Ep 24: Bugsy Malone

This week CFX examines one of the strangest children’s films of all time, renowned filmmaker Alan Parker’s debut, Bugsy Malone. Does this eccentric and artful alternate universe gangster film, with its whip cream-powered “splurge” guns, sarsaparilla-serving speakeasies and Flintstone-like pedal cars, stand the test of time? We attempt to find out and along the way, we learn… How the actor who played an arch criminal in the film grew up to become one in real life (well, sort of…) Why the singing voices of the child actors sound strangely mature What universally acclaimed classic gangster film was improbably influenced by this film Who Paul Williams is and why he is and will always be a diminutive ‘70s music god How the art direction of this film remains one of the best of all time Why Jodie Foster’s performance was preternaturally mature and maybe a bit sad Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.