Bugsy Malone

BUGSY MALONE

Director : Alan Parker

Year : 1976

Genre : Musical

Rating : ****

What constitutes the perfect gangster movie? Guns? Blood? Betrayal? How about child actors, songs and lashing of whipped cream? Behold 'Bugsy Malone'; a unique and hugely entertaining musical parody of the violet gangster thrillers of Hollywood's golden age. Starring Scott Baio, Jodie Foster, Florrie Dugger, Martin Lev and John Cassisi, the film tells the story of the rivalry between two gangs during the days of prohibition in 1920's New York but all the while told through a rosy cheeked, sweet innocence. Not a likely combination I'm sure you would agree but somehow it works thanks to some great performances and some of the best choreographed songs in film history. Directed by British auteur Sir Alan Parker, 'Bugsy Malone' would become not only one of the most popular musical movies of all time but also one of the most popular productions for schools to perform. Today, the film may play as extremely weird to non musical fans; for one thing the entire cast is comprised of children, something that hasn't been done since 'Bugsy Malone' but more jarringly, the songs are sung by overdubbed adult voices, with the various characters simply miming the lyrics. Now sometimes this works for the film but more than often it works against it and this is the major downside to the movie. However when the counterpoint between image and sound blend together perfectly, the effect is undoubtedly strange but also highly watchable and listenable. These unorthodox and kitsch ingredients help to form an extremely bizarre but fun treat that should entertain kids and adults alike, just as it has done for the past 38 years.

The year is 1920. The location is New York and the streets are ruled by two violent but not very bright gangs; one led by the dictatorial but cunning Dandy Dan and the other led by the hot headed but over sighted Fat Sam. The weapon of choice is the bizarre splurge gun, a semi automatic rifle that shoots balls of whipped cream into the faces of it's victim and unfortunately for Sam and his gang, Dan has full possession of the entire shipment. To gain a foothold on the streets, Sam enlists in the help of petty crook and all around nice guy Bugsy Malone who agrees to aid the needy boss in his hour of plight and find the guns.

 

Perfectly emulating the look and sounds of classic gangster thrillers, director Alan Parker and cinematographers Peter Biziou and Michael Seresin captures a period in American history when violence was rife and corruption was prevelant. Echoing the browns, blues and greys of such movies as 'The Godfather' as well as the grit and grime of such earlier works as 'Invisible Stripes' and 'G Men', Parker beautifully captures a sense of era and place with remarkable precision, even when the ridiculous splurge guns are unleashed and the screen goes from dark mahogany to brilliant white. 

While the movie keeps a generally jovial and wide eyed ambience, there are moments in 'Bugsy Malone' that are just as well executed and thought out as anything that Francis Ford Coppola or Martin Scorsese has done in their respective careers. Scenes of executions and murder are commonplace in 'Bugsy Malone', but thankfully bullets are replaced with the ridiculous and Python-esque splurge so these set pieces should generate more laughter than fear, especially in younger viewers. Having performed in a school production of 'Bugsy Malone' as Ritzy, one of Fat Sam's fated gang members, I can assure you that splurge is one of the greatest props ever used in a stage show ever.

The cast do an all around great job of capturing the character and sounds of the underbelly of the New York gangster scene. Starring as the eponymous hero, Scott Baio is charming and very likable as Bugsy and John Cassisi and Martin Lev are great fun as the two dons who have staged a turf war against each other. As is the case with every gangster movie, the hero needs a love interest and luckily for Bugsy, there are two for him to choose from. On the one hand there is Tallulah, Fat Sam's moll and the talented lead singer in his bustling speakeasy. Brilliantly played by the beautiful Jodie Foster, she is seductive, she is sensuous and is a perfect femme fatale for the naive and popular Malone. On the other side of the coin, Florrie Dugger plays Blousey, a mousey and quiet girl who auditions for a part in Fat Sam's club. Stealing Bugsy's heart, a large majority of the movie focuses on the ups and downs of their turbulent relationship and this makes for some moments of farcical but nevertheless touching dialogue. As a pair, Foster and Dugger contrast each other perfectly and give the slapstick and the humour of the film a bit of spice.
 

Joining the main cast is a host of other likable and varied characters. There is Fizzy, a hard working but ambitious janitor at Fat Sam's speakeasy who dreams of becoming a tap dancer, there is Leroy, a brave wannabe boxer who saves Bugsy from a group of vicious thugs one night and there are the Down and Outs, the homeless and poverty stricken outcasts of the city who may prove to be Bugsy's and Fat Sam's saving grace. As a whole, the cast work very well together indeed and the sense of friendship and childlike innocence that was evident throughout the production of the film is palpably felt during the entire running time of 'Bugsy Malone'.

As mentioned earlier, the soundtrack by Oscar winner Paul Williams is as entertaining and as silly as any of the imagery and the two combine to make 'Bugsy Malone' a completely unique musical experience. As well as being beautifully written, the choreography by Gillian Gregory help to make the various songs memorable and indelible. Highlights include 'Tomorrow', a hauntingly beautiful song about hopes and dreams, 'Ordinary Fool', Blousey's song of lament and heartbreak, the Goonies inflected 'We Could Have Been Anything That We Wanted To Be' sung by Fat Sam's hilariously dimwitted cronies and 'Down & Out', my personal favourite track and for me one of the best songs in any musical ever. The other songs are also well done but the aforementioned counterpoint between the child actors and the adult voices can prove to be too alienating and divisive for me to become fully immersed in the tune and the well written lyrics. Even then having said that, the imperfect nature and completely inappropriate vocal styles still lend a innocent charm and naive unknowing nature to the film. 

Made for just under £1m, 'Bugsy Malone' would just about double it's budget at the box office and over the years it has become known as a true centrepiece of the musical genre thanks to it's bizarre premise and unconventional production techniques. In 2003, the movie would be placed at #19 on Channel 4's countdown of the 100 greatest musicals of all time (placing it ahead of 'The Phantom Of The Opera' and 'The King & I') and in 2008, Empire magazine would name 'Bugsy Malone' as the 353rd greatest film of all time. Alan Parker would of course go on to become one of Great Britain's most prolific and popular directors with movies such as 'Mississippi Burning', 'Pink Floyd's The Wall' and 'The Life And Times Of David Gale' and some members of 'Bugsy Malone's cast would go on to become worldwide known stars so it is nice to see the genesis of all of that talent and potential rear it's head in this low budget home grown classic.

It would be short sighted and completely wrong for me to say that it is totally perfect because it isn't, by a long shot. Some of the performances from the less experienced child actors come across as very forced, the dialogue doesn't always suit the time and location and the almost engulfing 'niceness' of the film can sometimes become overbearing at times. But I guess this is what I liked so much about 'Bugsy Malone' in the first place. It knows it's not perfect and doesn't try to be, it is a movie purely made to make kids and adults laugh and in that respect it does it's job perfectly.