
Bugsy Malone
1976, Comedy/Musical, 1h 33m
27 Reviews 10,000+ RatingsWhat 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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Where to watch
Bugsy Malone Photos
Movie Info
Fat Sam (John Cassisi), Bugsy (Scott Baio) and Tallulah (Jodie Foster) are kids playing adults in Roaring '20s New York.
Cast & Crew
Scott Baio
Bugsy Malone
Bugsy Malone
Jodie Foster
Tallulah
Tallulah
John Cassisi
Fat Sam
Fat Sam
Florrie Dugger
Blousey Brown
Blousey Brown
Paul Murphy
Leroy Smith
Leroy Smith
Albin "Humpty" Jenkins
Fizzy
Fizzy
Critic Reviews for Bugsy Malone
Audience Reviews for Bugsy Malone
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Sep 29, 2012Two 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.Jim H Super Reviewer
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Nov 06, 2011A 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.Directors C Super Reviewer
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Aug 21, 2010Great musical with fantastic songs and some actually likeable child actors. Full review later.Thomas B Super Reviewer
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Oct 25, 2009Use to be 1 of my favorites when I was little but not anymoreBrody M Super Reviewer
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