Oliver!

In the foggy streets of Victorian-era London, a young orphan boy named Oliver Twist is born in a workhouse, a grim reminder of the harsh realities of life for the destitute. Left an orphan at birth, Oliver is raised alongside numerous other children in the workhouse, where they are given little more than meager rations and a constant reminder of their pitiful existence. The poor conditions and bleak outlook for the workhouse children leave little to be desired, and Oliver soon finds himself at a crossroads, forced to decide his fate. As the years pass, Oliver is forced to endure the hardships of the workhouse, where the harsh conditions take their toll on the young boy. Eventually, the kindly Mrs. Mann, the workhouse caretaker, intervenes on Oliver's behalf and sends him to a local brewery to be apprenticed as a water boy. However, Oliver's brief respite is short-lived as he soon finds himself struggling to cope with the cruel treatment meted out by the brewery staff, who delight in taking advantage of the young boy's innocence. Craving a better life and fleeing the cruelty he faces, Oliver runs away from the brewery and takes to the streets, where he encounters a group of rough-around-the-edges boys led by the charismatic Artful Dodger. The Dodger, with his quick wit and easy charm, takes a liking to the young Oliver and convinces him to join their gang. Unbeknownst to Oliver, the Artful Dodger and his cohorts are pickpockets and thieves, trained by the cunning and ruthless Fagin, a master of the art of thievery. Fagin, an elderly man with a sinister air about him, recognizes the potential in Oliver and begins to teach the young boy the art of pickpocketing. Initially hesitant, Oliver soon finds himself caught up in the world of crime, where he is initiated into the dark and sinister world of Fagin's gang. The gang's operations are a well-oiled machine, with each member playing a specific role in the game of deception and thievery. As Oliver becomes more entrenched in the lifestyle of the gang, he catches the eye of the cruel and sadistic Bill Sikes, a ruthless thug who rules the gang with an iron fist. Sikes is a formidable adversary, with a quick temper and a penchant for violence. His relationship with Fagin is complicated, to say the least, as the two men find themselves bound together by their mutual interests, even as their personalities clash. Despite his involvement in the world of crime, Oliver finds solace in the company of Rose Maylie, a beautiful and kind-hearted young woman who takes a liking to the young orphan. Rose, along with her mother and her loyal servant, Nancy, take Oliver under their wing and provide him with a sense of belonging and love that he has never known before. As tensions within the gang begin to rise, Oliver finds himself caught in the middle. Fagin's obsession with the gang's operations knows no bounds, and he becomes increasingly paranoid as the authorities close in on them. Meanwhile, Nancy, who has taken a maternal interest in Oliver, confides in him that she plans to leave the gang and start a new life. Unbeknownst to Oliver, Nancy's decision would ultimately seal her fate and lead to her tragic demise. The story takes a dark turn as Bill Sikes becomes increasingly unstable, and his violent tendencies put the entire gang in jeopardy. Fagin, desperate to salvage the situation, orders the gang to pull off one final heist to secure their future. However, things do not go as planned, and the gang is caught by the authorities in a daring raid. In the ensuing chaos, Nancy is killed by Bill Sikes, who in his rage, shoots her point-blank. The tragic events that unfold serve as a turning point for Oliver, who finally sees the error of his ways and realizes that the world he has known is built on a lie. He finds solace in the words of the kindly Rose, who takes him in and provides him with a new sense of purpose and belonging. As Oliver begins to rebuild his life, Fagin and his cohorts are brought to justice, and the once-orphed boy finds himself finally at peace. The musical adaptation of Oliver Twist, brought to screen by the visionary director Carol Reed, captures the gritty and realistic world of Dickens's classic tale with unflinching honesty. The film stars Oliver Twist's iconic performance by Ron Moody as Fagin, and his memorable rendition of the hit song "Consider Yourself" has become an indelible part of popular culture. With its haunting score and poignant performances, Oliver Twist is a timeless tale that continues to captivate audiences to this day.