Oliver! (film) in the United States, and Oliver Reed, who played Bill Sikes, had just begun to make a name for himself. Producer John Woolf suggested Oliver Reed for the role to the director Reed, without knowing that the two were in fact related. Ron Moody, who was also well known in Britain but not the US, recreated his London stage performance, after Peter Sellers, Dick Van Dyke and Peter O'Toole reportedly turned down the role. Elizabeth Taylor turned down the role of Nancy as well. Julie Andrews was also considered. Director Reed also had Shirley Bassey in mind, but his choice
Oliver Twist (1933 film) Oliver Twist (1933 film) Oliver Twist is a 1933 American pre-Code film directed by William J. Cowen. It is the earliest sound version of Charles Dickens's novel of the same name. It stars Dickie Moore as Oliver, Irving Pichel as Fagin, Doris Lloyd as Nancy, and William "Stage" Boyd as Bill Sikes. Pichel played Fagin without resorting to any mannerisms which could be construed as offensive. Released by Monogram Pictures, the film was made on an extremely low budget. It never really achieved much success and was out of circulation for many years, but resurfaced on television in the 1980s.