Oliver! Overview:

Oliver! (1968) was a Crime - Drama Film directed by Carol Reed and produced by John Woolf.

The film was based on the novel Oliver Twist and also Bentley's Miscellany Magazine Serial written by Charles Dickens published in 1838 (novel); Feb 1837 - April 1839 (magazine).

SYNOPSIS

This is a delightful musical version of Dickens's tale of a young orphan who is introduced to a life of petty crime, adapted from the stage musical by Bart. Songs include "Boy for Sale" and "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two." Won a slew of Academy Awards, including a special choreography award for White.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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Academy Awards 1968 --- Ceremony Number 41 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorRon MoodyNominated
Best Supporting ActorJack WildNominated
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: John Box, Terence Marsh; Set Decoration: Vernon Dixon, Ken MugglestonWon
Best CinematographyOswald MorrisNominated
Best Costume DesignPhyllis DaltonNominated
Best DirectorCarol ReedWon
Best Film EditingRalph KemplenNominated
Best Music - ScoringAdaptation score by John GreenWon
Best PictureJohn Woolf, ProducerWon
Best WritingVernon HarrisNominated
Honorary AwardOnna WhiteWon
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Quotes from

Nancy: [singing] Who cares if straightlaces sneer at us in the street? Fine airs and fine graces don't have to sin to eat.


Fagin: [sings] I'm reviewing the situation / Can a fellow be a villain all his life? / All the trials and tribulations. / Better settle down and get myself a wife! / And a wife would cook and sew for me, / And come for me, and go for me, / And go for me, and nag at me, / The fingers, she would wag at me. / The money she would take from me. / A misery, she'll make from me... I think I'd better think it out again!


Bill: You can keep the books. Start a library!


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Facts about

The film is always listed as running 153 minutes, but this is because of the Overture heard before the film, the Intermission Music, and the Exit Music. The actual film, including the opening credits, runs about 145 minutes.
It was also the last musical to win the Best Picture Oscar until Chicago 34 years later.
Early rumors regarding casting included Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor as Bill and Nancy, and either Laurence Harvey or Peter Sellers as Fagin; though eventually Ron Moody was asked to reprise his stage role. Jack Wild had played one of Fagin's boys in the London production, but was now old enough to play the Artful Dodger. Shani Wallis finally won the role of Nancy nearly a year after first auditioning when she demonstrated an acceptable Cockney accent - the one she grew up with.
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Best Picture Oscar 1968






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