Bugsy Malone

[Kt Templar]

They showed Bugsy Malone on TV today, there were plenty of nice hats on show. Does anyone know the history and the suppliers to this film? I know it was made in the UK.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

Hurray! A fellow Bugsy Malone viewer.

It was shot in the UK on a set, so I've read. It was written by Alan Parker and many of the situations were based on real events of the 20's like the St. Valentines Day Massacre. It's also neat because it consists of just kids and they protray a very innocent Prohibition. It was put to the stage a couple times and only a couple years after Scott Baio went on to Happy Days.

I read Jodie Foster was going to play Blousy but Florrie Dugger became Blousy when Jodie became too tall, and they had to do take after take when Jodie Foster had to hug Scott Baio because she refused to get close to him

http://www.paramountcomedy.com/comedy/watn/article.aspx?id=46

and why this hasn't come out on DVD in the US I'll never know!

 

[herringbonekid]

i heard that all of the clothes are original 20s/30s vintage.
if they're not they certainly look it.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074256/

Bugsy Malone is a charm to watch and is one of a kind. It's set in 1920's Chicago, and like I had said earlier, many moments were based on real life events. The entire cast was 16 years old and under, and the film is actually very innocent for a piece about gangsters and violence. It is also, A musical

The story is about Danny Dan and Fat Sam, whom are fighting for power of the milk rackets. Danny Dan ends up getting his hands on "splurge guns" which fire whip cream like substances and basically kill you. Bugsy Malone is forced into helping obtain this new weapondry and fight Danny Dan for Fat Sams sake, while also charming a young lady who has Hollywood stars in her eyes by the name of Blousey Brown.

It is available on DVD, but still seems difficult to find a nice copy. I'd recommend this film anyday.

 

[Trickeration]

My kids and I love Bugsy Malone. They did an awesome job with the kids suits. And the cars! The best looking pedal cars I've ever seen. One of the most creative gangster films ever.

 

[Chanfan]

I always liked this film.

We coulda been anything that we wanted to be…

 

[Emmababy]

awesome

this is my kinda thread!

 

[MrBern]

i heard that all of the clothes are original 20s/30s vintage.
if they're not they certainly look it.

yes, I've heard that too.
I've also heard that the clothes were butchered to fit a kids size.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

Are there any books on the behind the scenes of this project?

If there isn't, someone call Paul Williams and suggest it!

Here is an informative website I have visited many times before

http://www.paulwilliamscouk.plus.com/pwnbugsyh.html

I saw the imported DVD version in a Borders Book Store. I hope they can eventually make a US Region DVD.

 

[Senator Jack]

Saw Bugsy at the Saturday matinee when it first came out! Caught the tail end of it on t.v. some years later but haven't seen it since. Whatever happened to John Cassisi, the kid who played Fat Sam? As a side note, there was a good 80s Britpop/Twee band that called themselves Tallulah Gosh.

http://www.last.fm/music/Talulah+Gosh/+wiki

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[griffer]

Thank you!

I have been haunted by a very early memory of a gangster movie with some kind of cream gun for years.

I was not able to figure out if it was real or a figment.

This is it!

Already added it to my Netflix.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

Here's a Coca Cola commercial featuring the last song in the film. It's great.
Coca Cola Advertisement

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

Trailer

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NOrgDbldcA4

If you haven't seen this film, please do.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I've also heard that the clothes were butchered to fit a kids size.

There's a special level of Hell reserved for the "costumer" of Bugsy Malone.


:rage: At the time it came out, a magazine article reported that more than a hundred vintage 1920s and '30s adult-size gowns, suits and tuxedos from MGM's former wardrobe collection were CUT DOWN BY AS MUCH AS A THIRD in order to make them fit Bugsy Malone's entire cast of mostly preteen kids.


According to the article, some of the pint-sized actors were surprised to be wearing (irreparably mutilated) pieces originally made for Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable and others.


Since the clothes were so radically altered, they became all but unusable after filming was done. They were then torn apart, some fabric pieces were saved for later recycling, and the rest was thrown out. :rage:

.

 

[jake_fink]

I hated this movie before. I hate it a little more now.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I'm not a fan either - this movie seriously creeps me out!

 

[jungle_red]

Oooooh! All those beautiful vintage outfits smothered in splurge! What a horrible thought!
Though it was Bugsy Malone which first introduced me to that magical era, so there's something to be thankful for!

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

There's a special level of Hell reserved for the "costumer" of Bugsy Malone.


:rage: At the time it came out, a magazine article reported that more than a hundred vintage 1920s and '30s adult-size gowns, suits and tuxedos from MGM's former wardrobe collection were CUT DOWN BY AS MUCH AS A THIRD in order to make them fit Bugsy Malone's entire cast of mostly preteen kids.


According to the article, some of the pint-sized actors were surprised to be wearing (irreparably mutilated) pieces originally made for Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable and others.


Since the clothes were so radically altered, they became all but unusable after filming was done. They were then torn apart, some fabric pieces were saved for later recycling, and the rest was thrown out. :rage:

.

Too bad . That's the movie business for you. I'd like to know what thought went through their minds when they looked at the label in the pocket with "Clark Gable for It Happened One Night" written inside. Shocking.

 

[Dr Doran]

Loved it. Loved the bicycle powered cars. Loved Jodie and her hair in that forehead curl. Loved it.

Too bad about those ruinated clothes ... how sad.