IMDb RATING
6.8/10
20K
YOUR RATING
The classic gangster story of Bugsy Malone told with an all-child cast.The classic gangster story of Bugsy Malone told with an all-child cast.The classic gangster story of Bugsy Malone told with an all-child cast.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 5 wins & 11 nominations total
Florence Garland
- Blousey Brown
- (as Florrie Dugger)
Sheridan Earl Russell
- Knuckles
- (as Sheridan Russell)
Albin 'Humpty' Jenkins
- Fizzy
- (as 'Humpty' Albin Jenkins)
Jeff Stevenson
- Louis
- (as Jeffrey Stevens)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
10v-tadic
The film is unique musical parody of gangster movies, where all the roles are played by children. I first watched it shortly after its release, and was absolutely thrilled. Balanced director's work, smartly composed screenplay, great and very temporary musical score and, above all, the brilliant talent of young Jodie Foster. Not all the roles were played equally convincingly, but the kids were generally quite good. I enjoyed the film even more while writing subtitles (for home use) for it several months ago, being thus forced to listen carefully to every word spoken or sung. After 30 years, I really have nothing to add to my first impressions. "Bugsy Malone" is timeless, and should be listed among the movie classics, along with "The Wizzard of Oz" and "Oliver".
For anyone who sees this film as sinister or as a paedophiles dream GET A LIFE!!!! It was made in the 70's when we weren't politically correct and living was fun! What has happened to us that we can't see a film with children in it without thinking that it was made for an ulterior motive? Enjoy the film for what it is. I saw this film for the first time when I was about 9, loved it then and still do (I'm now 34!) It's harmless fun, something you would have loved to have been involved in had you been given the chance. All those splurge guns and pedal cars, think about it, it would have been great fun! And that's what you should remember when you watch it, it's great FUN! I have 2 children who ABSOLUTELY love this film as much as I do and I have no qualms whatsoever about letting them watch this. Just remember you were young once, watch this film, forget about everything, and recapture your youth!!!!
I remember my father announcing a family plan to see this movie the year it came out, when I was 9. I didn't want to go--a gangster movie with kids? I thought it would be scary, or worse, boring. But the decision had been made, and I reluctantly went along to the theater. As it turned out, my father was right to take us: "Bugsy Malone" became one of my favorite childhood movies. My brother and I were given the soundtrack LP for Christmas that year (I still have it), and we learned all the songs.
I've since seen the movie as a grownup, and I still think it's very well-made. It wasn't until I was older that I could appreciate the acting, and the sophisticated production design (though I knew when I first saw the movie that it had a very clever script). My only quibble is the filmmakers' decision to have adults sing all the songs--it's a bit bizarre to hear grownup voices coming out of children, and after a while you start to notice that the voices sound the same, since they didn't cast different singers for each character (Paul Williams himself does most of the vocal work). It makes the film feel more low-budget than it should.
Mickey Dolenz directed a stage version of the film in London years later, which I was hoping had all-singing kids, but apparently the songs were pre-recorded. High schools now perform the show, however, so at last the voices will match.
Any kid that's interested in old Hollywood should be given a chance to see this film.
I've since seen the movie as a grownup, and I still think it's very well-made. It wasn't until I was older that I could appreciate the acting, and the sophisticated production design (though I knew when I first saw the movie that it had a very clever script). My only quibble is the filmmakers' decision to have adults sing all the songs--it's a bit bizarre to hear grownup voices coming out of children, and after a while you start to notice that the voices sound the same, since they didn't cast different singers for each character (Paul Williams himself does most of the vocal work). It makes the film feel more low-budget than it should.
Mickey Dolenz directed a stage version of the film in London years later, which I was hoping had all-singing kids, but apparently the songs were pre-recorded. High schools now perform the show, however, so at last the voices will match.
Any kid that's interested in old Hollywood should be given a chance to see this film.
I haven't seen this movie since it originally came out, but I have never forgotten it. I fully recommend all ages to watch it. The writing is great. Very original. To this day I have not seen ANY movie that can be compared to it.
When i was a kid I loved this film, the music was good, it wasn't violent and was light hearted. I think most kids would like it today if they watched it. It was quite original and fun, and you can see that on the actors faces. Beats having to watch terrible remakes of classic films, or more awful commercial tie-in films, which do no more than advertise new toys for kids to play with! Plus I bought it on DVD for £5 at HMV, which you can't moan about and the DVD itself has a few interesting extras, bargain!
Did you know
- TriviaThe pedal-driven cars could achieve a maximum speed of around ten miles (16 kilometers) per hour. They were all custom-built by hand and each cost around the same amount of money as a regular road-going Mini at the time.
- GoofsWhen Blousey returns for the second time to Fat Sam's for an audition, Knuckles opens the door. He tells Blousey, "He's busy lady. Come tomorrow" in an English accent. Throughout the movie, he has an American accent.
- Alternate versionsTwo Bugsy Malone video discs are available [9/9/2013] in the U.S.: a 10/11/2005 Region 1 "import" DVD (UPC 4895033728429) distributed by Panorama Entertainment having a feature runtime of 89 minutes (1:29:44) and a 9/9/2008 "All Regions" BD (UPC 5037115290830) distributed by ITV Studios (formerly, in part, Granada Productions) with a feature runtime of 93 minutes (1:33:51 that includes running a 9 second Granada International logo clip, not on the DVD, before and after the movie, 1:33:33 + 00:18). ITV Studios was formed in 2009 by the merger of Granada Productions and Carlton International. Ironically, the DVD case cover lists a 94 minute runtime and the Blu-ray case cover lists an 89 minute runtime. The only differences between the two presentations, once the 18 seconds for the Granada International logo clip is subtracted from the BD time, is (1) after the Rank gong is struck the second time, the text "The RANK ORGANISATION presents" is superimposed over the gong in the BD version while the text "THE RANK ORGANISATION" is superimposed over the gong in the DVD version, (2) the DVD runs the movie about 4% faster than the Blu-ray disc, and (3) the DVD has 1.33:1 aspect (640 pixels x 480 pixels), letter boxed on all four sides to 1.62:1 aspect ratio (596 pixels x 367 pixels) while the BD has 1.78:1 aspect (1920 pixels x 1080 pixels). Both disc conversions appear to have used "pan and scan" cropping from the film's 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Sometimes the cropping appears similar, but other times, one may crop the height mostly from the top while the other mostly from the bottom. The feature on the Blu-ray disc runs at 24 Hz. Although the DVD runs at 60 Hz, the speed-up is similar to the 4.3% speed-up when 24 frame/second film is transferred to 50 Hz Pal format using 2:2 pulldown and may point to a 50 Hz master in its past.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Chto? Gde? Kogda?: 1990 Winter Series. The Second Game (1990)
- How long is Bugsy Malone?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Bugsy Malone
- Filming locations
- Huntley & Palmers Biscuit Factory, 119-129 King's Road, Reading, Berkshire, England, UK(bar scenes; Dock 17, now demolished)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- £575,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,783,840
- Gross worldwide
- $2,839,373
- Runtime
- 1h 33m(93 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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