Be Back Soon

Last updated

"Be Back Soon" is a song from the Tony Award-winning British musical Oliver! , and the 1968 Academy Award-winning film Oliver! based on the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. The musical was penned by Lionel Bart, and was first shown in London's West End in 1960.

Background

The song is the last in Act I following on immediately after "I'd Do Anything" and is sung in Fagin's thieves' lair by Fagin, the Artful Dodger, Oliver Twist and the boys in Fagin's Gang. In the song Fagin sends the gang of young pickpockets out to 'work' - stealing wallets and pocket handkerchiefs. During the song Fagin sings that he will miss the boys but they are not to return empty-handed. Oliver joins the gang under the care of the Dodger on his first pickpocketing mission. It precedes The Robbery - the last scene in Act I. [1] [2]

The lyrics for this song in the stage musical differ somewhat from those in the 1968 film: in the musical Fagin tells the boys "You can go but bring back plenty of pocket handkerchiefs. And you should be clever thieves. Whip it quick and be back soon. There's a sixpence here for twenty..." while in the film Fagin sings "You can go but bring back plenty of wallets full of cash - don't want to see any trash. Whip 'em quick and be back soon - only thick ones now not empty...". [3] Another lyric change in the song was "Bow Street Runners" to "nosy policemen" in case American audiences didn't understand the reference. [4] Ron Moody later discovered that the eccentric dance step he thought he had improvised for the film version of the song was actually a pas de basque. [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Oliver!</i> English musical by Lionel Bart based upon Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist

Oliver! is a British coming-of-age stage musical, with book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

<i>Oliver Twist</i> Monthly serial; second novel by Charles Dickens; published 1837–1839

Oliver Twist; or, the Parish Boy's Progress, Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is sold into apprenticeship with an undertaker. After escaping, Oliver travels to London, where he meets the "Artful Dodger", a member of a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the elderly criminal Fagin.

Ron Moody English actor, composer, singer and writer

Ron Moody was an English actor, composer, singer and writer. He was best known for his portrayal of Fagin in Oliver! (1968) and its 1983 Broadway revival. Moody earned a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for the film, as well as a Tony Award nomination for the stage production. Other notable projects include The Mouse on the Moon (1963), Mel Brooks' The Twelve Chairs (1970) and Flight of the Doves (1971), in which Moody shared the screen with Oliver! co-star Jack Wild.

Artful Dodger Fictional character from the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist

Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger, is a character in Charles Dickens' 1838 novel Oliver Twist. The Dodger is a pickpocket, so called for his skill and cunning in that occupation. He is the leader of the gang of child criminals on the streets of London, trained by the elderly Fagin.

Pickpocketing Type of larceny involving theft from pockets

Pickpocketing is a form of larceny that involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person or a victim's pocket without them noticing the theft at the time. It may involve considerable dexterity and a knack for misdirection. A thief who works in this manner is known as a pickpocket.

<i>Oliver & Company</i> Disneys 1988 American animated musical feature film

Oliver & Company is a 1988 American animated musical film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released on November 18, 1988, by Walt Disney Pictures. The 27th Disney animated feature film, it is loosely based on the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist. In the film, Oliver is a homeless kitten who joins a gang of dogs to survive in the streets. Among other changes, the setting of the film was relocated from 19th century London to 1980s New York City, Fagin's gang is made up of dogs, and Sykes is a loan shark.

<i>Oliver Twist</i> (1999 TV series) 1999 television series produced by ITV

Oliver Twist is a 1999 drama serial produced by ITV based on the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

<i>Oliver Twist</i> (1997 film) 1997 television movie produced by Walt Disney Television

Oliver Twist is a 1997 American made-for-television film based on Charles Dickens’s 1838 novel of the same title. The film was directed by Tony Bill, written by Monte Merrick and Stephen Sommers, and produced by Walt Disney Television. It stars Richard Dreyfuss, Elijah Wood, David O'Hara, and Alex Trench as the titular character.

<i>Oliver Twist</i> (2005 film) 2005 drama film directed by Roman Polanski

Oliver Twist is a 2005 drama film directed by Roman Polanski. The screenplay by Ronald Harwood adapts Charles Dickens's 1838 novel of the same name. It is an international co-production of the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, France and Italy.

<i>Oliver!</i> (film) 1968 British musical drama film

Oliver! is a 1968 British period musical drama film based on Lionel Bart's 1960 stage musical of the same name, itself an adaptation of Charles Dickens's 1838 novel Oliver Twist. Directed by Carol Reed from a screenplay by Vernon Harris, the picture includes such musical numbers as "Food, Glorious Food", "Consider Yourself", "As Long as He Needs Me", "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two", and "Where Is Love?". It stars Ron Moody, Oliver Reed, Harry Secombe, Shani Wallis, Jack Wild, and Mark Lester in the title role. Filmed at Shepperton Film Studio in Surrey, it was a Romulus production and was distributed internationally by Columbia Pictures.

<i>Oliver Twist</i> (1922 film) 1922 film

Oliver Twist is a 1922 American silent drama film adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1838 novel Oliver Twist, featuring Lon Chaney as Fagin and Jackie Coogan as Oliver Twist. The film was directed by Frank Lloyd.

Charley Bates Character from Charles Dickens Oliver Twist

Charley Bates is a supporting character in the Charles Dickens's 1838 novel Oliver Twist. He is a young boy and member of Fagin's gang of pickpockets, and sidekick to the Artful Dodger, whose skills he admires unreservedly. Sikes's murder of Nancy shocks him so much that at the end of the novel he leaves London to become an agricultural labourer.

Fagin Fictional character in Oliver Twist

Fagin is a fictional character and a secondary antagonist in Charles Dickens' 1838 novel Oliver Twist. In the preface to the novel, he is described as a "receiver of stolen goods". He is the leader of a group of children whom he teaches to make their livings by pickpocketing and other criminal activities, in exchange for shelter. A distinguishing trait is his constant—and insincere—use of the phrase "my dear" when addressing others. At the time of the novel, he is said by another character, Monks, to have already made criminals out of "scores" of children. Nancy, who is the lover of Bill Sikes, is confirmed to be Fagin's former pupil.

<i>Oliver Twist</i> (2007 TV series)

Oliver Twist is a 2007 British television adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1838 novel Oliver Twist, written by Sarah Phelps and directed by Coky Giedroyc. It consists of five episodes, broadcast on BBC One from 18 to 22 December 2007. It aired on PBS' Masterpiece Classic in the United States on 15 and 22 February 2009, in two ninety-minute installments. In Australia, ABC1 also opted to air this series as a two-part special each Sunday at 8:30 pm from 20 December 2009.

Oliver Twist (character) Title character and the protagonist of the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist is the title character and protagonist of the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. He was the first child protagonist in an English novel.

"You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two" is a song from the Tony Award-winning British musical Oliver!, and the 1968 Academy Award-winning film Oliver! based on the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. The musical was penned by Lionel Bart, and was first shown in London's West End in 1960.

<i>Oliver Twist</i> (1982 Australian film) 1982 Australian film

Oliver Twist is a 1982 Australian 72-minute made-for-television animated film from Burbank Films Australia; a part of the studio's series of adaptations of Charles Dickens' works made from 1982 through 1985.

Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist is a French-American Animated series created by Saban Entertainment. It was aired from 1 February 1996 to 12 February 1997 through First-run syndication, totaling 52 episodes. The series began airing in France on TF1 on September 1, 1997.

Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas is a 1977 Christmas television special starring Bing Crosby and his family with special guests Twiggy, David Bowie, Ron Moody, Stanley Baxter and Trinity Boys Choir. It includes a duet by the unusual pairing of Crosby and Bowie on "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy".

<i>Oliver Twist</i> (1974 film) 1974 film directed by Hal Sutherland

Oliver Twist is a 1974 American animated adventure musical drama film directed by Hal Sutherland that is based on Charles Dickens's 1838 novel Oliver Twist. The film was the second and last to be produced by Filmation and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Davy Jones, who played The Artful Dodger in the original Broadway production of Oliver!, reprises his role.

References

  1. Synopsis: Oliver! – Original Broadway Cast Recording 1963 - Masterworks Broadway website
  2. The Story in Brief ~The Oliver! Online Souvenir Book
  3. 1962 Broadway Oliver! the Musical - Be Back Soon Lyrics- The Musical Lyrics database
  4. Oliver! (1968 film) - Internet Movie Database
  5. How we made: Ron Moody and Mark Lester on Oliver! - The Guardian 3 December 2012