Bugsy Malone

Name: Bugsy Malone
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Family, Musical
Released: September 15, 1976
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Albin 'Humpty' Jenkins, Andrew Paul, Florrie Dugger, Jodie Foster, John Cassisi

1976

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox-Rank | Release Date: September 15, 1976 | G

Starring: Albin 'Humpty' Jenkins, Andrew Paul, Florrie Dugger, Jodie Foster, John Cassisi, Martin Lev, Paul Chirelstein, Paul Murphy, Scott Baio, Sheridan Earl Russell

Summary: A gangster movie in which all the gangsters are played by 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".

Director: Alan Parker

Genre(s): Comedy, Crime, Family, Musical

Rating: G

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Mark Monahan

Writer-director Alan Parker's utterly delightful, tongue-in-cheek love letter to the gangster genre. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

It’s a brave, funny and winning pic which is nearly – but regrettably not quite – a triumph. Read full review

Roger Ebert

In an uncanny way the movie works as a gangster movie and we remember that the old Bogart and Cagney classics had a childlike innocence, too. The world was simpler then. Now it's so complicated maybe only a kid can still understand the Bogart role. Read full review

Empire Ian Nathan

The songs and set pieces are still fresh and infectious and most of the child cast are mesmerisingly good. I defy anyone not to be caught up in the charm and nostalgia. Read full review

Jack Kroll

A perversely appealing apotheosis of cuteness. Almost inadvertently, the film becomes an ultimate comment on American innocence that can only refresh itself by regression. The unseen patron saint of Parker's stylish movie is not Little Caesar but Humbert Humbert. [27 Sept 1976, p.89]

David Jenkins

Paul Williams’ annoyingly hummable honky-tonk soundtrack punctuates proceedings, which graze the zenith of that seventies inclination towards sexualising teen performers (think ‘Minipops’ in America). Read full review

Pauline Kael

It operates on darlingness and the kitsch of innocence. The almost pornographic dislocation, which is the source of the film's possible appeal as a novelty, is never acknowledged, but the camera lingers on a gangster's pudgy, infantile fingers or a femme fatale's soft little belly pushing out of her tight stain dress, and it roves over the pubescent figures in the chorus line.

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User Reviews

LamontRaymond

May 26, 2018

Probably one of the best kids movies I've ever seen. I spent so many quiet movies as a kid thinking of those Splurge guns that looked as though they fired cream pies. It was a little odd in that it put kids in mature situations, but it didn't patronize, like most kids movies these days do.

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liamexe

Nov 19, 2022

It is an entertaining yet silly kids' gangster movie. Even if some of the performance is a little off-key, the youngsters' sincere smiles when they fumble their lines are endearing. The mild violence was an excellent technique to suggest violence without actually exposing children to tooIt is an entertaining yet silly kids' gangster movie. Even if some of the performance is a little off-key, the youngsters' sincere smiles when they fumble their lines are endearing. The mild violence was an excellent technique to suggest violence without actually exposing children to too much of it. Despite some criticism, the acting is significantly superior to that of Vin Deasle, Ben Affleck, and Ice T. It is unfortunate that it is not transmitted at all, or even more frequently.… Expand

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DawdlingPoet

Nov 25, 2021

This is certainly an amusing film, a pretty quirky one at that, with the all child cast and the distinctly adult settings. Its a bit of a weird combination, certainly and some moments, esp. those with Jodie Fosters character flirting with the male characters, are a bit uncomfortable to watchThis is certainly an amusing film, a pretty quirky one at that, with the all child cast and the distinctly adult settings. Its a bit of a weird combination, certainly and some moments, esp. those with Jodie Fosters character flirting with the male characters, are a bit uncomfortable to watch these days but that aside, its pretty entertaining, with some good musical numbers and fairly witty dialogue in the script. I thought it was funny watching the kids chase others in 'cars' powered by feet (a la the Flintstones) and I also thought it was funny that the 'guns' (referred to as 'splurge guns') fire mashed potato or something similar, rather than bullets. Its pretty good choreography given the young ages of the cast. The music is pretty decent too, suits/matches the time its set in. Yes I'd recommend this film, particularly if your intrigued to see Jodie Foster in an early role.… Expand

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