This is part of my series “Thoughts on Disney movies,” where I’ve gone back to watch all of the animated Disney features, starting with Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, and then share my thoughts on the blog.
Highlights: There are a lot of reasons why this film is a personal favorite of mine. As a kid I was obsessed with the musical Oliver! (I played the Artful Dodger when I was in middle school), and I loved the novel Oliver Twist. This movie is very loosely based on that story. It’s also got an adorable cat, and it’s the Disney film of my birth year. Oh, and Billy Joel music – did I mention I grew up on Long Island?
Low Points: There are a lot of interesting characters, but I didn’t feel like we got to know all of them as well as I would have liked to. It also has one of those crazy, unbelievable endings. Not that that’s always a bad thing, you just have to be prepared for it.
Music: There is one really excellent song in this movie, and it’s Billy Joel singing “Why Should I Worry?” The only other one that stands out is the simple and sweet “Good Company,” sung by Jenny as she is practicing piano. Georgette has a song as well, though that one is pretty over the top. The opening number “Once Upon a time in New York City” is a decent one to start things off. Overall there is one really good song from this movie, and a few others that are okay.
Villain: Sykes is the main bad guy here, and he’s a pretty stereotypical villain. He’s dark and shady, conducting some sort of evil business in a creepy place. He doesn’t have much of a unique personality though, making him less interesting than some other Disney villains. We also don’t see too much of him throughout the movie until the end, which means that although evil is a presence throughout the film, it’s not neccesarily related back to him all that well. Fagin is a much more interesting “villain” in that I really wouldn’t call him a villain at all. He’s more of just a scared, pathetic guy who does bad things because he doesn’t see any other options. But his change of heart toward the end of poignant and sweet.
Fun Fact: Roy E. Disney had originally suggested a plot line where Fagin was attempting to steal a rare panda from the city zoo. It was ultimately cut because they couldn’t make it work. Sounds like it would have been pretty crazy and random if they had tried to keep it in the film!
Where in the World: There are really no connections to Oliver and Company in Disney World that I know of. Let me know if you find any!
My rating: 8 out of 10. I love the story done with animals. And the music is pretty good, though I think it could be stronger – if you’ve got Billy Joel on your project give him more than one song!
Eh, I’m not really a fan of this movie. I don’t even like that ‘Why Should I Worry’ song. I much prefer ‘Good Company’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in New York City’.
You were the Artful Dodger? Awesome! I didn’t know they let girls play that part. My dream is to play Fagin one day! On Broadway, in an alley, in my living room in front of nobody, I don’t care how, I just wanna play him!
I was! I think when you’re about 12 years old the difference between a boy and a girl is not all that apparent yet so it didn’t matter 😉 I just stuck my hair under a cap haha. Fagin would be awesome part to play. Now it’s my dream to be Nancy one day.
Nice! Did you put on a Cockney accent when you played the Artful Dodger or used your regular voice?
I had to use my regular voice – since we were kids they wouldn’t let us use accents even though I wanted to! I guess they thought we weren’t good enough at it haha
I saw this again recently (desperately trying to encourage my toddler to watch a film that ISN’T FROZEN!) My first thought is it is sooo 80’s. I like the kitty though. It’s sad that there is no reference to this film anywhere in the parks.
Haha, it is pretty 80’s! Anything with a cat is always a plus in my book though. I wish there was more Oliver merchandise around too, he’s so cute!
This makes me want to get the DVD and watch it with my animal loving toddlers! And I’m totally going to have that billy joel song in my head now 🙂
I hope your toddlers enjoy it too!
I thought this was such a cute movie! I can’t edit to watch all these again with my kids!
It’s so interesting to see some of the older Disney movies through the eyes of a child!
I love Disney movies! My perfect day is curling up with hot chocolate watching animated movies 😀 I have’t seen this one though. Great write-up and I will definitely check it out. Hope you are having a great day 🙂
Love,
Monika | http://www.palateforstyle.com
That sounds like a pretty perfect day to me too!
If I could sum up Oliver and Company in one sentence, it would be ‘crazy 80’s movie’, and I’d say that as a compliment. This is a fun and slightly nutty movie with a good soundtrack, even if it could stand to be ten minutes longer. In fact, both Oliver and Company and The Little Mermaid made their way onto my top 10 Disney Canon films list, so I guess I’m fond of late-80’s Disney. 🙂
Haha, I’d say that’s a pretty good way to sum it up! It definitely has some craziness in it.
I loved this nostalgic post, especially the Oliver Twist Artful Dodger reference – I’m a high school teacher and just taught Oliver Twist! ; )
Aww that’s so great! I love the book too 🙂
Aww, I always thought this movie was underrated! So cute. And HELLO?? Why didn’t Billy Joel have more singing time?? Agreed, his song is the best.
I agree, I don’t think it gets all the love it deserves!
I remember watching this ALL of the time when I was little–I LOVED the music! 🙂 🙂
Me too! I have Why Should I Worry on my running playlist too so I hear it all the time 🙂
OMG I haven’t seen this movie in sooo long! I can’t wait to have kiddies so I can watch old Disney movies again!
Haha, I don’t have kids and I still go back and watch them!
I LOOOOVE this movie! I’m a self-proclaimed 80s child so this movie is my childhood. And I love the entire soundtrack! Billy Joel is the best, but I honestly love all of them!
Yes, for some reason it’s always been really special to me too!