Bugsy Malone (1976)
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A child-led gangster spoof follows a penniless boxing promoter who helps a crime boss fight for his empire.
The story
During the prohibition era, mob boss Fat Sam Staccetto faces a threat from his rival, Dandy Dan, who is attempting to seize control of his criminal empire. Fat Sam introduces Bugsy Malone, a penniless boxing promoter who is a 'nice guy' but popular with women. While Fat Sam is distracted by the ongoing conflict, Bugsy meets Blousey Brown, an aspiring singer and actress auditioning at Fat Sam's speakeasy. As Dandy Dan's men continue to attack Fat Sam's rackets and 'splurge' his men with cream-shooting guns, Bugsy finds himself drawn into the underworld's power struggle while attempting to help Blousey achieve her dreams.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
During the prohibition era, a mobster named Roxy Robinson is 'splurged' by a rival gang using rapid-fire cream-shooting 'splurge guns'. Mob boss Fat Sam Staccetto introduces Bugsy Malone, a penniless boxing promoter. At Fat Sam's speakeasy, the Grand Slam, Fat Sam rants about the loss of Roxy and the threat posed by rival Dandy Dan. Bugsy meets Blousey Brown, an aspiring singer, and they form a bond. Dandy Dan's men seize Fat Sam's rackets and attack his gang. After a failed truce meeting where Bugsy helps Fat Sam escape, Bugsy and Blousey have a romantic outing. Bugsy discovers Leroy Smith, a man with boxing potential, and trains him. When Knuckles is killed by a malfunctioning splurge gun, Fat Sam hires Bugsy to raid a warehouse where Dandy Dan's guns are stashed. Bugsy recruits a group of down-and-out workers from a soup kitchen to help. They successfully raid the warehouse. Finally, Bugsy and his army disguise themselves as patrons at the Grand Slam. A massive splurge gun fight erupts where patrons throw cream pies. After the piano player Razzmatazz strikes a single bass chord, the crowd realizes they can all be friends. Everyone joins in a song, and Bugsy and Blousey leave for Hollywood in Fat Sam's car.
- First release year
- 1976
- Runtime (minutes)
- 93
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English; Italian
- Directors
- Alan Parker
- Writers
- Alan Parker · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jodie Foster · Tallulah; Scott Baio · Bugsy Malone; John Cassisi · Fat Sam Staccetto; Florrie Dugger · Blousey Brown; Paul Murphy · Leroy Smith; Sheridan Earl Russell · Knuckles; Albin "Humpty" Jenkins · Fizzy; Paul Chirelstein · Smolsky
- Genres
- gangster; musical; comedy
- Themes
- Power struggles; Dreams of Hollywood; Friendship
- Tone and mood
- Spoof; Lighthearted; Musical
- Premise and plot tags
- Gangster; Musical; Comedy; Spoof; Children's Film
- Source material / true-story basis
- Based loosely on events in New York and Chicago during Prohibition era, specifically the exploits of real-life gangsters such as Al Capone and Bugs Moran.
- Content notes
- G rating
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, with praise drawn for Parker's screenplay and direction, its musical numbers, unique narrative and the performances of the cast. It was a commercial success in the UK but not a financial success overseas.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 79% · review count: 28; Metacritic · score: 71
- Awards and nominations
- Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · Golden Globe Awards · 34th · Nominated; Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy) · Golden Globes · Nominated; Best Original Score · Golden Globes · Nominated; Best Original Song · Golden Globes · Nominated; Best Original Song Score · Oscar · Won; Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music · Nomination · Nominated; Best Costume Design · Nomination · Nominated; Best Picture · Nomination · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film features an ensemble cast comprising only child and teenage actors playing adult roles.; The 'splurge firearm' fired ping-pong balls with a fast cut to a victim being pelted with 'splurge' to convey the impression of rapid-firing.; In 2011, the film was the most screened film in secondary schools in the United Kingdom.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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