Bugsy Malone

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.

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.

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.