This musical adaptation of dickens classic tale follows the adventures of oliver twist a young orphan who takes to the streets of 19th-century london in order to seek his fortune. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 04/22/2008 Starring: Ron Moody Harry Secombe Run time: 146 minutes Rating: G Director: Carol Reed

Film buffs and critics can argue until their faces turn blue about whether this lavish Dickensian musical deserved the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1968, but the movie speaks for itself on grandly entertaining terms. Adapted from Dickens's classic novel, it's one of the most dramatically involving and artistically impressive musicals of the 1960s, directed by Carol Reed with a delightful enthusiasm that would surely have impressed Dickens himself. Mark Lester plays the waifish orphan Oliver Twist, who is befriended by the pickpocketing Artful Dodger (Jack Wild) and recruited into the gang of boy thieves led by Fagin (played to perfection by Ron Moody). The villainous Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed) casts his long shadow over Oliver and his friends, but the young orphan is still able to find loving care in the most desperate of circumstances. Full of memorable melodies and splendid lyrics, Oliver! is a timeless film, prompting even hard-to-please critic Pauline Kael to call it "a superb demonstration of intelligent craftsmanship," and to further observe that "it's as if the movie set out to be a tribute to Dickens and his melodramatic art as well as to tell the story of Oliver Twist." --Jeff Shannon

This version of Oliver is not as dark as the others. I have watched many different versions of Oliver and this is the one I love the best.

Super pleased with this transaction in every way- well shipped, fast, good value. Would definately buy from again!

Dickens has written many stories which consist of many characters, almost too many to care, and several storylines which intersect at the end. The Twist story has been simplified in order to make room for great musical tunes and staging. The songs are memorable, especially 'Consider yourself', 'Food glorious food'. Lester is adorable and Fagin and the ARtful Dodger are memorable characters. There is violence and a scary character named Bill Sikes, so those with very young children, beware. For others it is the perfect musical.

Ripe strawberries ripe....where else can you hear these words in a song? Oliver! is one of those classics that you'll never forget. It is in league with Annie (1984) and Sound of Music. Very deserving of the Academy Oscar award of its time. And is timeless...hehe.

Now if only it came out on Blu-Ray!

We watched this with our whole family. Our kids range from 15 to newborn and everyone enjoyed it! The young actor who plays Oliver is absolutely wonderful! His voice is straight out of the Vienna Boys Choir! The songs will be in your head for days, especially Oom Pah Pah!! Anyway, the cast is great, and the movie is well done and fun! Enjoy.