen kann, wird er bei der Diebestour - ohne Dieb zu sein - fälschlicherweise dafür gehalten und verfolgt, er kommt ins Gefängnis. Doch als das Opfer Mr. Brownlow (Joseph O'Connor) sich sicher ist, dass der Junge nicht der Dieb war, nimmt er ihn bei sich auf. Eine Wendung, die sowohl Fagin noch dem äusserst brutalen Eigenbrötler Bill Sykes (Oliver Reed), mit dem Fagin Geschäfte macht und dessen Freundin Nancy (Shani Wallis) Sorgen bereitet. Denn der Junge könnte der Polizei zuviel von den kriminellen Machenschaften erzählen, das Versteck der Diebesbande ausplaudern, so dass Fagin und Sykes am Galgen enden. Bald schmiedet Sykes einen Plan, wie er den unliebsamen Mitwisser aus dem Wege räumen kann...Am Ende ist es Sykes Hund Bully, der die aufgebrachte Menge zu seinem Versteck führt. Anders als im Roman kommt der Gauner Fagin in der Musical Version mit dem Leben davon und endet nicht am Galgen. Gemeinsam mit Artul Dodger tanzen sie durch eine Gasse im nächtlichen London, bereit für einen neuen Anfang und damit auch für weitere Schandtaten. Der Kinderdarsteller Jack Wild liefert eine überzeugende Darstellung, für die der damals 15jährige Junge eine Oscarnominierung bekam. Auch Ron Moodey als Fagin wurde in der Kategorie "bester Hauptdarsteller" berücksichtigt, unterlag jedoch Cliff Robertsons Leistung in "Charly".Neben der Auszeichnung als bester Film gab es weitere Oscars für die grandiose Ausstattung, die Choreographieleistung von Onna White wurde mit einem weiteren Oscar bedacht. John Greens Musik gewann in seiner Kategorie, das Shepperton studio Sound Department durfte den Preis für den besten Ton entgegennehmen So auch der Regisseur selbst. Das British Film Institute, die Reeds Meisterwerk "Der dritte Mann" zum besten britischen Film aller Zeiten wählten, erkannten auch die Qualität seines Musicals und setzten "Oliver" in der gleichen Umfrage der All Time Top 100 auf Platz 77.

The singing, choice of songs & dancing are brilliant. The story is good and very funny in places.The cast and their performances couldn't be better. If anyone hasn't seen this movie, do yourself a favour and buy a copy.

" Oliver !" è a mio giudizio uno dei migliori musical della storia del cinema , il blu ray è ottimo sotto il profilo audio e video ,anche se era già eccellente il dvd.

Buen musical