Consider Yourself Fortunate

This is an odd, poorly short video, but a real treat and so lucky to have, whatever the quality.

On June 30, 2010, a West End revival of Oliver! celebrated the show's 50th anniversary.  And for the finale, they brought out a special guest -- 86-year-old Ron Moody, who not only played 'Fagin' in the Oscar-winning film (getting a Best Actor nomination himself)...but he was the original 'Fagin' in that first London production.  

He makes an entertaining, often funny speech honoring the original production, and then with a bit of begging by the young actor who plays 'Oliver,' (properly imploring, Please, sir, I want... oh, you know) and then after faux-insisting it's been far too long and he doesn't remember the words, he leads the company in "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two."

As I said, the cell-phone camerawork here is dismal, and the sound is sometimes hard to make out.  But credit to the fellow for recording it and uploading the piece of treasure.  For the most part it's fairly watchable.

It takes place over two videos, and there's a bit of overlap.  So, in order to get the song all in one piece, my suggestion is that just after the 8:03 mark of the first video, stop it and then go to the second video.  There'll be a bit of overlap, starting with Moody's introduction again for some reason, and the jumping to him greeting the youngster playing Oliver, about a minute in.

The actor playing Fagin is a fellow named Russ Abbot, and he has some pleasant byplay with Moody, but this is really Ron Moody's moment, and he shines.  It's all the more poignant knowing that he passed away only a few months ago in June, at the age of 91, so it's all the more a pleasure to have this, whatever the quality.

Remember, jump videos at the 8:03 mark when Moody and young Oliver greet each other.