Rare vinyl radio recording made towards the end of shooting the british film musical OLIVER! Actress Shani Wallis shares her thoughts and emotions about the project, getting the role, her cast members and director Carol Reed.
The warm heart at the center of Oliver: Shani Wallis. Ron Moody said she was exactly what you saw: energetic, cheerful, happy, and when the cameras weren't rolling, she did indeed mother the kids.
Jack Wild was wonderful in this film. Although he had some success afterwards it didn’t last long enough. Alcoholism brought him low but he never blamed anyone else for his downfall. He was a very decent, honest and talented man.
"Oliver!" is a perfect example of a movie which puts the right actors in the film, not "big" names. The first time I saw an ad for "Oliver!" I recognized only five names in the ad: Columbia Pictures, the American distributor, Sir Carol Reed, the director, John Green, the musical director, Onna White, the choreographer and High Griffith, who had a wonderful little role as The Magistrate. But who was Shani Wallis, Ron Moody, Mark Lester and Jack Wild? I found out. It may have been one of the most perfectly cast films of all time.
@@JackAShepherd They are thinking of using Adele as Nancy. I always felt Robbie Williams looked like a young Oliver Reed because of his blue eyes, I hope he isn`t going to play Sykes though.
This excellent documentary with the very beautiful, very talented, very versatile singer, actress, dancer, entertainer, performer and person Shani Wallis talking about playing the role of Nancy in the classic 1968 movie Oliver! is priceless! I have always loved Shani Wallis! No one else could have played Nancy except Shani Wallis! The role belongs only to her! The other people who were considered for the role of Nancy would have been a major catastrophe! Nancy is a very important character in Oliver! Nancy is a major lead role! The movie was perfectly cast! Mark Lester is an excellent actor but was not a singer. Mark Lester's singing had to be dubbed! The girl who dubbed for actor Mark Lester's singing really didn't have a strong enough or pretty enough voice in my opinion. The director and producer should have had one of the other male child actors from the workhouse or one of Fagin's boys do Mark Lester's singing for him. Everyone else in the movie had beautiful and or pretty, strong singing voices. Shani Wallis has never received the accolades and the recognition she deserves! It should be Dame Shani Wallis! I was born in 1978 in the United States. Shani Wallis should have received the Golden Globe Award, the BAFFTA Award, the Academy Award and all the other Awards for best actress for her brilliant portrayal of Nancy in the classic, excellent, fantastic, terrific, wonderful 1968 movie Oliver! The 1968 classic movie Oliver! is one of my favorite movies of all time! Thank you so much for posting and sharing this delightful and excellent documentary with the beautiful illustrations, storyboards, photo and Shani Wallis talking about the movie in 1968!
Nobody loves this film as much as me it's sad but I must watch it every day 💛 I Love Jack Wild sooo much and he is my fave charectar but she is close first
These kinds of discs, "canned interviews," were common in the 60s. They were sent free to radio stations with printed questions so that local on-air personalities could be heard "interviewing" Hollywood stars publicizing their latest films. I've heard them for FINIAN'S RAINBOW, GOODBYE MR. CHIPS, several Alfred Hitchcock-directed movies, Doris Day movies, and others. This one is great to hear. Thanks so much for posting.
Oliver is one of my favourite musicals of all time, it is always interesting to see what happens behind the scenes and how these actors become the roles which are unforgettable and become part of important musical history. Miss Shani Wallis a Supremely talented actor who made the character Nancy her own was AWESOME and comes across in this wonderful interview as very down to earth and very humble, when you have the opportunity to have an AWESOME story line, OUTSTANDING UNFORGETTABLE cast and performances, OUTSTANDING DIRECTION and PRODUCTION, UNFORGETTABLE OUTSTANDING music and dance routines you have a package of an ultimate winner. Oliver the musical is timeless and will continue to be an important part of musical history not just for my generation but generations to come FOREVER Bravo. Kim P.( actor).
I was born in the late fall of 1978 in central Kentucky and was raised northern Kentucky! I love the 1968 Movie Oliver! It is one of my favorite movies of all time! I love the Beautiful, Brilliant Charming, Delightful, Extremely Intelligent, Extremely Funny, Extremely and Incredibly Talented, Extremely Witty, Comedic/Dramatic Artist, Actress, Dancer, Entertainer, Perfomer and Singer Shani Wallis! It is still heart breaking and heart wrenching even now as it was for me as a small child when I first saw this movie and saw how abusive, brutal, crude, cruel, evil mean, mean-spirited, ruthless, vicious, and violent Bill Sikes was to Nancy, and Oliver and even Fagin who raised both Nancy and Bill to be pickpockets and thieves. Nancy starts thieving for Fagin at age 4. Nancy deserved better than Bill Sikes! He really didn't love her! It was all one sided! Fagin sets Nancy up to help Bill Kidnap Oliver. Fagin is an accomplice to her murder. Nancy Prevents Bill from Killing Fagin but Fagin doesn't follow Bill to make sure Bill Sikes doesn't kill Nancy or Oliver. He yells after Bill Sikes, "please no violence." when he and Bill see Nancy taking Oliver out of the Pub. He knows how mean Bill Sikes is. Nancy's best friend and confident is Bet. Nancy has told Bet her plan to sneak Oliver out of the pub and take him back to his great uncle, Mr. Brownlow. Nancy also looks out for and protects Bet. I didn't understand as a small child, and I still don't understand why Nancy loved Bill Sikes! Shani Wallis says that Nancy doesn't understand herself why she loves Bill Sikes! Nancy is so likeable and loveable. It is really tragic that Nancy is murdered by Bill Sikes at the foot of London Bridge violently beating her with his club over and over again. Nancy never betrays Bill Sikes or Fagin. Oliver doesn't betray Fagin or any of them either.
I just landed the role of Nancy at my local community theatre and I cannot wait! Listening to this was very inspiring, as I begin getting into the mind of Nancy! 💔
I loved the way Shani referred to Jack Wild as a ‘Cockney’. To be a Cockney, you have to be born within Ear shot of Bow Bells (st Mary-le-Bow church) Cheapside. Unfortunately Jack Wild was born in Royton, Oldham, Greater Manchester. I know the Bells are loud, but not THAT loud. But I do realise she probably didn’t know that at the time.
I don't care how they do it, but if Ms. Wallis is still around when they start the remake of this that I understand is being planned for the 50th anniversary of the original, she HAS to be part of it somehow!
