#john cassisi

[haveyouseenthismovie-poll]

Have you seen Bugsy Malone (1976)?

Yes

No

Haven’t even heard of this movie

Voting ended onOct 14, 2025

[erstwhile-punk-guerito]

[theoscarsproject]

Bugsy Malone (1976). The classic gangster story of Bugsy Malone told with an all-child cast. It feels impossible to review this movie, because it is just so bonkers I can barely believe it got made at all, haha. As someone who's watched a lot of musicals for this project though, I will say the dancing, costumes and set pieces were really inventive and fun, but the adult singing voices were probably the biggest hindrance for me overall. It's totally bizarre, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, haha. 6.5/10.

[esperwatchesfilms]

Bugsy Malone (1976)

Cute Fact: When looking for Fat Sam, director Alan Parker went to a Brooklyn classroom and asked who was the naughtiest boy in class; all the class replied John Cassisi, who subsequently got the part.

Vocal Fact: All singing was dubbed by adult vocalists, with the exception of Bonnie Langford.

Fact That Further Proves That Scott Baio Has Always Been a Trash Human: Reportedly, actor Scott Baio was cast even after he had slammed down the script and stormed out of his audition.

Another Fact About Garbage Human Scott Baio: Florence Garland had a frosty relationship off-screen with Scott Baio and admitted years later that she couldn't stand him. The lack of any on-screen chemistry between the actors is noticeable in their scenes together.

ESE: 90/100

50 -25 for Scott Baio +10 for Jodie Foster +10 for originality of an all-child cast for a gangster film -10 for Scott Baio’s film debut +10 for Dexter Fletcher’s film debut -5 for guns that shoot cream +10 for soundtrack +5 for Fat Sam’s speakeasy +5 for splurge gun +5 for “My Name is Tallulah” +5 for the “cars” +5 for the gift for Blousey -5 for the splurge gun backfiring on poor Knuckles +5 for the Statue of Liberty torch joke +5 for Baby Face

[oldschoolteenflicks]

[movieassholes]

Don’t ever let me see you laughin’ at me again, you hear? Else I’ll ram that smile right down yer troat! I’m Fat Sam, don’t ever forget that! Number One Man, Top Dog, Mr. Big! Always have been, always will be, now get outta here!

Fat Sam - Bugsy Malone (1976)

[jingle-bones]

BUGSY MALONE (Alan Parker, 1976).

Alan Parker’s feature film directorial debut is really something special. A musical homage to 1930’s gangster movies with a cast made up entirely of children really shouldn’t work, but it does.

Gang warfare rages in Prohibition-era New York as hoods Fat Sam and Dandy Dan battle for supremacy in the city. Armed with newfangled splurge guns (whipped cream firing machine guns), it looks like Danny Dan’s mob is winning. Speakeasy owner Sam engages good guy Bugsy Malone to help in his fight against Dan, while Bugsy has his sights set on aspiring showgirl Blousey Brown.

Recalling both the classic Warner gangster flicks and early backstage musicals, Bugsy Malone is itself a film which largely avoids categorisation. It is a love letter to the Hollywood of the 1930s. The beautifully detailed sets of dimly lit back alleys and colourful speakeasies faithfully recalling the era of Cagney and Robinson. Paul Williams superb jazz inspired score provides perfect accompaniment to the visuals, while the witty, quick fire dialogue would befit a period screwball comedy. The soft focus camera work and plethora of brown on display gives the feel of an old sepia tone photograph and adds to the era atmosphere.

An assured and charismatic performance from Scott Baio as Bugsy is surprisingly his first screen appearance. As was true of much of the cast. Florrie Dugger is touchingly melancholic as Bugsy’s gal Blousey in her only movie, while John Cassisi embodies gleeful roguishness as Fat Sam, one of only a handful of acting roles for the youngster. Only Jodie Foster, in the supporting role of showgirl cum moll Tallulah, was a veteran performer and gives the first rate professional performance you would expect. But to the credit of the cast and director Parker, none of the kids put a foot wrong and are never upstaged by the more experienced star.

There really is nothing else like Bugsy Malone in cinema history. As artful as it is entertaining and equally enjoyable for children and grownups; a unique, unadulterated pleasure from beginning to end!

Visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME for a longer, more in-depth review of Bugsy Malone! Link below.

Bugsy Malone (1976)

Bugsy Malone (Alan Parker, 1976).  Alan Parker’s feature film directorial debut is really something special. A musical homage to 19

[upside-downhelicopters]

#92: Bugsy Malone

Total Movie Count: 92

In-Theater: 25 (24 at the Alamo Drafthouse)

At Home: 67