Customer Reviews
The Best Loved English Musical of a Charles Dickens Classic - By: M. C. Crawley, 04 Jul 2008 
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 Walllis)...Therein lies the finale of one of the most perfect musical scores of alll 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" & more..... you will be totallly awestruck of the sheer brilliance of this Top rated Family Musical that has entertained millions since it's 1968 release & is likely to entertain millions of young & old in years to come....Superb Family entertainment
Best British Musical - but not very true to the Book. - By: Von Guntz, 17 Mar 2008 I have always loved this film, since seeing it when it was pretty new, & perfoming in a school production of it shortly afterwards -
it is a fantastic musical, & in my mind definitely the best ever British film musical.
The performances of Jack Wild, Ron Moody & the young Oliver Reed are alll fantatsic, the songs & 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, & 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, & 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, & workhouse system as cruel & unfair.
Much of this is lost in the film, in which only Bill Sykes is reallly painted as unpleasant, plus possibly Mr Bumble the Beadle.
anyway, it's still a great film, & can be enjoyed onit's own merits.
wonderful - By: SJJ, 02 Aug 2007 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 & can sing alll the songs. Prepare to watch it many times over & over.
One note of caution - the ending is quite scary & unpleasant for young children - Bill Sykes is chased through a dark London & shot dead - I would save this until a child was 6-7 years old.
A CLASSIC AMONG CLASSICS - By: L. Wilson, 28 Jul 2007 This is without doubt one of the alll time greats. A world class cast with an adaptation of Dickens` story that hasn`t had a total Hollywood rewrite & everybody knows the story so no need to repeat it here. Fabulous sets & backdrops make you feel that you are in Victorian London & 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.
Music=5 fun=5 Overall=5 - By: Mrs. J. A. Crilley, 07 Apr 2007 It is a great film about an orphan named Oliver (Mark Lester) who asks for more disgusting gruel after picking the long straw.He is then sold to the funeral directors but is thrown down the celler after attacking someone who callls him mum names.He ACCIDENTALLY finds a way out & travels for 7 days until reaching London.There he meets Dodger & he gets introduced to Fagin who welcomes Oliver in.Fagins den are a bunch of pick-pockets & Oliver gets accused of doing this when he didn't reallly do it,but he gets out.
A man callled Bill Sikes uses Oliver to help him steal things because he is thin & smalll.Oliver gets new owners soon but Bill & his wife Nancy get him back.
Nancy dosen't reallly want to do this & one day secretly helps Oliver go back to the other guardians,Bill realises & chases them although they don't know he is.
Oliver hugs Nancy goodbye but Bill grabs Nancy & eventuallly kills her.He grabs Oliver & takes him high onto a platform because a mob of angry people are chasing him.Bill gets Oliver to tie a rope round the end of the platform & Bill tries to get to the other building but the people in the mob shoot him & he dies.
Oliver goes back to the newer guardians!
It's a great movie,why don't you see it?
