Classic Film Friday: Oliver!

This 1968 musical is what it is... A musical. Which really isn't all that bad, however some of the songs tend to run longer than my interest likes. It's an adaptation of Charles Dickens 'Oliver Twist'. It also is an adaptation from a Broadway musical.

My wife suggested this movie as something the whole family could watch, and she was right my 3-year-old was enthralled by the film, though she could not make it the 2 and a half hours needed for the film, she fell asleep half way through it. But, it was the first movie that she fell asleep actively watching. So that has to say something.

Oliver is an orphan, and he experiences life at it's most raw. He is at the orphanage which he gets kicked out of and find himself working as a undertaker's helper, from which he runs away. He moves on the London to make a name for himself.

There he meets the Artful Dodger. A kid like himself, he promises to show Oliver around and help him make his mark. Oliver does not realize that Dodger is talking about being a criminal, picking pockets and such, but he is the only person who has been nice to him, so he follows along.

Dodger introduces Oliver to Fagin, an older man that basically takes in children, that have nothing, and makes thieves out of them. Oliver still doesn't get it, he is naive or just stupid, or innocent to a fault, I can't really say but he doesn't know and he is in with the wrong crowd.

Oliver accompanies Dodger on lifting some wallets and it is then, right as Dodger is picking Mr. Brownlow's pocket. Dodger gets away, but Oliver is blamed for stealing the wallet and is caught. At trial, Oliver is eventually exonerated but Fagin and his associate Bill Sikes are paranoid that Oliver will rat them out.

Mr. Brownlow takes Oliver in as he feels bad about the whole thing, and things are looking up for him. But Fagin and Sikes are still worried about Oliver snitching, so they plot to kidnap him. Will they succeed? Will Oliver live happily ever after? Does Mr. Brownlow have more to do with Oliver than he thinks? What will happen to the Artful Dodger? You'll have to watch to find out.