‘Oliver!’ Is A Glorious Holiday Musical

The Daily News gave "Oliver!" Four stars in 1968, saying it has "substance and purpose of original eternal Charles Dickens."

"Oliver!" is a musical film directed by Carol Reed, with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. It is based on the novel by Charles Dickens, "Oliver Twist" and Wards won the Academy for Best Picture.

 In "Oliver!" Colombia has a winner a glorious musical for your vacation pleasure and for as long as it runs on the new State of Loew 1, which could be up to Christmas image gets there next year. Produced in England by John Woolf, "Oliver!" It is a timeless classic that is as adorable in 10 or 20 years as it is today.

Popular stage production of Lionel Bart, directed for the screen by Sir Carol Reed, the picture is a shining example of teamwork of many artists who contribute to your total perfection. The story has the substance and purpose of original eternal Charles Dickens. To this were added the beautiful music, humous Bart - each song brought spontaneous applause - and dance numbers, bright, buoyant and every happy event.

Nothing gives the film more character than the settings. A Dickensian London, designed by John Box and erected in Sheperton study consists of all kinds of shops, outdoor markets, smoky bars, waterfront, Fagin dark, dirty and elegant Bloomsbury den, a place where orphan Oliver finds his rich uncle to live happily ever after.

Discrimination, Columbia production manager Mike Frankovich, Woolf and Reed got a deal that could not be improved on. Ron Moody, who originated the role on the London stage, gives a delightfully humorous performance as Fagin, a musical comedy Fagin, true, but perfect in this case, more sympathetic than horrible, singing and dancing with their young pickpockets. "Reviewing the situation," his number when fleetingly thought reform, is a show stopper, while him and his most faithful disciple, Artful Dodger, and travel happily into the sunset.

Shani Wallis, who can act, sing and dance, is a good choice for Nancy, Bill Sikes girl 'and friend of Oliver. She gives him a sexy rendition of "all the time you need me" and sings and dances up a storm in number "Oom Pah Pah-" jumping with grace and agility of a gazelle on tables, chairs and barrels. Miss Wallis emerges from this film as a musical star who can hold the head with the best.

Good characters of Dickens Oliver Reed are duly dirty, bad and ugly Bill Sikes and Harry Secombe as fatuous Mr. Bumble. Hugh Griffith gives his own interpretation of a dump magistrate, a brief appearance to break up.

In the juvenile department is not Mark Lester as Oliver, an artist with a beautiful, sensitive and sweet face, small voice of a choirboy. And it's not Jack Wild, the Artful Dodger, a young actor with a series, a hard cup and the talent to lead his end of the performance and the musical numbers with true professionals.

The story gets Oliver orphanage by circuitous routes to London, where he joins Fagin boys and for the first time in his life feels loved and well fed. Oliver to Fagin activities, the boys and their new friend, Artful Dodger, appear charming.

After the intermission, the second half of the musical begins with the burgeoning number, colourful in Bloomsbury Square, sang and danced to the delightful music and words "Who will buy?" All kinds of street vendor in the London of that time is at: flower girls, maid’s milk, grinders, and others, plus an enthusiastic band and counterparts of the king's guards in full parade. Oliver, on the balcony of his uncle, joins.

Then the film goes into the dramatic effect of attempted Bill Sikes' kidnap Oliver and some effective suspense until the little hero is safe with his uncle in Bloomsbury.

By making "Oliver!" A grand musical scale, the English are aided by the expertise of America. Oona Blanca, Broadway choreographer, invest your imagination and inventiveness in many magical dances. And John Green of Hollywood, musical supervisor and director, creates interesting arrangements of beautiful score by Lionel Bart.

"Oliver!" Not what I can call the image of children. It's an adult, sophisticated and will be fine for bright and even teenager scale generation. I'll stick my neck out and say that is the best musical I've seen.