‘Oliver!’ is 50 years old

Oliver! was premiered for the first time, on this day in 1968. The musical drama film directed by Carol Reed and based on the stage musical of the same name, with book, music and lyrics written by Lionel Bart. The screenplay was written by Vernon Harris.  Both the film and play are based on Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist.

The film includes such musical numbers as “Food, Glorious Food”, “Consider Yourself”, “As Long as He Needs Me”, “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two”, and “Where Is Love?”. Filmed in Shepperton Film Studio in Surrey, the film was a Romulus Films production and was distributed internationally by Columbia Pictures.

At the 41st Academy Awards for 1968, Oliver! was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won six, including Best Picture, Best Director for Reed, and an Honorary Award for choreographer Onna White. At the 26th Golden Globe Awards, the film won two Golden Globes: for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for Ron Moody.