Analysis of Oliver - 1968 - Carol Reed

Oliver was released in 1968. The target audience for this film would be around the same as Annie, because they are very similar films, with children involved and orphanage and them finding a happy home and ending. The use of language is simple and quite common, this shows the lower class status that is shown throughout the film. The visual style is very time period, it is obvious that it is not a modern film, the costume emphasizes this and the class status of them.

The structure of this film is Linear Narrative, this is so children can follow the film and not get confused and it makes the story simpler. The exposition of the film is when the orphanage is shown and allows the audience to see that it is not in very good state, and after Oliver ask for more food he gets sold to a horrible family and he then runs away to london. He becomes a pickpocket for Fagin, who is looking after him, and then he tries to rob a man but he gets caught and the old man recognises his eyes, as his mothers and wants to take care of him. He goes and stays with him and then Bill Sykes kidnaps him and takes him back to Fagin. The climax begins when Nancy starts to fall out with Bill over what he does to Oliver, and then Nancy goes to The Magistrate and tells him he’s been kidnapped, meanwhile Bill is using Oliver on one of his ‘jobs’, which involves robbing a house. Nancy tries to get him to The Magistrate, but Bill follows him and gets angry and kills Nancy. The resolution to this is that the police follow bill and because he doesn’t go in peace, he gets shot. Then Oliver goes back to The Magistrate and lives happily ever after.

The scene that I am focusing on, is where Oliver shows his ‘love’ for his new surroundings, as he doesn’t actually say he loves it, it is something that is easily picked up on by the audience, through the way that he has a mesmerizing look on his face and genuinely seems the happiest he has been. The settings that surround him are very posh and of a higher class, everything is white which gives off the impression of an angelic place. The whiteness makes it seem that much brighter, all the the colours seem to be exaggerated i.e the grass looks greener then it should. This would make the audience feel the same as oliver because they would be responding to the bright colours themselves. Oliver in this scene is wearing a white night gown which is very formal in comparison to his rags at the start of the film.; Also his night gown is white which goes with he room and surroundings. The camera angles in this scene vary quite a lot using both wide shots as well as close ups. The close ups allows the audience to see the facial expressions on Oliver’s face which is the main indicator as to how he feels, the wide shots show the surroundings and the bright colours which set the scene. Editing techniques in this scene are kept to a minimal because the scene is very busy with people and colours so there wasn’t much need. This music is very loud and fast paced, it also contains noises such as bird calls to help set the scene. This represents Oliver’s inner emotions and when used in conjunction with Oliver’s facial expressions it perfectly shows the audience exactly how Oliver is feeling.

One of the most prominent themes in this film is identity. Oliver doesn’t know who he is and can’t seem to fit in any situation he’s put in; the work house and Fagin’s den. Although when Oliver is taken in by the magistrate he seems his happiest and it shows him feeling more comfortable being there than anywhere else. This represents, like Annie, the difference in the class structure during the 20th century, it also helps show how some people were forced to live or what lives people where forced to lead in the time the film was set. The non stop drama and the constant change of scenery kept audiences interested, also the interesting take on adult themes such as theft would keep people of all ages involved in the film.