Oliver! (1968)

I've seen Oliver! several times in my life. Oliver Twist, the novel by Charles Dickens, is one of my favorite books; I've read it numerous times and have even taught it a couple of times. However, as much as I enjoy film musicals in general and this particular film musical version of a cherished favorite, I am still surprised this was chosen as the Best Picture of 1968.

You're probably familiar with the story already. A young orphan, Oliver Twist, leaves the workhouse to face an uncertain life in the funeral trade. After facing abuse at the hands of the funeral director's family and employees, he runs off to London. There he meets the Artful Dodger, who introduces him to Fagin and his gang of boy thieves. They are all, in turn, under the command of the evil Bill Sikes. Bill himself is cared for and loved by Nancy, who also befriends Oliver and tries to ensure that he is unharmed.

While all of this dark stuff is going on, there's singing, lots of singing. And the score is quite beautiful, good songs all around: "Consider Yourself," "It's a Fine Life," "I'd Do Anything," "Who Will Buy?" A real standout, though, is "As Long as He Needs Me," one of the oddest paeans to co-dependency you're likely ever to hear. There's dancing too, particularly well executed by the boys in such numbers as "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two." These numbers do indeed enliven the film.

I like several of the performers too. Shani Wallis is great as Nancy; she has a beautiful voice and a real sense of vitality. Ron Moody is a delight as Fagin, particularly his ability to switch emotions in a second. I've always liked Oliver Reed's performance as Bill Sikes, a thoroughly despicable character in many ways but who comes across as oddly sexy in this film. Yeah, I know. What can I say? Mark Lester, playing Oliver, doesn't make much of an impression, but then again, the character himself doesn't make that much of an impression in the book, does he? It's really more about the people around him than it is about Oliver himself.

The real star, though, is Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger. Wild was a talented singer and dancer, and he certainly knows how to draw attention to himself. You're always looking for him in the midst of the scenes at Fagin's hideout. Even among a gang of singing and dancing boys, you can't help but focus on him. He was about 16 years old at the time this film was made, but he seems so much younger in appearance and so much older in his wisdom and experience. I first knew Wild from his performances on the Saturday morning kids' show H.R. Pufnstuf; I loved that show and own the DVD of the complete series. What a shame to see him already gone at such a young age and under such tragic circumstances.

I know I've been saying good things about this movie, and you're probably puzzling over why I don't think it deserved to win Best Picture. As entertaining as Oliver! (you have to have the exclamation point, don't you?) is, it's just a bit too frivolous even as a movie musical to be the best film of the year. The Academy also nominated Romeo and Juliet that year, a gorgeous film that still is one of the best adaptations of Shakespeare ever. There was also The Lion in Winter, a great period piece featuring some staggering performances from the likes of Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole and a young Anthony Hopkins. (I won't speak much now of the other two, lesser nominees: Funny Girl and Rachel, Rachel.) The single best film of 1968 wasn't even nominated that year: 2001: A Space Odyssey. How can anyone think that Oliver! was the best film of the year when Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece isn't even in the running?

So enjoy Oliver! for what it is: expensive, splashy musical entertainment. Admire the work of young Jack Wild and the other talented performers in the film. Sing along to the songs you remember. Just don't think that this is the Best Picture of 1968.