When this was released in 2003 i grabbed it! I was overjoyed to find it in HMV for £17.99.
*UPDATED 26th february 2006 - Price is now extremely low, and I found it at Tesco.com for £2.84!
Having watched this as a kid, taped it off the tv and taped over by mistake this double disc, special edition was a great find.
This film was made at pinewood studios and was originally released in 1976. They managed to get through 100 gallons of artificial cream and over 1000 custard pies were thrown making this movie - what a mess! Directed and produced by Alan Parker.
#Features
There are two discs produced by Goodtimes Productions and licensed by Carlton Visual Entertainment ltd. On disc one there is the main feature film and a small selection of special features. These are: 1.) Promotional videos - (teaser, trailer and promo reel) Each featuring members of the cast giving their story and movie clips. Each lasting aproximately two and a half minutes. You can also choose scene selection which just skips you to a desired chapter. On the dvd menus there is moving movie pictures on in the background and the "Bugsy Malone" song. 2. The Characters - A photo clip history of each of the characters part in the feature. 3. A photo gallery - A showcase of movie and behind the scenes photographs in black and white with blousy's "feeling fine" playing in background. 4. Art Gallery - Comical cartoon sketches of what the film might look like with "Boxer" playing as background. Lasts 30 seconds. 5.
From sketch to Screen - Three choices of commentary from making the film. The first is Alan Parkers sketchbook and second the comic book version produced by Graham Thompson. Third is the final outcome. All run into each other. 6. Trivia notes - A collection of history the same as what is mentioned in the rather thick booklet.
Set up is basic and has two choices: English HOH subtitles and Audio Commentary with Sir Alan Parker.
On the second disc there is just the soundtrack audio cd. All songs are produced and written by Paul Williams and sound rights belong to Polydor. The songs are in order as they feature in the film:
1. "Bugsy Malone" 2.34 - The credits opening song 2. "Fat Sam's" 1.47 - An introduction to the show bar ("Speak Easy") 3. "Tomorrow" 4.01 - A sad song from the show bar employee Fizzy. 4. "Bad Guys" 2.19 - The Fat Sam's gang fun, upbeat song 5. "i'm Feeling Fine" 4.32 - A sad song from Bugs'y love interest Blousy. 6. "My name is Tallulah" 3.38 - A sexy number sung clearly to show Blousy there's only room for one leading lady. 7. "So you wanna be a Boxer" 2.32 - Bugsy tries to get Leroy to join his gang. 8. "Ordinary Fool" 4.19 - Sad Blousy's misunderstanding of tallulah and Bugsy's connection. 9. "Down and Out" 3.07 - An encouraging song as Bugsy tries to gather an army to defeat Dandy Dan's gang. 10. "You give a Little love" 3.54 - End song, fun event (im not telling!)
In the dvd case there is a thick booklet all about the director Sir Alan Parker's fun idea of an all child cast starring in an all adult movie. The book is lengthy and is good to read about all the problems that ocurred and it shows an in depth view of planning, recruiting, and the last day of screening. The book shows where the idea comes from and the rejection he had to endure before he decided to make the film out of his earnings from previous films. A funny read and a good history to the film.
#DVD technical know how
Film length: 89 mins approximately. Video Aspect Ratio:4:3 Letterbox. Audio: English, Mono, English Hard of Hearing Subtitles. Dolby Digital recording.
#Cast and character history
1. Scott Baio = Bugsy Malone - The star and hero. 2. Florrie Digger = Blousy Brown - A new quiet girl to the stage and Bugsy's love. 3. Jodie Foster = Tallulah - A sexy club singer and trouble seeker. 4. John Cassisi = Fat Sam - Leader of the good guys and Speak Easy club owner. 5. Sheridan Russell = Knuckles - Sam's most trusted. 6. Donald Waugh= Snake Eyes - good gang member. 7. Jeffery Stevens = Louis - good gang member. 8. Albin Johnson = Fizzy - an employee and wannabe dancer at the Speak Easy club. 9. Paul Murphy = Leroy Smith - A guy who saves Bugsy and later joins the good gang. 10. Martin Lev = Dandy Dan - Bad gang leader and inventor of the "Splurge gun". 11. Ron Meleleu = Doodle - bad gang member
#Story
Set in 1920's New York, this fun musical shows the conflict between two mob style gangs, and the cunning extremes they will go to be better than the other. Unfortunately, Dan's ideas are more extreme and in inventing the deadly "Splurge gun" he seems unstopable. Lonely and hurt after all his boys are defeated, Sam calls on Bugsy to help defeat Dandy Dan before any more people are hurt. While gatherin up an army, Bugsy has to sort out his own conflict between two lady friends - one a bit more trouble than he bargained for! After Sam and Bugsy meet up with gangster Dan and no agreement to settle peace comes, Bugsy must find another way to defeat Dan and stoops to the rivals way of thinking. With the help of wannabe boxer Leroy, Bugsy manages to find the secret location of Dan's weapon hideout and steals the "Splurge Guns" to use against their creator. Back at the Speak Easy show bar everyone gets ready for an all mighty show that will end all gang rivalry with the help of cream pies and whipped cream shot balls. Will Sam's fun Speak Easy club business fall into the evil hands of Dan? Will bugsy ever manage to sort out his lady troubles?! Will Dan ever come to his senses?
"Kid's stuff of the highest calibre, certainly the best musical film in a month of sundays." - Sunday Telegraph
"Consistently funny and constantly endearing." - Holywood Reporter.
#My Opinion
This film is cracking and an extremely funny base sarcasm throughout. The film is so original and uses a completely all child cast to act out in what seems a perfectly adult world. Very clever and fun, this film shows all the problems adults encounter and the child actors are very good to potray a grown up world so well. Many of the child actors later went on to becoming stars at an older age (Jodie Foster - Double Academy Award, and Scott Baio in Happy Days). The weapons are funny and i really like the innocent idea that a custard pie or some cream can injure a person! Another funny idea is the cars they drive - they are pedle powered! Or the alcohol they drink is Dandelion and Burdock! There are loads of little quirks like this throughout the film and its so nice to think that the actors didn't actually do anything adult!
#Who's it for?
All "Anybody who is anybody!". This film's nature is so appealing to all ages and adults. Kids love the film for the custard pie mess and the singy, very catchy songs. Adults love the film as its got a delicate message of all the naivity in a child's world and the contrasting masculine, violent, troublesome adult world. A lot of adults like the innocence of this film and the sarcastic humour is racy and quick - enough to appeal to all adults. The film is classified as a U - universal and it can safely be viewed by all children without adult supervision. There is no swearing, sex or nudity and the only violence is of a cream and custard pie throwing!
Pictures of Bugsy Malone (Special Edition) (DVD)
The discs
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1999 - Music / Performing Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Donny Osmond, Joan Collins, Richard Attenborough
I love this film, but it's a bit freaky that the children's singing voices are sung by grown adults with completely different voices! Jo x
bluejules 19.02.2006 14:32
Very well written. I've never actually seen this film I was in the school production of Bugsy Malone a few years ago, it was great fun! Great review. Jules x
missy0303 05.02.2006 16:56
not really a fan of this but well written and informative x
Writer-director Alan Parker's feature debutBugsy Maloneis a pastiche of American movies, a ... more
musical gangster comedy set in 1929, featuring prohibition, showgirls and gang warfare, with references to everything fromSome Like It HottoThe Godfather. Unique...
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![Bugsy Malone [DVD] [1976]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78529517.jpg "Bugsy Malone [DVD] [1976]")
Dec 15th, 2005
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