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Oliver! Reviews

1968 Certificate U
  • 70
  • from 10,354 members

Inspired by Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist, Lionel Bart's 1961 London and Broadway musical hit glossed over some of Dickens' more graphic passages but managed to retain a strong subtext to what was essentially light entertainment. For its first half-hour or so, Carol Reed's Oscar-winning 1968 film version does a masterful .. Read more

Starring Ron Moody, Oliver Reed, Harry Secombe, Mark Lester
Director Carol Reed
Genres Drama, Music/Musical

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  • Critics' reviews (3) of Oliver!

    View all
  • 4 stars out of 5

    In this immensely popular film version of Lionel Bart's musical, Ron Moody — top-billed and Oscar-nominated as Fagin — brings a wealth of Petticoat Lane wit and wisdom, and a certain magnificence, to the role he had created on stage. The film collected six Oscars, including best picture and best director (Carol Reed, a last minute substitute for Lewis Gilbert, who probably would have brought the charm the fable sometimes lacks), and there's no denying that the Academy recognition for sound and art direction is well and truly justified. Today, the film works well as a child's introduction to Dickens, and adults can enjoy Shani Wallis's Nancy, Onna White's brisk Broadway choreography and the inimitable Harry Secombe's Mr Bumble.

    • Radio Times
  • 3 stars out of 4

    The last, perhaps, of the splendid film musicals which have priced themselves out of existence; it drags a little in spots but on the whole it does credit both to the show and the original novel, though eclipsed in style by David Lean's straight version.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • From The Third Man to Oliver! is a pretty vertiginous collapse, even for twenty years in the British film industry.... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Oliver!

    View all
  • 11 out of 15 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    The one and only best OLIVER musical to be made love it again and again, all great actors and what a fantastic music score.

      • Redrum from PLYMOUTH
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars

    Still brilliant!

    I watched this film at the cinema as a young child and thoroughly enjoyed it then, with a huge crush on the Artful Dodger! Have just introduced the next ... more

      • Karen Wicks from Sevenoaks, England
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4.0 stars

    A wonderful nostalgic musical

    If your looking for a film with an excellent story and plenty of sing along tunes, this is the one for you. Be prepared for tears, but with an almost happy ... more

      • Keith14 from Redditch
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of Oliver!

    View all
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars

    fab

    its as good to watch now as it was when it was first came out , l thought it was great ,great story, great music ,what else do you need.

      • A customer from wales
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars

    Still brilliant!

    I watched this film at the cinema as a young child and thoroughly enjoyed it then, with a huge crush on the Artful Dodger! Have just introduced the next ... more

      • Karen Wicks from Sevenoaks, England
  • 11 out of 15 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    The one and only best OLIVER musical to be made love it again and again, all great actors and what a fantastic music score.

      • Redrum from PLYMOUTH
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars

    Still brilliant!

    I watched this film at the cinema as a young child and thoroughly enjoyed it then, with a huge crush on the Artful Dodger! Have just introduced the next ... more

      • Karen Wicks from Sevenoaks, England
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4.0 stars

    A wonderful nostalgic musical

    If your looking for a film with an excellent story and plenty of sing along tunes, this is the one for you. Be prepared for tears, but with an almost happy ... more

      • Keith14 from Redditch
  • 3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars

    A classic

    I've been a fan of this film since i was 6 years old and watching it again - it didn't fail to still be a great film. If you're not into musicals, ... more

      • Andrew from London, England
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars

    classic kids film

    it's a brilliant classic kids film,the story line is excellent,it shows you how some people used to live back there in them days,and what they had to do to ... more

      • Pete Smith from uk
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars

    fab

    its as good to watch now as it was when it was first came out , l thought it was great ,great story, great music ,what else do you need.

      • A customer from wales
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars

    Still a favourite

    I doubt I can say anything about this film which hasn't already been said dozens of times. The score, the sets, the story, the cast - it is an exmplary ... more

      • Joshua from Oxford, England
  • Rated - 5.0 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Still Classic

    Ron Moody et al make this a magical musical classic even now, in the day of Pixelated entertainment. My kids loved it, and I had a great excuse to watch it ... more

      • Beacon97 from Neath
  • Rated - 4.0 stars

    Rented Oliver originally for the children, but thouroughly enjoyed the film myself. I was surprised on the amount of songs from the film I actually knew the ... more

      • A customer from CLUTTON
  • Rated - 5.0 stars

    I don't like musicals

    Wonderfull songs plus captivating performances. What a great time to live in ! That nice Fagin looking after all those unfortunate boys, my dear. Don't ... more

      • A customer from Clitheroe
  • Critics' reviews (3)

  • 4 stars out of 5

    In this immensely popular film version of Lionel Bart's musical, Ron Moody — top-billed and Oscar-nominated as Fagin — brings a wealth of Petticoat Lane wit and wisdom, and a certain magnificence, to the role he had created on stage. The film collected six Oscars, including best picture and best director (Carol Reed, a last minute substitute for Lewis Gilbert, who probably would have brought the charm the fable sometimes lacks), and there's no denying that the Academy recognition for sound and art direction is well and truly justified. Today, the film works well as a child's introduction to Dickens, and adults can enjoy Shani Wallis's Nancy, Onna White's brisk Broadway choreography and the inimitable Harry Secombe's Mr Bumble.

    • Radio Times
  • 3 stars out of 4

    The last, perhaps, of the splendid film musicals which have priced themselves out of existence; it drags a little in spots but on the whole it does credit both to the show and the original novel, though eclipsed in style by David Lean's straight version.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • From The Third Man to Oliver! is a pretty vertiginous collapse, even for twenty years in the British film industry.... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
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  • 70

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    • Oliver!
      Inspired by Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist, Lionel Bart's 1961 London and Broadway musical hit glossed over some of Dickens' more graphic passages but managed to retain a strong subtext to what was essentially light entertainment. For its first half-hour or so, Carol Reed's Oscar-winning 1968 ...

Rating breakdown

10,354 Member ratings
  • 100
1,713
  • 90
1,168
  • 80
2,174
  • 70
1,844
  • 60
1,548
  • 50
803
  • 40
442
  • 30
267
  • 20
262
  • 10
133

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