History YMMV / Oliver

* RetroactiveRecognition: Nancy's friend Bet is played by Sheila White, who'd be more recognisable to fans of ''{{Series/Eastenders}}''.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The stage version ends with Fagin's reprise of "Reviewing the Situation", with some implied FridgeHorror at [[spoiler: Oliver's trauma at seeing Nancy and Bill's deaths]]. The film inserts a scene after the song where [[spoiler: Oliver arrives back at the house with Mr Brownlow and hugs Mrs Bedwin]], ending on a decidedly happier note.

** Sikes can sometimes come under this too, particularly in his relationship with Nancy. It can be played as pretty much everything from him truly loving her and killing her more out of grief that she's betrayed him than outright anger, to being fairly disinterested in her and tolerating her presence for as long as she worships him.

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Due to the musical playing around with Fagin's character in ways that both make him more likable and also harder to figure out, he's one of the favourite characters.
** Nancy too if you want to get technical. She doesn't appear for a good while but gets some of the best songs, and [[spoiler: a memorably horrific death]] - so she's treated like the female lead when she's just a supporting character.

* WhatAnIdiot:
** Twice he gets in big trouble because he just stands there like a deer in headlights - first when Dodger and Charlie pick Mr. Brownlow's pocket, then later when he accidentally knocks something over in a house he's trying to rob and he just stands there until the lights come on upstairs.
** Arguably Fagin and Dodger suffer this as well when they allow Oliver to "go to work" when he's been with them less than 24 hours and is clearly still far too honest and naive to be ready to pick pockets. (This is mainly due to AdaptationDistillation since in the book, Fagin forbids him from going out for several weeks while he's being trained).

* SpiritualSuccessor: The film (Film/Scrooge(1970)) is this to an extent. The set from Oliver! Was reused for that film, and many of the same people who worked on this film returned to work on Scrooge. The posters for Scrooge even advertised themselves as such.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The film Film/Scrooge(1970) is this to an extent. The set from Oliver! Was reused for that film, and many of the same people who worked on this film returned to work on Scrooge. The posters for Scrooge even advertised themselves as such.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The film ''Film/Scrooge(1970)'' is this to an extent. The set from Oliver! Was reused for that film, and many of the same people who worked on this film returned to work on Scrooge. The posters for Scrooge even advertised themselves as such.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The 1970 film [[Film/Scrooge(1970) Scrooge]] is this to an extent. The set from Oliver! Was reused for that film, and many of the same people who worked on this film returned to work on Scrooge. The posters for Scrooge even advertised themselves as such.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The 1970 film [[Film/Scrooge Scrooge]] is this to an extent. The set from Oliver! Was reused for that film, and many of the same people who worked on this film returned to work on Scrooge. The posters for Scrooge even advertised themselves as such.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The 1970 film Film/Scrooge is this to an extent. The set from Oliver! Was reused for that film, and many of the same people who worked on this film returned to work on Scrooge. The posters for Scrooge even advertised themselves as such.

** Creator/RonMoody's impeccable performance as Fagin was rightfully nominated, but he sadly didn't take home the trophy. He did win the Globe though.

* AwardSnub: As time has gone by, people are left wondering why Shani Wallis wasn't even nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars.
** Ron Moody’s impeccable performance was rightfully nominated, but he sadly didn’t take home the trophy. He did win the Globe though.
** Oliver Reed’s chilling work went unnoticed.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment:
** The song "I Shall Scream". While it can be pretty funny, it has absolutely no bearing on the plot. Rather fittingly, it's left out of the 1968 movie version. It establishes a romance between Mr. Bumble and Ms. Corney, which is referenced later during ''one scene'' in the second act, and is thematically important: the Bumbles are evil, selfish people, and thus they make each other miserable rather than happy.
** Cleverly subverted with "Oom Pah Pah". Upon first viewing, it's just a merry drinking song to get everyone in a good mood and doesn't appear to have any bearing on the plot. Then Sikes comes in and Nancy uses it as a diversion.

** Good grief, Fagin. FAGIN. How do we properly trope him? He's cast in this adaption in a much lighter and comedical tone. But the lovable rogue's character bounces ''all over the place''. One minute he's fun and endearing, the next mentally unhinged, if anyone stumbles upon his secret horde. He gives the orphaned children of London a home, and teaches them how to survive, whereas the alternative is begging on the streets or ending up in the Workhouse. But despite the wealth he's accumulated, doesn't do much to improve theirs (or indeed his own) squalid living conditions.

* CantUnHearIt: Creator/RonMoody as Fagin, Creator/OliverReed as Bill Sikes, Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger to name a few.
* FightSceneFailure: When Bill hits Nancy, Oliver Reed is showing visible restraint and the slap doesn't properly connect. The sound effect is also clearly dubbed in.

** Fagin giving the children gin can be a little sad to watch with the knowledge of Jack Wild's alcohol problems as he grew older - resulting in throat surgery due to the damage.

* HilariousInHindsight: Casting Oliver Reed as the drunken lout Bill Sikes was incredibly meta, given his legendary status as a member of the hard drinking foursome of British actors (along with Peter O'Toole, Richard Harris and Richard Burton).

* UnpopularPopularCharacter: Many lovers of the film feel Ron Moody's performance as the scoundrel Fagin, is the best adaptation of the character ever, and unmatched.

* CompleteMonster: Bill Sykes.

* HarsherInHindsight: Fagin giving the children gin can be a little sad to watch with the knowledge of Jack Wild's alcohol problems as he grew older - resulting in throat surgery due to the damage.

* CantUnHearIt: Creator/RonMoody as Fagin, Creator/OliverReed as Bill Sikes, Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger to name a

* EarWorm:
** Sing it with us now - "consider yourself..."
** "It's a Fine Life" despite being incredibly dark when you think about it, is still ferociously catchy.
** "Oom Pah Pah" tends to get stuck in the brain for an extended period too.

** The song "I Shall Scream". While it can be pretty funny, it has absolutely no bearing on the plot. Rather fittingly, it's left out of the 1968 movie version.
*** It establishes a romance between Mr. Bumble and Ms. Corney, which is referenced later during ''one scene'' in the second act, and is thematically important: the Bumbles are evil, selfish people, and thus they make each other miserable rather than happy.

* OneSceneWonder: Noah Claypool only gets one scene, as opposed to his long and loathsome presence in the book. However, he avoids being DemotedToExtra via making quite an impression during his brief time on stage.

** Cleverly subverted with "Oom Pah Pah". Upon first viewing, it's just a merry drinking song to get everyone in a good mood and doesn't appear to have any bearing on the plot. Then Sikes comes in...

few.

* CantUnHearIt: Creator/RonMoody as Fagin, Creator/OliverReed as Bill Sikes, Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger to name a few.

* EarWorm:
** "That's Your Funeral" if you don't think that's an ear worm.
** "Food Glorious Food"
** "Oliver, never before has a boy wanted more."
** "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two"
** "Reviewing the Situation" to a lesser extent.
** "Consider Yourself One of Us"
** "Oom pah pah" that's how it goes
** "Who Will Buy?"
** Most of the songs apart from the more depressing ones such as "Where is love?" and "As long as he need me".

* TheWoobie:
** Oliver.
** Nancy.

* ChaoticNeutral: Fagin technically qualifies. Though he works for NeutralEvil Bill Sikes, his role as a leader of thieves is mostly to steal for survival. Ron Moody arguably portrays Fagin's conniving ways most famously.