Oliver! (1968)
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An orphaned boy finds himself in the heart of London's criminal underworld after escaping a harsh workhouse.
The story
At a workhouse in Dunstable, an orphan named Oliver is sold as an apprentice to an undertaker. After being imprisoned for a minor offense, he escapes and finds himself in the streets of London. There, he is taken in by the Artful Dodger and introduced to a gang of pickpockets led by the mysterious Fagin. While the boys are taught the art of stealing, Oliver's innocence stands in stark contrast to the dangerous world of the London underworld. The story follows his journey as he navigates the perils of the city while searching for a sense of belonging and a true home.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After escaping a workhouse, Oliver is taken in by the Artful Dodger and Fagin's gang of pickpockets in London. He is eventually caught by the police after a misunderstanding and taken in by the wealthy Mr. Brownlow, who recognizes a family resemblance. Sikes and Fagin, wanting to reclaim Oliver, involve Nancy in a plot to get him back. Nancy eventually tries to rescue Oliver from Sikes' clutches. During a confrontation at London Bridge, Sikes kills Nancy and takes Oliver as a hostage. A chase ensues, leading to a final confrontation where Sikes is killed by police. Fagin decides to change his ways, while Oliver is safely returned to Mr. Brownlow's home.
- First release year
- 1968
- Runtime (minutes)
- 153
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Carol Reed
- Writers
- Vernon Harris · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Mark Lester · Oliver; Ron Moody · Fagin; Oliver Reed · Bill Sikes; Harry Secombe · Mr. Bumble; Shani Wallis · Nancy; Jack Wild · Artful Dodger
- Genres
- musical; drama
- Themes
- innocence; poverty; survival
- Tone and mood
- jaunty; melodramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; period piece; orphan
- Source material / true-story basis
- Lionel Bart's 1960 stage musical, based on Charles Dickens' 1838 novel Oliver Twist.
- Reception
- The film received widespread acclaim from critics, being praised for its production, musical integration, and performances, particularly by Ron Moody and Jack Wild.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 8/10 · scale: 10 · review count: 79
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Picture · won; Academy Award · Best Director · won; Academy Award · Honorary Award · won; Golden Globe Award · Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · won; Golden Globe Award · Best Actor – Musical or Comedy · won; Academy Award · Best Actor in a Supporting Role · nominated
- Production trivia
- It was the last G-rated film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.; It was the last British film to win Best Picture until Chariots of Fire in 1981.; The film was ranked as the 69th-best British film ever in a 2017 poll.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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