Oliver! (film)

Oliver! is a 1968 British musical drama film directed by Carol Reed, based on the stage musical Oliver!, which in turn was adapted from Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist. The film tells the story of an orphaned boy named Oliver who escapes from a workhouse and journeys to London, where he becomes embroiled in a criminal gang of pickpockets led by the sinister Fagin.

The film stars Mark Lester as Oliver, Ron Moody as Fagin, Shani Wallis as Nancy, Oliver Reed as Bill Sikes, and Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger. It was a critical and commercial success, winning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Carol Reed), and Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment. Oliver! is known for its lavish production, memorable musical numbers, and its largely faithful adaptation of the source material.

Key musical numbers include "Food, Glorious Food," "Consider Yourself," "Pick a Pocket or Two," "As Long as He Needs Me," and "Who Will Buy?" The film departs slightly from both the novel and the stage musical, most notably in softening some of the darker aspects of Dickens's original story, particularly concerning Bill Sikes's violence and Nancy's ultimate fate.

Oliver! remains a popular and influential film, celebrated for its performances, music, and its portrayal of Victorian London. It has been digitally restored and re-released several times, continuing to entertain audiences of all ages.