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It has aged somewhat awkwardly, but the performances are inspired, the songs are memorable, and the film is undeniably influential.
All Critics (33) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (6) | DVD (2)
[A] picture that will as firmly imprint itself on the imagination of the young as did some scenes in Snow White more than a generation ago. Sep 25, 2018 | Full Review…
[A] picture that will as firmly imprint itself on the imagination of the young as did some scenes in Snow White more than a generation ago.
Ian Wright
Oliver! is a timeless classic that will be as lovable in 10 or 20 years as it is today. Feb 27, 2015 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
Oliver! is a timeless classic that will be as lovable in 10 or 20 years as it is today.
Wanda Hale
The focus of the movie is so wide, and the logistics of the production so heavy, that Oliver himself, dutifully played by 9-year-old Mark Lester, gets flattened out and almost lost, as if he had been run over by a studio bulldozer. Feb 24, 2014 | Full Review…
The focus of the movie is so wide, and the logistics of the production so heavy, that Oliver himself, dutifully played by 9-year-old Mark Lester, gets flattened out and almost lost, as if he had been run over by a studio bulldozer.
Vincent Canby
There's plenty of mileage left in the famous story. Feb 19, 2008 | Full Review…
There's plenty of mileage left in the famous story.
Rich Gold
After a season of watching inane twitching in the name of dance, the viewer is most happily greeted by Onna White's choreography, an exuberant step-by-step exploration of Victorian zeal. Feb 19, 2008 | Full Review…
After a season of watching inane twitching in the name of dance, the viewer is most happily greeted by Onna White's choreography, an exuberant step-by-step exploration of Victorian zeal.
TIME Staff
In retrospect, it seems emblematic of the triviality Reed descended to in the last years of his career. The Third Man it's not. Dec 13, 2006 | Full Review…
In retrospect, it seems emblematic of the triviality Reed descended to in the last years of his career. The Third Man it's not.
Dave Kehr
With all these wonderful songs and vigorous playing from the top-notch cast, it's a national treasure. Feb 20, 2019 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
With all these wonderful songs and vigorous playing from the top-notch cast, it's a national treasure.
Sky Staff
Mistrust a movie with too many close-ups of Bisto Kid children and doleful dogs: they suggest a director cleverly boxing his way out of some very tight script corners. Apr 7, 2015 | Full Review…
Mistrust a movie with too many close-ups of Bisto Kid children and doleful dogs: they suggest a director cleverly boxing his way out of some very tight script corners.
Penelope Houston
Even if you're not a fan of the musicals, Oliver is so witty, so bright and so endearing that even the iciest viewer should start melting in its corona. Feb 24, 2014 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Even if you're not a fan of the musicals, Oliver is so witty, so bright and so endearing that even the iciest viewer should start melting in its corona.
Ian Nathan
Today, it works well as a child's introduction to Dickens. Feb 24, 2014 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Today, it works well as a child's introduction to Dickens.
Tony Sloman
In adapting Lionel Bart's lavish musical for the screen, director Carol Reed tempered the sticky sentimentality with suitably Dickensian scenes of squalor. Feb 19, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
In adapting Lionel Bart's lavish musical for the screen, director Carol Reed tempered the sticky sentimentality with suitably Dickensian scenes of squalor.
Glorious musical based on Dickens' Oliver Twist. Dec 26, 2010 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Glorious musical based on Dickens' Oliver Twist.
Nell Minow
They made this in Britain?!? Yes, it's hard to believe, but somehow the Brits got their ducks in a row and turned out this big, rich, snazzy product of such high quality (and without a lot of talking, their national strongpoint) that you'll be left wondering. The music is highly contagious, the performances (except for young Olivier himself) very strong, and everything else is simply very well done. Standouts include Ron Moody, Oliver Reed, and the undeniable Jack Wild.
Super Reviewer
This multi-Oscar winner is the film version of the satge musical adaptation of the classic novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. As you might expect, it's a sumptuous well-done British affair filled with excellent sets and costumes, good music, and some decent performances. As for how it fares as an adaptation? Well, pretty decently. It's certainly entertaining, though I can't say I've ever really been all that into Oliver Twist (in any form). That makes my praise seem odd no doubt, but I'm the sort of person who can give praise to something when it is well done, even if it's really not my thing. The casting is good, as are the performances, but special credit must be given to Oliver Reed as Bill Sykes, a chilling performance that the Nostalgia Critic (Doug Walker) rightfully included on his list of the Top 11 Scariest Performances. He's a real creep, and Reed's take is wonderfully done. Shani Wallis's Nancy and Ron Moody's Fagin are pretty good too. Mark Lester is capable as the title character, but his voice (mostly singing) is a bit much for me. I know I can't fault him for not hitting puberty by the time this film was made, but damn. It's not distracting enough to take the movie down though. Carol Reed, the director behind the masterpiece that is The Third Man, does a really good job of bringing this musical to life on the big screen. There's nothign really cinematically showy going on, but it's solid and well played nonetheless. If you happen to like musicals or the source material, then yeah, give this one a go. Unlike almost all 1960s movie musicals, this one is at least under 3 hours.
not my type of film
Extremely enjoyable musical, perfectly cast with great songs and a great story from Dickens.
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