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Oliver! (1968, UK)
In Lionel Bart's musical version inspired by the Charles
Dickens novel "Oliver Twist" - both a British production
and a big Broadway hit - as well as a Best Picture-winning film (from
first-time musical director Carol Reed who won Best Director).- about
a poorhouse orphan's travails in early 19th century London:
- the show-stopping "Food, Glorious Food"
by the entire group of orphans at Mr. Bumble's Home for Paupers and
Orphans; the barefooted orphan boys marched into the dining room
for a ladle full of gruel broth: ("Is it worth the waiting
for, If we live till eighty-four All we ever get is gruel, Every
day we say our prayers Will they change the bill of fare? Still
we get the same old gruel There's not a crust not a crumb. Can
we find can we beg can we borrow or cadge, But there's nothing
to stop us from getting a thrill, When we all close our eyes
and imagine, Food glorious food...")
- the opening line of 9 year-old orphan Oliver (Mark
Lester) asking for a second helping of gruel from workhouse boss
Mr. Bumble (Harry Secombe): "Please, sir, I want some more." "What?" "Please
sir, I want some...more." "More?!"
- Oliver's wistful singing of "Where Is Love?"
at a window after the punished young boy was thrown into a dark cellar
(full of empty coffins)
- the large production number set in London where Oliver
had fled and he met up with the young streetwise thief Jack Dawkins,
aka The Artful Dodger (Jack Wild); Oliver was welcomed into a boy
gang with "Consider Yourself": "Consider yourself...
at home! / Consider yourself... one of the family!"
- other hit songs included wily, crafty and thieving
Fagin's (Ron Moody) words of advice to Oliver about his group of
street urchin's profession of pickpocketing - "You've Got To
Pick a Pocket or Two"
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Fagin (Ron Moody)
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Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed)
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- the ensemble's performance of "I'd Do Anything"
- ("I know that I'd go anywhere for your smile anywhere, for
your smile, everywhere I'd see. Would you lace my shoe? Anything.
Paint your face bright blue? Anything. Catch a kangaroo? Anything.
Go to Timbuktu? And back again...")
- the singing of the ballad "As Long As He Needs
Me" by prostitute Nancy (Shani Wallis), the common-law wife
of master burglar and brutish murderer Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed),
Fagin's associate, who professed her undying love - even for the
abusive Sikes who had just slapped her: ("As long as he needs
me. Oh yes he does need me. In spite of what you see, I'm sure that
he needs me. Who else would love him still When they been used so
ill? He knows I always will as long as he needs me. I miss him so
much when he is gone but when he's near me I don't let on. The way
I feel inside, The love I have to hide But hell, I got my pride as
long as he needs me")
- the stunning scenes of Sikes' bludgeoning murder (off-screen)
of Nancy at the London Bridge, and Sikes' own death when shot dead
by a pursuing mob and police
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"Food, Glorious Food"
Mr. Bumble (Harry Secombe)
Oliver:
"I want some more"
"Where is Love?"
The Artful Dodger: "Consider Yourself"
Fagin (and company): "I'd Do Anything"
Nancy (Shani Wallis) Singing "As Long As He Needs Me"
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