Bugsy Malone

1h 33m 1976

Brief Synopsis

A gangster movie where all the gangsters are children. Instead of real bullets they use "splurge guns" that cover the victim in cream. The story tells of the rise of "Bugsy Malone" and the battle for power between "Fat Sam" and "Dandy Dan".

Cast & Crew

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Alan Parker

Scott Baio

Jodie Foster

Florrie Dugger

John Cassisi

Martin Lev

Photos & Videos

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Bugsy Malone (1976) - Go Feed The Ducks

Bugsy Malone (1976) - Open, If It Was Raining Brains

Bugsy Malone (1976) - Fat Sam's Grand Slam

Film Details

MPAA Rating

Release Date

1976

Production Company

Goodtimes Enterprises; National Film Finance Corporation

Distribution Company

Paramount Pictures; Rank Film Distributors Ltd

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 33m

Color

Color

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.85 : 1

Synopsis

A spoof of classic gangster movies with a cast of children. The violence is limited to pies in the face and machine guns that shoot custard as the story of the rise of Bugsy's rise to power is told.

Director

Alan Parker

Cast

Scott Baio

Jodie Foster

Florrie Dugger

John Cassisi

Martin Lev

Paul Murphy

Albine Jenkins

Davidson Knight

Sheridan Earl Russell

Paul Chirelstein

Dexter Fletcher

Vivienne Mckone

Helen Corran

Andrew Paul

Crew

Peter Biziou

Director Of Photography

Gillian Gregory

Choreography (Dances)

Gerry Hambling

Monica Howe

Costume Designer

Geoffrey Kirkland

Production Designer

Alan Marshall

Alan Parker

David Puttnam

Executive Producer

Michael Seresin

Director Of Photography

Garth Thomas

Production Manager

Paul H. Williams

Paul H. Williams

Videos

Bugsy Malone (1976) - Open, If It Was Raining Brains Clever voice-over open (by 13 year-old John Cassisi as Fat Sam), from director Alan Parker’s original screenplay, leading to a highlight-shot credit sequence featuring Scott Baio (title character, in his first credited role), and the title song by Paul Williams from his Academy Award-nominated score, from the sometimes beloved kids-as-gangsters musical Bugsy Malone, 1976.

Bugsy Malone (1976) - Fat Sam's Grand Slam Inside the speak-easy for which the song is named, another tune from Paul Williams’ score with kids in the cast lip-synching to grown-ups’ vocals, with the first glimpse of Jodie Foster as Tallulah, and the first encounter between the title character (Scott Baio) and aspiring singer Blousey (Florence Garland), from Bugsy Malone, 1976, written and directed by Alan Parker.

Bugsy Malone (1976) - Go Feed The Ducks Probably more provocative in retrospect than it seemed at the time, writer-director Alan Parker in his kids-playing-gangsters musical has brassy Tallulah (Jodie Foster), girlfriend of the owner of the night club, apply her charms to the hustler title character (Scott Baio), igniting his potential girlfriend Blousey (Florence Garland), in Bugsy Malone, 1976.

Film Details

MPAA Rating

Release Date

1976

Production Company

Goodtimes Enterprises; National Film Finance Corporation

Distribution Company

Paramount Pictures; Rank Film Distributors Ltd

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 33m

Color

Color

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.85 : 1

Award Nominations

Best Song Score

1977

Quotes

Trivia

All singing was dubbed by adult vocalists.

All of the cast were 16 or under at the time of filming.

The splurge guns did not actually fire the "splurge". Director Alan Parker first tried wax balls filled with cream but these hurt when fired, so in the end the splurge guns actually fired ping pong balls, which the actors fired at nothing and what we see on-screen is clever editing between this and shots of actors being hit by handfuls of cream thrown at them by others.

When looking for Fat Sam, director Alan Parker went to a Brooklyn classroom and asked who was the naughtiest boy in class; all the class replied John Cassisi, who subsequently got the part.

Florrie Dugger was originally only a minor part - until the actress meant to play Blousey underwent a growth spurt and became taller than Bugsy (Scott Baio), thus the two swapped roles.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States 2014

Released in United States Winter January 1, 1976

Released in United States 2014 (Official Selection)

Released in United States Winter January 1, 1976

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