Oliver! [G]

Upon escaping from the squalid and horrible workhouse where he was born, little orphan Oliver makes his way to London to seek his fortune. Once there, he is immediately befriended by a loveable little pickpocket known as The Artful Dodger who takes him to the kind, but thieving Fagin and his ‘family’ of street urchins. Now part of a family, disaster strikes when Oliver is caught pick pocketing and Fagin and Dodger flee to save their skins. The case is dropped and Oliver soon finds himself taken in by a rich gentleman into a kind and loving household. But Fagin and his star thief, Bill Sikes, worry that Oliver might snitch on them and they hatch a plan to kidnap him and bring him back. 

Yes, I admit, it has taken me this long to watch Oliver!! The musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel (which I have but admittedly have not read yet) that has been part of many peoples’ childhoods as well as the songs being part of every true musical buff’s repertoire, this movie is as dark, dirty, and delightful as its characters! 

Whilst the G rating may be rather questionable as we get into the darker and actually quite violent and sinister climax of the movie, Oliver! sits in that later stage of the Golden Age of Musicals. Being made in the late 60s, what’s really gorgeous about this film is its adherence to the traditional musical structure whilst simultaneously telling this rather dark story. The Sound of Music could be argued as a similar equivalent, maybe mixed with a bit of My Fair Lady. 

The songs are all wonderful and irresistibly catchy and whilst the choreography may not be as stellar as that of Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly, in it’s own way it’s quite sophisticated and makes for some real show-stoppers. From the opening track of ‘Food, Glorious Food’ to the more upbeat gems like ‘Consider Yourself’ and ‘I’d Do Anything’ to the tortured romantic tune of ‘As Long As He Needs Me’, which could rival Rizzo’s ‘There Are Worse Things I Could Do’ from Grease, everything that makes this a classic musical keeps you enthralled right from the get-go and before you know it, a whole hour has passed in what seems a blink of an eye! 

As classic as the story is and as wonderful as the tunes are, the real stars of this show are the characters and the actors that play them. Oliver, this tiny, high-voiced, and somewhat prim-sounding little lad, is played beautifully by Mark Lester and he just makes you melt from the first look. With wide, dark eyes that heart-meltingly beg you to love him, he’s irresistible. 

Counteracting young Mark with his brisk, comical backchat and sweetly dirty and endearing face is young Jack Wild who plays the Artful Dodger. A true rascal and rogue, Jack delivers an endearing performance and it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with him right from the off. 

Balancing out the delightfully scoundrel-esque world of the kids are the adults that care for and tower over them. Fagin is played by Ron Moody, who is sweet and caring towards his boys but at the same time greedy, amoral and grubbing. Shani Wallis who plays Nancy does the doe-eyed lover very well before coming to grips with just how horrible her man is, and Oliver Reed as Bill Sikes is the stuff that nightmares are made off. You would not want to bump into Reed in a dark alleyway at night, that’s for sure! 

Starring Harry Secombe, Hugh Griffith, Peggy Mount, Leonard Rossiter, Hylda Baker, Kenneth Cranham, Megs Jenkins, Sheila White, Wensley Pithey, and Joseph O’Conor, Oliver! is a delightful, a truly delightful musical that stands the test of time. Filled with friendship, family, crime, drama, comedy, romance, memorable songs, and loveable characters, I absolutely adored it. Better late than never to watch these classics right?