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
Archie Sykes Archie Sykes Archibald J. Sykes (24 September 1866 – 26 August 1957) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL), and was involved in the club's 1897 premiership win. Sykes played for Essendon for seven years in the then VFA in 1889–1890 and 1892-1896, and in 1891, he played for Fremantle in Western Australia. Sykes was involved in three Essendon VFA premierships in 1892-1894. After Essendon joined the new Victorian Football League, Sykes played with the Bombers for one season (1897) where they won the premiership, the fourth of his