OBC of OLIVER! on video

[mikey2573]

Posted: 5/3/18 at 6:47am

Just received a video of a 1962 BBC television production of OLIVER TWIST, done in 8 half hour episodes.  It might be interesting to musical theater fans because, while it is not a musical, it has two cast members playing the same roles they played in the original Broadway production of OLIVER! 

Bruce Prochnik plays Oliver Twist in the TV production, a role he originated in the Broadway musical.  He is also featured on the Broadway cast recording.  Also in the TV show is Willoughby Goddard as Mr. Bumble, a role he created on Broadway as well.  Prochnik is very good as Oliver, a natural on screen and very subdued.  Willoughby, in a much smaller role, makes quite a strong impression, and he is a VERY large actor.  His Bumble is very intimidating. 

I bought the video from Amazon UK so it is in PAL format, but I was able to watch it on my computer.  Does anyone remember seeing the original cast of OLIVER! ? How were these actors? 

 

[jbird5]

Posted: 5/3/18 at 9:43am

There’s a clip of the OBC on the Ed Sullivan Show on YouTube. It was the same night the Beatles were on. Davy Jones played the Artful Dodger and decided he wanted to be a rock star that night.

https://youtu.be/nBPT0IhKUYc

Updated On: 5/3/18 at 09:43 AM

[mikey2573]

Posted: 5/5/18 at 2:30pm

Yes, I have always loved that Ed Sullivan Show performance because it is one of the few films of Jones as Dodger, and Brown as Nancy.  I especially love watching the interchange between Jones and Brown, the way she keeps knocking his hat off and smakcing him in the face, but he just keeps on going.  Looks like they had a very playful rapport on stage .

 I don't think the actor playing Fagin is Clive Revill, but he has very little to do in the video so it is understandable why Revill would not want to participate.  I would love to see a video of his "Reviewing the SItuation". BTW, I was surprised to see that Revill is still alive and his last screen appearance to date was 2016 in THE QUEEN OF SPAIN. 

The kid playing Oliver Twist is named Ronnie Kroll, so Prochnik must have left the show by the time of the broadcast.  OLIVER! opened in January of 1963, and the Sullivan broadcast was in Feb. of 1964, so I am assuming he outgrew the role (he had been playing the role in the London production prior to coming to the states). 

I thought the BBC video would be interesting to see Prochnik's take on Oliver and Willoughby's Mr. Bumble.  It was filmed prior to the Broadway opening of OLIVER! and this version is very faithful to the novel.  It also stars Peter Vaughan from "Game of Thrones" as Bill Sykes