(1968)

Submitted by Mark

Academy Award – BEST PICTURE – 1968
POOPER:
Fagan gets busted, his evil henchman is accidently hanged while running from the police.
Oliver Twist is found by his grandfather, who’s loaded.
The rest of Fagan’s boys go dancing off into destitution.


LONGER VERSION: (Submitted by Dan)
The movie opens with a young orphan named Oliver Twist (Mark Lester) living in a Victorian-era workhouse. After daring to ask for more gruel, he is sold as an apprentice to an undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry (Leonard Rossiter), but runs away to London after facing cruelty. In London, he encounters the Artful Dodger (Jack Wild), who introduces him to Fagin (Ron Moody), a criminal who trains children to pickpocket. Oliver is mistakenly arrested for theft but is rescued by the kind Mr. Brownlow (Joseph O’Conor), who offers him a home. However, Fagin and his associate Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed), along with Sikes’ girlfriend Nancy (Shani Wallis), recapture Oliver to prevent him from revealing their criminal activities. Nancy, feeling sympathy for Oliver, attempts to help him escape but is killed by Sikes when he misinterprets her actions as betrayal.
The climax sees Sikes on the run, taking Oliver hostage to escape the mob’s wrath after Nancy’s murder. In the chaos, Sikes accidentally hangs himself while trying to flee across rooftops. Meanwhile, Fagin’s gang is apprehended. Oliver is eventually reunited with Mr. Brownlow, who discovers that Oliver is his grandson. The film ends with Oliver finding a loving home with Mr. Brownlow, concluding his journey from hardship to happiness.

Academy Awards:
Won:
Best Picture
Best Director (Carol Reed)
Best Art Direction
Best Score of a Musical Picture – Original or Adaptation
Best Sound
Honorary Award (Onna White for Choreography)

Nominated:
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Ron Moody)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jack Wild)
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Costume Design