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 (1916 film) Oliver Twist (1916 film) Oliver Twist is a lost 1916 silent film drama produced by Jesse Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by James Young. It is based on the famous novel, "Oliver Twist", by Charles Dickens and the 1912 Broadway stage version of the novel. Marie Doro had played "Oliver" on Broadway in 1912 to much acclaim and was brought in by Lasky to reprise her role in this film. In fact, the main reason this film was made was to showcase Doro rather than Dickens. In the play, the parts of Nancy, Fagin and Bill