the great cinematic musical be make between 1950 and 1970. this twenty year spell can be rightly label the “ golden era ” of the genre . there be musical prior to that and and there have be musical since… but the true classic seem invariably to have be make during that period . singin ’ in the rain and an american in paris and the band wagon and seven bride for seven brother and oklahoma and south pacific and the king and i and and many more and stand tall a much cherish product of the age . perhaps the last great musical of the “ golden era ” be carol reed ’ s 1968 “ oliver ” . freely adapt from dickens ’ novel and this vibrant musical be a film version of a successful stage production . it be a magnificent film and winner of six oscar and include the best picture award . orphan oliver twist ( mark lester ) live a miserable existence in a workhouse and his mother have die moment after give birth to him . follow an incident one meal time and he be boot out of the workhouse and end up employ at a funeral parlour . but oliver doesn ’ t settle particularly well into his new job and and escape after a few troubled day . he make the long journey to london where he hop to seek his fortune . oliver be take under the wing of a child pickpocket call the artful dodger ( jack wild ) who in turn work for fagin ( ron moody ) and an elderly crook in charge of a gang of child thief . despite the unlawful nature of the job and oliver find good friend among his new “ family ” . he also make the acquaintance of nancy ( shani wallis ) and girlfriend of the cruellest and most feared thief of them all and the menacing bill sikes ( oliver reed ) . after many adventure and oliver discovers his true ancestry and find that he be actually from a rich and well to do background . but his chance of be reunite with his real family be jeopardise when bill sikes forcibly exploit oliver and make him an accomplice in some particularly risky and ambitious robbery . “ oliver ” be a brilliantly assemble film and consistently please to the eye and excellently act by it talented cast . moody recreate his stage role with considerable verve and steal the film from the youngster with his energetic performance a fagin . lester and wild do well too a the young pickpocket and while wallis enthusiastically flesh out the nancy role and reed generates genuine despicableness a sikes . the musical number be stag with incredible precision and sense of spectacle – onna white ’ s oscar win choreography help make the song and dance set piece so memorable and but the lively performer and the skillful direction of carol reed also play their part . the unforgettable tune include “ food glorious food ” and “ consider yourself ” and “ you ’ ve get to pick a pocket or two ” and “ i ’ d do anything ” and “ oom pah pah ” – all immensely catchy song and conveyed via very well put together sequence . the film be a thoroughly entertaining experience and never really lose momentum over it entire 153 minute duration . sit back and enjoy .