London theatre programme
Playbill
UK Quad.
Artwork Howard Terpning
US 1 Sheet
World premiere programme |
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As "Oliver!" attains the great
dimensions of the cinema screen and thus achieves immortality, far more
than the transfer of a long run, internationally-acclaimed stage
success is involved. There is a triumph of another nature. For when
Lionel Bart undertook to translate Charles Dickens' classic "Oliver
Twist" into terms of modern musical theatre, he was creating a grand
climax to a tradition. With "Oliver!" Dickens joins Shakespeare and
Bernard Shaw as a prime source for our musical entertainment. ("West
Side Story" came out of "Romeo & Juliet" as, earlier, "Kiss me Kate" had
emerged from Bard's "The Taming of the Shrew;" "My Fair Lady" had its
origin in Shaw's "Pygmalion.") Bart had been enchanted by the special
blend of innocence and sophistication in Dickens' novel, and inspired by its extraordinary
scope, for the drama unfolds against the spectacular and sharply
contrasting backgrounds of both the poor and elegant in 19th century
London.
Bart's new musical began its smash-hit career 1st July
1960 at the New Theatre in London's west end and for six years,
audiences there continued to take it to their hearts. David (42nd
Street) Merrick produced it on Broadway in 1963, and for almost four
years "Oliver!" captivated theatregoers in New York and on tour
throughout the United States. At the same time, it was being produced
wherever English is spoken, and in many lands where it is not-most
notably in Japan.
Producer John Woolf, once the screen rights had been
obtained knew immediately that "Oliver!" would be the biggest musical
ever undertaken in Britain (a local which he felt was practically
dictated by the nature of the subject). It would far transcend such
films as his own "Moulin Rouge" and "The African Queen," not to mention
others which had made his name synonymous with distinguished
entertainment. So he entrusted this new, impressive assignment to as a
celebrated a team of talents as he could find: Carol Reed, director;
John Green, music director: Onna White, choreographer; John Box,
designer: Vernon Harris, writer of the screen play; Oswald Morris,
director of photography; and, at the head of very large and luminous
cast, Ron Moody, Oliver Reed, Harry Secombe, Shani Wallis, Mark Lester, Jack Wild,
and of course Butch the bull dog as Bullseye.
This was to be more than "a big picture." The
timelessness of its theme, its depth of story and character, its
richness of song and dance, its evocation of an era, all demanded
painstaking devotion, over a long production period. The original stage
presentation had to be "opened up," so that the movie camera might do
justice to its several hundred performers amid new colourful settings;
and so that 110 musicians, and scores of singers, and the magic of sound
engineering might give new dimensions to its music. But it had to be
expanded by the addition of far more dancing than the limited confines
of the stage had permitted.
A crew of 350 built the astonishing sets, and symbolic
of their scope may be these random examples of the materials used: 110
tons of scaffolding; 10 tons of nails and screws: 1000 cobblestone slabs
to recreate roadways of long ago; 1000 gallons of mixed paints.
But cold statistics can convey no sense of the warmth, dedication and
"heart" of the vivid life and crowded panorama which so many talents
joined forces to create.
On the 23 June 1967 producer John Woof and
director Carol Reed gathered the team and the movie camera's turned for
the first time to immortalize "Oliver!" for ever on film, at Shepperton
film studios in Surry, England. Then over 15 months later
"Oliver!" had its world premiere on Thursday 26 September 1968 at
the Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square, London, England in the presence of
Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret."Oliver!" opened to the general
public at the same venue on Friday 27 September 1968 and ran until,
"Funny Girl" took over from Wednesday 15 January 1969. With the
exception of Monday 16 December 1968 when "Oliver!" made way for the
premiere of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".. As for the rest....
well ...Who could have
possibly asked for more?
"Oliver!" Technical information:
"UK" cinema release 70mm roadshow prints with 6-track-magnetic stereo sound
(blow-up from 35mm film)
certificate "U" running time: 02 hours. 25 minutes. 45 seconds. 1st half
runs: 82 minutes. 55 seconds. 2nd half runs: 62 minutes. 50 seconds. In
addition play-in music: 03 minutes.13 seconds. 2nd half play-in music: 02 minutes. 45 seconds. Ending with
play-out music: 01 minute. 03 seconds. General release prints were also
produced in 35mm Cinemascope picture format in both
4-track stereo and mono optical sound prints. "Oliver!" was originally
filmed on 35mm film stock in 2.35:1 picture aspect ratio, colour by
Technicolor, with a 4-track-magnetic stereo sound mix
by Westrex Recording System. "Oliver!" was a Romulus Films Production,
in association with Warwick Film Productions Ltd, and distributed
worldwide by Columbia Pictures. Please kindly note: all running times are
approximate and refer to "UK" cinema release prints...
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"Oliver!" Much, much more than a musical!
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