Monday, April 1, 2013

"Oliver!" 1968 Movie Review

Oliver! (1968 movie poster).jpg


Even as a young child, I had an interest in Charles Dickens. My grandmother knew that, and she took me to a production of the musical "Oliver!" at a local theatre. I remember it started and becoming instantly perplexed and enthralled. The first scene I can picture quite distinctly: the orphans running around the stage, singing "food, glorious food!". However, I had forgotten that this indeed was that musical; until I started watching. When I heard the song, it brought me back to that theatre and I became all the more excited about watching this movie. What is better than a movie adaptation of a Broadway musical based on a Charles Dickens novel that I saw as a child? Not much, in my opinion, although I was hoping for more recollections similar to that first one. What a shame. You probably know the plot of this tale but I will tell it anyway: After young orphan Oliver Twist dares to ask for more gruel at an English workhouse, he is punished, runs away, and finds himself among young pickpockets in the great city of London. They are all cared for by a jolly man named Fagin. But Fagin's boss, Bill Sikes, is not so jolly. His whole goal seems to be making the lives of the boys, his wife, and Fagin more difficult. The musical is a fun and enchanting way to tell this otherwise dark tale. The songs are upbeat, though, in my opinion, not super memorable or catchy. The highlight was Ron Moody as the peacemaker Fagin. All in all, a fun way to experience the Dickens classic.

8/10

IMDb Link

Netflix Link

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