Le Petit Fugitif

A brilliant masterful one of a kind film. Morris Engel's beautiful photography and Ruth Orkin's talented editing take this film to heights rarely seen. An innovative camera allows for a `documentary/candid' quality to this film about a 6 year old boy (Richie Andrusco) who runs away to Coney Island because he thinks he accidentally killed his brother. Beautifully composed shots under the boardwalk a images never to be forgotten. For any serious film student (in fact for anyone) this is a `must see'.

French New Wave cinema must be incredibly indebted to this poignant, sensitive and insightful film.

Generally credited as one of the pioneers of independent cinema (as far as making your own film your own way and still getting seen in theaters), Morris Engel used his background as a New York City photographer to bring a fresh, down-to-earth feeling to filmmaking. Engel and his wife, photojournalist Ruth Orkin, wrote, directed, produced and edited their own low-budget films, shot by Engel using a hand-held 35mm camera of his own design.

The first of their three films, LITTLE FUGITIVE, is a beautiful, innocent film about a seven-year-old boy who is tricked by his older brother and runs away to Coney Island with six dollars. As the boy interacts with his new world on the boardwalk, Engel really transports the viewer there. The film feels like a documentary: sparse dialogue, realistic acting, hand-held cinematography and real locations. The FUGITIVE actors and atmosphere never come off fake: as the boy is hitting baseball in a batting cage, one hit ball flies towards the camera and you find yourself jumping out of the way!

The actor doesn't stop with this film "mistake", he's having fun and keeps going. All the childhood loves are there: bottles in the sand, hot dogs and cotton candy, ponies and parachute rides. With their films, Engel and Orkin created folklore, paving the way for directors like Truffaut, Godard, Cassavetes and Leigh.

FUGITIVE was successful for a non-studio film in the '50s, playing to over 5,000 theaters.

As children growing up in Brooklyn in the 50's, this was my brother's and my very favorite Sat. afternoon movie. As an adult, reaching back for things of value to proffer to my children, I was delighted to find that this was still available, though bemused by the high critical acclaim and near cult status. I loved this movie because it spoke to me- I knew how the beach smelled after a rain, how much Joey longed to ride that pony, how the peculiar torture by an older brother could be forgiven and forgotten by a moment's offhand kindness (and a little guilt). Cinema verite notwithstanding, this was the truest movie of a real adventure I'd ever seen, and wonderful

Because my 11 year old is pretty open-minded, I've taken her on adventure of watching b/w movies, just as my mom did for me. She actually enjoyed some of the old-time "horror" movies and loves the "Twilight Zone".

I also introduced her to what would be considered "art house" movies. She didn't really like "The Bicycle Thief" but I did, and this movie was recommended by Blockbuster. So I put it in my queue- and it was not a mistake. OK, so some of the acting is stilted and unprofessional and sometimes the movie feels longer than 75-80 minutes (depending on which version you view).

But, whether you're a big or little brother or sister, you can definitely relate. Even my child, who's my only child, can relate because she has younger cousins. I agree with many of the posters that the children act like children and act like how they would act in that situation. If you're blessed to get the DVD with the commentary, it evens add to your viewing pleasure.

What most gratified me was when my daughter, who has gone to almost every kiddy-themed entertainment center, said about several of the rides that they looked fun! This movie about Coney Island helped me visualize what my mother always talked about Riverdale, a Chicago area amusement park from the 40's and brought back memories of Funtown, Old Chicago, and Santa's Village, the local amusement parks of my day from the 70's.

This movie is something else. It dares to be different. Too many movies are absurdly, laughably goal-oriented, trudging along their preset paths toward nowhere, never smelling the roses, failing to dwell on this world's sheer radiance and magic. This is the movie that dwells (although it too has a bit too much plot). In a semi-documentary fashion we get a precious slice of 1953 - which to me are the good old days, unmarred by many words, with a wonderfully simple musical track. Too many movies depict children as smartalecks or tap-dancers. This one has the wisdom to say: being yourself is your biggest accomplishment. There is something of Mr. Rodgers in it. Time slows down in this movie, yet it is far less boring than speedier concoctions.