LIONEL BART...Composer, Lyricist and Librettist.

Born: 1930 London, England.

It is perhaps only fitting that the man who first opened the door for today's millions to the entertainment treasures of Charles Dickens' genius, by using it as inspiration for a musical, is himself a rarity-the-triple-threat creator who writes everything in the show: the score, the lyrics and the book. And it is somehow especially fitting that Lionel Bart, (who was at the time 36) is one of England's most famous author of modern day-day musicals, should have chosen 'Oliver!' with which to do it. For like Oliver, Bart came to fame from humble Cockney beginnings. Bart's first popular success drew directly on his own unaffluent childhood. It was called 'Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'be,' and it opened new horizons in the London musical theatre. As a child, Lionel Bart's favourite chocolate bar came wrapped with a picture of 'Oliver Twist' crying for more; 25 years later, he wrote 'Oliver!' He had sensed the built-in theatricalism in Dickens, who was a would-be playwright himself. The master story-teller, who wrote 'Oliver Twist' over a century ago, has been called by the distinguished literary critic, Edmund Wilson, 'the greatest dramatic writer England had since Shakespeare...

VERNON HARRIS...Screenplay Writer.

Born: 1905 Folkestone, England.

Though he has written scripts for many films, Vernon Harris started in show business as an actor. In fact he played Mr. Brownlow in a dramatic stage version of 'Oliver Twist' many years ago. He found the musical 'Oliver!' a 'brilliant idea' and sought, he says, to be faithful to it, and 'to retain all the verve, the excitement and, most importantly, the originality of Lionel Bart's stage conception.' His tribute to the original novel is refreshing in its frankness. Harris has described himself as no 'confirmed Dickens lover,' yet he discovered anew that the tale of Oliver 'hypnotized me-I had to know how it all finished!'

For more info and full cast and crew listings please visit: IMDb

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