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      Bugsy Malone

      1976, Musical/Comedy, 1h 33m

      28 Reviews 10,000+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      Delightfully bizarre, Bugsy Malone harnesses immense charm from its cast of child actors playing wise guys with precocious pluck. Read critic reviews

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      Bugsy Malone  Photos

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      Movie Info

      Fat Sam (John Cassisi), Bugsy (Scott Baio) and Tallulah (Jodie Foster) are kids playing adults in Roaring '20s New York.

      • Rating: G

      • Genre: Musical, Comedy

      • Original Language: English (United Kingdom)

      • Director: Alan Parker

      • Producer: Alan Marshall

      • Writer: Alan Parker

      • Release Date (Theaters):  original

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Paramount Pictures

      • Production Co: Paramount Pictures

      Cast & Crew

      News & Interviews for Bugsy Malone

      Critic Reviews for Bugsy Malone

      Audience Reviews for Bugsy Malone

      • Sep 29, 2012

        Two rival gangsters battle for turf and a new, strategically important armament during the Prohibition Era -- a cliche if the entire cast weren't children. It's a great idea: children playing the parts of hard-hearted gangsters implies that many of plots of the classic gangster films depend upon adults' childish behavior. The idea spoofs gangster movies perhaps in the way that Prizzi's Honor intended, and making the film a musical only adds to the film's conceit. And the film deals with gangster violence creatively: director Alan Parker couldn't have a child version of Joe Pesci stabbing the hell out of somebody with his mother's kitchen knife without significant ethical problems with the depiction of children and violence. So he had the tommy guns fire cream pies. Genius. And fun. The problem, however, is that the plot falls apart in the second act. Fat Sam is losing his turf war, and he ends up recruiting the lower classes to stockpile his army, but these characters come out of nowhere. Blousey - a character who would've been better played by Jodie Foster - and Bugsy's courtship fails to compel because her rejection of him comes off as entitled and bitchy. Also, the music is all lip syched with the voices provided by adults. This is the beginning of the film dropping its intelligent conceit, a denigration that is made complete during the final shootout. By the end of the film, it has broken all its own rules, and I couldn't help but feel quite disappointed. Overall, it's a great idea, but a great idea can only carry a film so far.

        Super Reviewer
      • Nov 06, 2011

        A smartly made musical set at the time of absolute depression. All the cast are children and Bugsy Malone is one of the few films in which child actors I believe should win or at least be nominated for great acting achievment awards.

        Super Reviewer
      • Aug 21, 2010

        Great musical with fantastic songs and some actually likeable child actors. Full review later.

        Super Reviewer
      • Oct 25, 2009

        Use to be 1 of my favorites when I was little but not anymore

        Super Reviewer

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