Bugsy Malone

For the rapper, see Bugzy Malone.

Bugsy Malone
Theatrical release poster by Charles Moll
Directed byAlan Parker
Written byAlan Parker
Produced byAlan Marshall
Starring
Cinematography
Edited byGerry Hambling
Music byPaul Williams
Production
companies
Distributed byFox-Rank Distributors (United Kingdom)
Paramount Pictures (United States)
Release dates
  • July 23, 1976 (1976-07-23)
(London)
  • September 15, 1976 (1976-09-15)
(New York)
Running time
93 minutes[1]
CountriesUnited Kingdom
United States[2]
Languages
  • English
  • Italian
Budget£574,953[3][4]-£1 million[5]
Box office£1,373,964[3]

Bugsy Malone is a 1976 gangster musical comedy film written and directed by Alan Parker (in his feature film directorial debut). A co-production of United States and United Kingdom, it features an ensemble cast, comprising only child actors playing adult roles, with Jodie Foster, Scott Baio, and John Cassisi in major roles. The film tells the story of the rise of "Bugsy Malone" and the battle for power between "Fat Sam" and "Dandy Dan".

Set in New York City, it is a gangster movie spoof, with machine guns that fire gobs of whipped cream instead of bullets. The film is 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. Parker lightened the subject matter considerably for the children's market and the film received a G rating in the U.S. Bugsy Malone premiered at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or. It was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on July 23, 1976, by Fox-Rank Distributors, and in the United States by Paramount Pictures on September 15. Although a commercial success in the UK, it was not a financial success overseas. 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.

In 2003, it was voted #19 on a list of the 100 greatest musicals, as chosen by viewers of Channel 4 in the UK.[6] In 2008, Empire ranked it 353rd on their list of 500 greatest movies of all time.[7] The film received eight nominations at the 30th British Academy Film Awards, including Best Film and won three: Best Supporting Actress and Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles for Foster and Best Screenplay for Parker. The film also received three nominations at the 34th Golden Globe Awards including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

  1. ^ "BUGSY MALONE (U)". British Board of Film Classification. 13 April 1976. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  2. ^ "Detail view of Movies Page". www.afi.com.
  3. ^ a b Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 357. Income is distributor's receipts, combined domestic and international, as at 31 Dec 1978.
  4. ^ Alexander Walker, National Heroes: British Cinema in the Seventies and Eighties, Harrap, 1985 p 86
  5. ^ Kelly, Matthew (31 December 2003). "Bugsy Malone". After They Were Famous. Season 3. Episode 18. ITV.
  6. ^ "100 Greatest Musicals – Broadcast Christmas 2003, Channel 4 (UK). Presented by Denise Van Outen". thecustard.tv. The Custard. 2003. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
  7. ^ The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time – #400–301 empireonline.com; Empire Online. Retrieved 3 June 2010.