Oliver! (1968) 4k UltraHD Review

Actors: Mark Lester, Ron Moody, Jack Wild, Oliver Reed, Shani Wallis, Harry Secombe, Joseph O'Conor, Hugh Griffith, Peggy Mount, Leonard Rossiter, Hylda Baker, Kenneth Cranham, Megs Jenkins, Sheila White, Wensley Pithey, James Hayter, Elizabeth Knight, Fred Emney, Robert Bartlett, Graham Buttrose, Geoffrey Chandler, Kirk Clugston, Dempsey Cook, Christopher Duff, Nigel Grice, Ronnie Johnson, Nigel Kingsley, Robert Langley, Brian Lloyd, Peter Lock, Clive Moss, Ian Ramsey, Peter Renn, Billy Smith, Kim Smith, Oliver Hancock, Freddie Stead, Raymond Ward and John Watters Director: Carol Reed Screenwriter: Vernon Harris

Charles Dickens wrote some amazing tales during his lifetime. Think about A Tale of two cities, David Copperfield or the holiday classic A Christmas Carol. But in only his second novel he wrote a tale that has and will forever live in our thoughts. Of course I'm talking about the little parish boy Oliver Twist.

Dickens' little orphan boy Oliver's life story has been brought to film and TV well over 20 times. In 1968 Columbia Pictures brought the world an epic musical version of the Oliver Twist in the film Oliver! This Academy Award winning musical is rapidly coming upon its 60th anniversary. Now Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing this film on 4K UltraHD!

Synopsis: Experience the high-spirited adventures of Oliver Twist in this Oscar -winning musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale! Young Oliver (Mark Lester) is an orphan who escapes the cheerless life of the workhouse and takes to the streets of 19th-Century London. He's immediately taken in by a band of street urchins, headed by the lovable villain, Fagin (Ron Moody), his fiendish henchman, Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed), and his loyal apprentice, The Artful Dodger (Jack Wild). Through his education in the fine points of pick-pocketing, Oliver makes away with an unexpected treasure... a home and a family of his own.

I first saw this film as a young kid around Oliver's age. My dad loved musicals, so before I was a teenager I had seen a lifetime of musicals. But very few musicals left the impression on me that Oliver did. 

Oliver runs over 2 and a half hours, but it is so well paced that it doesn't feel near that long. The musical and performances are simply spectacular. With unforgettable songs like, Consider Yourself, Where Is Love? and As Long as He Needs Me. The standout performances have to be Especially Ron Moody, Jack Wild and Oliver himself Mark Lester. 

Oliver won the Academy Award for Best Director for Carol Reed and Best Picture and deservingly so. But you have to think there was a lot of amazing films in 1968. 2001 A Space Odyssey, The Odd Couple, Funny Girl, Bullitt, The Planet of the Apes, The Green Berets, The Lion in Winter, Rosemary's Baby and Yours Mine and Ours. That is some stiff competition. 

Sony has transferred Oliver to 4K in 2160p and presented in 2.35:1 aspect ratio. There are several audio options. An English Dolby Atmos TrueHD 7.1, an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, an English 2 channel Surround DTS-HD Master Audio. There is also the French and Spanish mono audio. Then there is the option for subtitles in English, French and Spanish.

The picture quality of this musical in 4K is simply stunning. I have watched this film many times over my years and yet I can honestly say I feel like I haven't truly seen this film till watching it in UltraHD. The colors are vibrant; the grittiness of the slums and the detail in each scene just blows my mind! 

A simply stunning 4K transfer is not all that this release has going for it. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment added some very nice bonus features to this release. Take a look at what is included.

* NEW! Audio Commentary: Film Historian Steven C. Smith

* NEW! Jack Wild Screen Test 

* Original Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

* Meeting Oliver! 

* Meeting Fagin! 

* The Locations of Oliver! 

* Sing-Alongs: The musical scenes from the film with karaoke-style lyrics presented across the bottom of the screen. Included are Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, Pick a Pocket, I'd Do Anything, Be Back Soon, Who Will Buy?, Reviewing the Situation, and Oom Pah Pah.

* Dance-Alongs: Included, following a disclaimer, are instructions for dancing to Food Glorious Food, I'd Do Anything, and Be Back Soon.

* Dance and Sing-Alongs: Combining, now, singing and dancing for the same songs as from above: Food Glorious Food, I'd Do Anything, and Be Back Soon.

* Trailers

Steven C. Smith's audio commentary is a wonderful listen. He brings so much information to this great musical. Definitely worth your time. I love the addition of the featurettes and the Jack Wild's Screen test. the sing-alongs and Dance-alongs are great bonuses even though most will probably never try these.

In addition to all these on disc bonus features there is the bonus digital copy of Oliver! This digital copy is really nice as you can take the film with you anywhere you go. if you are on a long trip enjoy the great music and performances of Oliver! it will make the time pass, very fast. You can redeem the digital code on Movies Anywhere!

As a person who as a kid was forced to watch musicals and grew to really appreciate them, Oliver is one of the best! And this new 4K UltraHD release is a prefect addition to anyone's musical home video library. So, if you would like to add Oliver to your collection head over to Amazon or Physical Media Land and order your copy today! 


Out of 4 Films Reels (4 being the best) the 4K of Oliver! receives.....