Oliver Reed MacDonald Fraser. Reed had an uncredited bit-part in Russell's "Mahler" (1974), was the lead in "Blue Blood" (1973) and "And Then There Were None" (1974), produced by Harry Alan Towers. His next project with Ken Russell was "Tommy", based on The Who's 1969 concept album "Tommy" and starring its lead singer Roger Daltrey. "Royal Flash" (1975) reunited him with Richard Lester and George MacDonald Fraser, playing Otto von Bismarck. He had a cameo in Russell's "Lisztomania" (1975). Reed appeared in "The New Spartans" (1975) then acted alongside Karen Black, Bette Davis, and Burgess Meredith in the Dan Curtis horror film
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