Oliver! [VHS]

Starring: Mark Lester, Ron Moody, Shani Wallis, Oliver Reed, Harry Secombe

American Broadcasting Company (ABC), 1989, VHS Tape

Product Description

Film buffs and critics can argue until their faces turn blue about whether this lavish Dickensian musical deserved the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1968, but the movie speaks for itself on grandly entertaining terms. Adapted from Dickens's classic novel, it's one of the most dramatically involving and artistically impressive musicals of the 1960s, directed by Carol Reed with a delightful enthusiasm that would surely have impressed Dickens himself. Mark Lester plays the waifish orphan Oliver Twist, who is befriended by the pickpocketing Artful Dodger (Jack Wild) and recruited into the gang of boy thieves led by Fagin (played to perfection by Ron Moody). The villainous Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed) casts his long shadow over Oliver and his friends, but the young orphan is still able to find loving care in the most desperate of circumstances. Full of memorable melodies and splendid lyrics, Oliver! is a timeless film, prompting even hard-to-please critic Pauline Kael to call it "a superb demonstration of intelligent craftsmanship," and to further observe that "it's as if the movie set out to be a tribute to Dickens and his melodramatic art as well as to tell the story of Oliver Twist." — Jeff Shannon

Product Details

Title: Oliver! [VHS]
Sales Rank: 83572 in VHS
Actor: Mark Lester, Ron Moody, Shani Wallis, Oliver Reed, Harry Secombe
Director: Carol Reed
Studio: American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Theatrical Release: 1989-04
Format: PAL
Languages: German (Original Language)
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)

Customer Reviews

Excellent purchase...: I received the movie before the expected date and it is in new condition as expected. My daughter is in drama at her elementary school this year and they are doing the Oliver! musical and having this DVD and CD combo is really helping her prepare. Thanks! More reviews

Oliver! .. What no Twist?: Oliver!: 5 out of 10: A musical is often only as good as its music. And on that front Oliver Twist, in particular the first half, is a winner. With large musical numbers seeming starring every single person in England, Oliver! simply delivers. Such catchy tunes as Food Glorious Food and Consider Yourself will stick in ones head for days.
In addition… More reviews

Wife was very happy: Although it came a few days later than expected, it came exactly as stated, making my wife very, very happy! More reviews

Twist? I Used to Love to Twist!: What is it with all this running and jumping, tumbling and spritzing? All these little cockers, why weren't those children in school?
I, Yasha J. Banana, your 96-years-old Amazon movie reviewer, while I don't go back as far as Charles Dickens, can assure you that in my day little children weren't running around the streets picking people's pockets, rolling… More reviews

Great musical!: This musical is timeless. It's good for all ages. It's one of my very favorite movies of all time. More reviews