In prohibition America Bugsy Malone (Scott Baio) finds himself in the middle of a gang war between Fat Sam (John Cassisi) and Dandy Dan (Martin Lev). The twist of course being that this gangster musical’s entire cast is made up of children and the guns fire cream pies and not bullets. 

Now forty-six years old this rewatch of Bugsy Malone was inspired by the fact that I had just attended a touring presentation of the musical on stage with my family. As my children were thrilled by the show I thought we could watch the film together as well and see the similarities and differences. 

Seven years after the films release an adaptation to the stage made its debut in the West End and famous names that have appeared in the various revivals include Catherine Zeta Jones, Sheridan Smith and Jamie Bell. The film was writer/director Alan Parker’s debut on the big screen and features a performance from Jodie Foster the same year that Taxi Driver released. All of the child actors songs were dubbed over by adults with the exception of Bonnie Langford who is possibly most famous for her role in Doctor Who in the 1980’s. 

Whilst I really do enjoy the film I have to say that I have always considered it incredibly light on plot. Bugsy Malone falls in love with a new singer at Fat Sam’s club whilst Sam and his rival Dandy Dan conduct a gang war. There is not much to it at all. But what you are here for is the gimmicks and songs. The pedal powered cars and costumes are brilliant touches and songs such as “Bad Guys” and “So You Wanna Be A Boxer” are fantastic. 

The verdict from my children was that the stage show was better but I am not convinced. Perhaps it is really a matter of what I watched when I was a child and what they watched first as children. Either way it is still a fun film that can introduce your children to the crime and musical genres through.