Family Fun Saturday - Newsies

Disney, 1992
Starring Christian Bale, David Moscow, Bill Pullman, and Robert Duvall
Directed by Kenny Ortega
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Jack Feldman

This is a childhood favorite of mine. It debuted just as I began to develop an interest in musicals and their history, as well as the history of film and the United States in the late 19th and 20th centuries. It eventually picked up a rather large fandom of teen girls who admired the music, dances, and cast of handsome young men. Were they right, or should we stop the presses on this unusual story? Let's head to a home for New York newsboys, just as they're getting ready to go on their daily rounds, and find out...

The Story: Jack Kelly (Bale) is the group's unofficial leader and one of the older boys. He and the other boys hawk "papes" for the World, owned by media magnate Joseph Pulitzer (Duvall). One day in July 1899, Jack takes two new "newsies" under his wing. David (Moscow) and Les (Luke Edwards) come from a loving family and are trying to make money after their father his hurt in an accident.

In an attempt to raise revenue and cut costs, Pulitzer and his board of directors increase the amount that the Newsies spend to buy their papers. Inspired by a trolley strike and David mentioning that his father was fired because he had no union to back him, Jack encourages a work stoppage. The story attracts the attention of Bryan Denton (Pullman), a journalist on the lookout for a unique story, and Snyder (Kevin Tigne), the head of the "Refuge," an abusive boys home that Jack escaped from. Now the boys have to stay in the papers...and show Pulitzer and all of the newspaper barons in New York that even the smallest voice can make the biggest difference.

The Song and Dance: And "dance" is the operative word. The movie is probably best known for its energetic and creative ensemble numbers by Kenny Ortega, many of which foreshadow another Disney film he did featuring talented young performers in massive ensembles, High School Musical. Bale shows much of the charisma he would later display in the Christopher Nolan Batman films and many indie dramas as the head of the strike who thinks he doesn't need anything but his dreams, and Moscow wasn't bad as the straight-laced David, who learns to loosen up as he slowly befriends Jack and the "newsies." The other boys were also a lot of fun to watch, especially Aaron Mohr as Mush and dapper Gabriel Damon as head Brookyn Newsie Spot Conlon.

Extra kudos for the awesome sets that ably recreate the grimy New York of the late 19th century. I suspect most of the backgrounds were probably done with early CGI, but they still look good, even today.

Favorite Number: The opening version of "Carrying the Banner" sets the tone, with the boys showing off their daily routine as they dance their way through waking up, washing, getting their breakfast, and picking up papers. "The World Will Know" is Jack encouraging the others, especially David, to start striking. David performs "Seize the Day" as the other Newsies prepare to destroy the newspapers and get the "scabbers" (strikebreakers) to stop selling. Bale's heartfelt "Santa Fe" has him explaining how badly he wants to move out west; it includes some terrific cowboy moves, and even a ride on a horse.

My favorite song and number from this one has always been "King of New York." Not only is the song the film's best, but the boys really go to town with it, tap dancing on table tops and even taking a ride on a ceiling fan in the end. They're obviously having a great time, and it's just such a blast to watch.

Trivia: This was originally intended to be a drama, but the positive response to the animated musicals Disney put out in the early 90's prompted executives to make it a full live-action musical.

The film was a huge flop at the box office in 1992, but it went on to pick up a substantial fan base of musical nuts and teen girls who ogled the attractive cast when it was released on video and cable. It became so popular, Disney adapted it as a stage musical in 2011. With a revised story and more songs, it debuted on Broadway at the Nederlander Theater and ran for two years, becoming the surprise smash of 2012. After the tour ended, the production was filmed and saw a limited release in theaters and a wider one online.

What I Don't Like: Most of the adult characters besides Denton and Ann Margaret's chanteuse feel like afterthoughts. Duvall is an appropriately gruff Pulitzer, but he really doesn't have much to do after raising the Newsies' prices. The villains don't even have a song. The movie is a lot less fun in the second half, when Jack's story and the melodrama take over. David and Les' pretty sister Sarah is nothing more than a bland love interest for Jack until the third act, when she helps the boys and Denton send the word about the strike to all the working kids in New York.

And if you know anything about the real newsboys' strike, you'll realize that the end is a bit prettied up for a sweet, happy finale. The boys did get their paper decrease, but very little else changed...or would change in their working conditions or in the lives of child laborers for at least another 20 years.

The Big Finale: The critics then and now don't seem to know what to make of this one...and I have never understood why. With it's "underdogs against the corporation" theme and dynamic dance routines, I suspect it was just ahead of its time. This is still highly recommended, especially if you have teen girls of your own who may love the music and cast.

Home Media: Out of print on DVD, but the Blu-Ray can be found for under 10 dollars, and it's on many streaming services. (I watched it on Disney Plus.)

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