Midweek Mention... Bugsy Malone
Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This week we’re trading bullets for custard pies and gangsters for tap-dancing tweens as we revisit Alan Parker’s delightfully eccentric musical comedy Bugsy Malone (1976). It’s a film that plays like a Prohibition-era crime saga — if it were directed by Roald Dahl and cast entirely with children.
🕵️ Main Feature: Bugsy Malone (1976)
Set in a stylized version of 1920s New York, Bugsy Malone tells the story of the titular small-time hustler (played by a baby-faced Scott Baio) who finds himself caught between rival gangsters — the bumbling Fat Sam and slick crime boss Dandy Dan. But instead of tommy guns, these gangs use “splurge guns” that fire whipped cream. Yes, really.
What sets Bugsy Malone apart — aside from the fact that not a single adult appears on screen — is its surprisingly mature plot, charming period details, and that unforgettable soundtrack from none other than Paul Williams. The music, including standout numbers like Fat Sam’s Grand Slam and Tomorrow, is performed with gusto, even if the singing voices are dubbed by adults (a choice that only adds to the film’s surreal, theatrical charm).
While it’s easy to get swept up in the novelty of children dressed as gangsters and showgirls, Bugsy Malone actually works as a tight and engaging story. There's a proper gangster narrative beneath all the pie fights and jazz hands — complete with betrayal, redemption, and dreams of a better life.
💫 Why It Still Works
- Inventive World-Building: The film builds its own unique universe — one where child actors mime to adult vocals, where cream pies are lethal, and where speakeasies are full of wide-eyed kids in oversized suits and feather boas.
- A Gateway Musical: For kids who think musicals are “boring,” Bugsy Malone is the gateway drug — zany, energetic, and anarchic.
- Strong Performances: Jodie Foster, already an Oscar nominee by this point, is magnetic as the sultry Tallulah. Her presence gives the film a surprising emotional depth.
👨👧👦 A Dad’s Take
Bugsy Malone is a rare gem that manages to be nostalgic for adults while remaining totally accessible for kids. It’s a film where children play out grown-up roles, but never in a cynical or uncomfortable way. It encourages imagination, creativity, and maybe even a little interest in 20th-century history — if only in the silliest way possible.
Some of the themes may fly over younger viewers’ heads, but that’s half the fun. And the final scene, with its message of peace and reconciliation amid chaos, feels oddly prescient — a reminder that the future is always in the hands of the next generation.
🍰 Final Thoughts
Whether you’re revisiting Bugsy Malone as a nostalgic parent or introducing it to your kids for the first time, it’s a chaotic, custard-covered joy. It’s a film that shouldn't work — but somehow, against all odds and logic, it absolutely does.
Just don’t blame us if your living room is soon filled with pint-sized gangsters shouting “Splurge ‘em!” 🎬🎩🧁👨👧👦
We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com.
Until next time, we remain...
Bad Dads
