The British movie musical Oliver! was a sensation in 1968, as it became a box office hit and won a staggering six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. After arriving on 4K via the Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 2 in 2021, it is now available as a stand-alone purchase. This is great news as the Oliver! 4K release is much better than the previous Blu-ray release and features a ton of special features that will make you appreciate the landmark musical even more.
“Experience the high-spirited adventures of Oliver Twist in this Oscar-winning musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale! Young Oliver (Mark Lester) is an orphan who escapes the cheerless life of the workhouse and takes to the streets of 19th-Century London. He’s immediately taken in by a band of street urchins, headed by the lovable villain, Fagin (Ron Moody), his fiendish henchman, Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed), and his loyal apprentice, The Artful Dodger (Jack Wild),” says the synopsis. “Through his education in the fine points of pick-pocketing, Oliver makes away with an unexpected treasure… a home and a family of his own. Set to a heartfelt score that includes such favorites as Consider Yourself, Where Is Love? and As Long As He Needs Me, Oliver! leads us on a journey in search of love, belonging and honor among thieves. Winner of six Academy Awards (1968), including Best Picture and Best Score, Oliver! will steal your heart!”
Oliver! is one of the best British films ever made and has aged wonderfully. Director Carol Reed did a wonderful job casting Mark Lester in the titular role, Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger, and Ron Moody as Fagin. Each actor gives the definitive performance of their Oliver Twist characters, and as the film’s tagline says, it is “much, much more than a musical.” Despite the lofty 153-minute runtime (there is fanfare at the start, plus an intermission), it is entertaining from start to finish and never feels like it’s a slog. It also looks phenomenal as the film has been restored from the original camera negative, which provides a sharp image that really highlights the dirty-looking sets. The same can be said for the inclusion of HDR, which helps the film’s colors really pop.
The wonderful songs, which come from Lionel Bart’s 1960 musical of the same name, help with the pacing a lot. They fit in naturally, and there are a number of highlights, such as “Food, Glorious Food,” “As Long As He Needs Me”, and “I’d Do Anything.” These all sound really great with the new Dolby Atmos audio track, which is lively and rich.
Bravo to Sony for doing a great job with the Oliver! 4K special features. Not only is there an audio commentary from film historian Steven C. Smith, who wonderfully contextualizes the impact of the movie, but there’s also a wide array of video bonuses. These include the original screen test of Jack Wild, four featurettes that go over Oliver, Fagin, how the film was made, and the locations it was shot in. There’s also singing and dancing along to several musical numbers, which is especially fun for kids who enjoy the film’s moments but don’t want to sit through the entire movie again.
Oliver! 4K Review: Final Verdict
Sony has done a wonderful job with the Oliver! 4K release. Not only is it one of the best movie musicals ever made, but it also has a ton of bonus features (plus a digital version of the film) that make it an easy recommendation to everyone. This is a tried and true crowd pleaser of a film that has aged wonderfully. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re in for a real treat.
Disclosure: ComingSoon received product from the distributor for our Oliver! 4K review.
