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Parents' Guide to

Oliver!

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Glorious musical based on Dickens' Oliver Twist.

Movie G 1968 153 minutes
Oliver! Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 11+

Based on 19 parent reviews

Mabel M.
Mabel M. Adult
September 25, 2016
age 12+

WARNING . Extreme Violence

Beware. The G rating is totally incongruous with the content of this movie. I've just put a completely traumatized 6 year old to bed after being completely blindsided by the violence depicted in the closing scenes of this Oscar winning family classic. Shame on me for not glancing at the parent reviews on Common Sense before making this selection. Initially, the narrative of poverty, workhouses, and the criminal underworld of children depicted in Dickensian London were juxtaposed against a phenomenally punchy musical score. My children (6&10) were relishing the dancing and song, even with my frequent interjection about the period and social injustice depicted. I explained that the story was written as a harsh social commentary, not a musical, over a hundred years ago. I thought I had a handle on the story, but my God, how the tone and narrative unravel in the most harrowing way in the last 20 minutes! .The brutal murder of the innocent, protective heroine Nancy, was sickening. I did not quite have time to shield my child from the brutality onscreen. My youngest is not able to wrap words around his experience, but admitted being " surprised, and scared, and sad that that man got so mad and hurt Nancy" ( with a crowbar folks, for returning a child to safety. We see the death rattle shutter through her legs. Horrific.). DO NOT allow your young child to watch the final sequence. You will find it hard to forgive yourself. Shame the Census Board for the G rating, but especially Common Sense Media for a deceptive review which mentions nothing of the violence inherent in this film. Sickening....
Myrtle2
Myrtle2 Parent
August 2, 2016
age 13+

This movie is NOT good for 8-year-olds, contrary to this Common Sense Media reviewer's opinion

While the musical numbers and many of the scenes are enjoyable, as others have mentioned, the beating and the dead person hanging make this movie only appropriate for older kids. This was on during a party we attended, and thankfully my 9-year-old daughter missed the scene with the beating, but she caught the dead person hanging, and was pretty disturbed.
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, OLIVER! (an Oscar-winner for Best Picture) centers on young Oliver (Mark Lester), an orphan who so outrages the orphanage staff by asking for a second bowl of gruel that he's sold to undertaker Mr. Sowerberry as an apprentice. He runs away from the abuse and meets charming rapscallion Artful Dodger (Jack Wild). Dodger is part of a gang of child pickpockets led by Fagin (Ron Moody), who takes young Oliver in as his new apprentice thief. Oliver is arrested for picking the pocket of wealthy Mr. Brownlow, who takes an interest in him and brings him home. Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed), a murderous thief who works with Fagin, kidnaps Oliver to prevent him from giving away the details of their enterprise. Bill kills his girlfriend, Nancy, when she tries to help Oliver escape. Bill himself is killed, and Oliver is returned to Mr. Brownlow, who turns out to be his uncle.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (19 ):

With many truly glorious songs and stellar performances, this 1968 film version of the Broadway musical earned six Oscars. Although young Oliver is truly alone in the beginning of the film, Fagin and the boys give him a sense of family, singing warmly to him that he's to "consider yourself one of us!" They're the first to see him as an individual instead of as a troublesome animal, and the first to give him any affection.

On the less warm-and-fuzzy side, there are some truly nefarious adult characters in Oliver!. Bill Sikes is entirely amoral, willing to do anything to further his own interests. Orphanage manager Mr. Bumble and undertaker Mr. Sowerberry, both considered by themselves and those around them to be sterling, law-abiding citizens, aren't much better. Like Bill, they have no compunctions about putting their own interests first, no matter what the cost is to others. But Nancy and Fagin have limits. They'll engage in small crimes, but have some sense of fundamental integrity.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the power of Charles Dickens' storytelling in Oliver!. What is it about his stories from the 1800s that make them remain popular today, and so adaptable for plays, movies, and musicals?

  • How does music help tell the story in this film adaptation?

  • Oliver wants someone to "buy" his happy moment and save it for him. If you could pick a day to have saved that way, what day would you choose?

  • How do the characters in Oliver! demonstrate gratitude and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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