The Brigham Young University Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series presents "Oliver!" Thursday, April 29, at 7 p.m. in the Harold B. Lee Library auditorium.
Admission is free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and patrons are advised to arrive early for assured seating. Seating is limited. No food or drink is permitted in the auditorium and children 8 and older are welcome.
The 1968 musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel "Oliver Twist" was the winner of six Academy Awards including best picture and best musical score. Choreographer Onna White received a special Oscar for her fine work on big production numbers in the film, including "Consider Yourself" and "Who Will Buy?"
Taken from the 1960 London stage musical by Lionel Bart, "Oliver!" follows the 9-year-old runaway orphan Oliver Twist in 19th-century London.
The title role went to 8-year-old Mark Lester, and the key role of Fagin was realized by Ron Moody, who played him in more than 2,000 performances in London. Oliver Reed, nephew of the film's director Carol Reed, was cast to play Bill Sikes.
"Oliver!" will be presented in its original wide-screen Panavision format preserving the full scope of the elaborate production numbers.
"This is a rare opportunity to see this genuinely big motion picture on a theatrical screen in its original aspect ratio," said James D'Arc, curator of the Special Collections Motion Picture Archives and director of the film series. "The uncut version we will show is identical to that presented during 'Oliver!'s' roadshow engagements, complete with a 15-minute intermission."
The Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series, now in its fifth year, shows films from its large collection acquired by L. Tom Perry Special Collections.
The series is co-sponsored by Friends of the Harold B. Lee Library and by Dennis and Linda Gibson.
For more information, visit sc.lib.byu.edu.
