New York, 1929, a war rages between two rival gangsters, Fat Sam and Dandy Dan. Dan is in possession of a new and deadly weapon, the dreaded "splurge gun". As the custard pies fly, Bugsy Malone, an all-round nice guy, falls for Blousey Brown, a singer at Fat Sam's speakeasy. His designs on her are disrupted by the seductive songstress Tallulah who wants Bugsy for herself.
Scott Baio
Bugsy Malone
Jodie Foster
Tallulah
Florrie Dugger
Blousey
John Cassisi
Fat Sam
Martin Lev
Dandy Dan
Paul Murphy
Leroy Smith
Sheridan Earl Russell
Knuckles
Albin 'Humpty' Jenkins
Fizzy
Paul Chirelstein
Smolsky
Andrew Paul
O'Dreary
Davidson Knight
Cagey Joe
Michael Jackson
Razamataz
Jeff Stevenson
Louis
Peter Holder
Ritzy
Donald Waugh
Snake Eyes
Michael Kirkby
Angelo
Jon Zebrowski
Shoulders
Jorge Valdez
Bronx Charlie
John Rafter Lee
Benny Lee
Dexter Fletcher
Baby Face
Bonnie Langford
Lena Marelli
Louise English
Ballet Dancer
Mark Curry
Producer
Vivienne McKone
Velma
Helen Corran
Bangles
Lynn Aulbaugh
Louella
Kathy Spaulding
Lorretta
Phil Daniels
Waiter Who Spills Spaghetti
John Williams
Robert 'Roxy' Robinson
Julie K. Smith
(uncredited)
Director, Writer
Alan Parker
July 26, 2023
6
There is something cartoon-like about this gangster spoof. The characters are all played by children and instead of spraying their rivals with bullets, they find themselves being creamed to death. The plot centres around the turf wars between "Dandy Dan" (Martin Lev) and "Fat Sam" (John Cassisi) and the shrewd manoeuvrings of the eponymous character (Scott Baio). Add to the mix the seductive, sultry, "Tallulah" (Jodie Foster) and you have the makings of a gently comedic production. There's quite a decent list of songs to keep it moving - "Bugsy Malone", "Down and Out" and "So You Wanna be a Boxer". Not songs you might recognise by their titles, but ones your toes start instinctively tapping to when the ensemble break into their well choreographed delivery. It's an OK watch, this, but I found that the initially innovative joke wore a bit thin quite quickly and the scenarios prove just a little too repetitive. That said, Foster and Baio work quite well together and it does look good - sending up all things Al Capone! Worth a watch, but nothing great.