Animated Manhattan: Oliver & Company
Part 12 in an ongoing series looking at New York City in animation.
In 1988, Walt Disney put out its first movie musical in 11 years, called Oliver & Company. Based on Charles Dickens’ book Oliver Twist, it told the story of an orphan kitten’s adventures in New York City.
It begins with dawn breaking over New York City, and I quite like the way the sun lights up the tallest skyscrapers before spreading out across the island:
Oliver was left in a cardboard box for anyone to take, but nobody wanted him. So he wandered the streets of New York and eventually made friends with a dog named Dodger.
Dodger is a pickpocket who works for a crook named Fagin, and they take Oliver under their wing. Eventually Oliver is found by a girl who lives in a fancy mansion on Fifth Avenue, and she takes him home. When Fagin’s boss hears about this, he has the girl and Oliver both kidnapped, but a rescue ensues and everyone ends up safe in the end. (Oh, crap. I forgot to say “Spoiler Alert.”)
Here are some more scenes of New York City from Oliver and Company:
It’s not a great movie by any means. But I do like the movie’s depiction of New York. The scenes in the park — and just around town — do a good job of capturing the general feel of the neighborhoods, even when they don’t depict actual locations.
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
BCDb Rating: 5/10
My Rating: 7.5/10
(My rating is for the movie’s depiction of NYC only)
Comments
I do not agree with your comment about “Oliver & Company,” when you say-and I quote-“It’s not a great movie by any means.”
Without this film, Disney as we know it today wouldn’t exist.
Posted by: William Raymer | September 2, 2007 8:08 PM
why did u say its not a great movie by any meaning thats one of my favorite disney movies! Dodger is my favorite
Posted by: Anonymous | March 18, 2008 5:53 PM
why did u say its not a great movie by any meaning. because its one of my favorite disney movie! Dodgers my favorite.
Posted by: Nicole | March 18, 2008 5:56 PM