The News Boys (1992)
"Newsies" (original title)

A musical based on the New York City newsboy strike of 1899. When young newspaper sellers are exploited beyond reason by their bosses they set out to enact change and are met by the ruthlessness of big business.

Director:

Kenny Ortega

Writers:

Bob Tzudiker, Noni White

Stars:

Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, Ann-Margret

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian Bale	...	Jack Kelly
David Moscow	...	David Jacobs
Luke Edwards	...	Les Jacobs
Max Casella	...	Racetrack Higgins
Gabriel Damon	...	Spot Conlon
Marty Belafsky	...	Crutchy
Arvie Lowe Jr.	...	Boots
Aaron Lohr	...	Mush
Trey Parker	...	Kid Blink
Dee Caspary	...	Snitch
Joseph Conrad	...	Jake
Dominic Maldonado	...	Itey
Matthew Schoenfeld	...	Snipeshooter (as Matthew Fields)
Mark David	...	Specs
Ivan Dudynsky	...	Dutchy

Storyline

July, 1899: When Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise the distribution price one-tenth of a cent per paper, ten cents per hundred, the newsboys, poor enough already, are outraged. Inspired by the strike put on by the trolley workers, Jack "Cowboy" Kelly (Christian Bale) organizes a newsboys' strike. With David Jacobs (David Moscow) as the brains of the new union, and Jack as the voice, the weak and oppressed found the strength to band together and challenge the powerful.

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Plot Keywords:

newspaper | new york city | publisher | orphan | fight | 

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Taglines:

A Thousand Voices. A Single Dream.

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Genres:

Drama | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Newsboys

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$2,819,485 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchwood Pacific Partners 1, Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was a critical and commercial flop upon its initial theatrical release. However, it gathered a cult following after its home video release, eventually made its filming budget back on rentals, and was deemed popular enough to be adapted into a stage musical, which premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey in 2011. The musical had music and lyrics by Alan Menken (who composed the movie's music as well) and Jack Feldman (the movie's lyricist), and a new book by playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein.

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Goofs

Right before Jack insults the Delancey brothers, the Newsie next to Boots takes his hat off and holds it in his hand. Immediately in the next shot, it's on again, pulled down tightly as if he never took it off.

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Quotes

Spot Conlon: I've been hearing things from little birds. Things from Harlem, Queens, all over. They been chirpin' in my ear. Saying Jacky-boy's Newsies is playing like they're going on strike.
Jack Kelly: Yeah, well we are.
David Jacobs: But we're not playing. We are going on strike.
Spot Conlon: Oh yeah? Yeah? What is this, Jacky-boy? Some kind of walking mouth?
Jack Kelly: Yeah, it's a mouth. A mouth with a brain, and if you got half a one, you'll listen to what he's got to say.
David Jacobs: Well, we started the strike, but we can't do it alone. So, we're talking to ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Right before the credits begin rolling, a boy with a newspaper jumps up and the shot freezes on him. At the end of the credits the shot unfreezes and he falls down and rolls on the ground.

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Connections

Referenced in Gossip Girl: I Am Number Nine (2011)

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Soundtracks

"SEIZE THE DAY (CHORALE)"
Written by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Performed by the Newsies Ensemble

User Reviews

i absolutely love this movei!!

apart from being a wonderful musical (which i've grown up watching so i can tell a good from a bad) it also has a wonderful story-line. the plot is so well thought of, it isn't every day when they make a musical about a strike that happened in 1899. i fell in love with this movie the first time i watched it. it's classical, and when you see it, you can't help but liking it. the dancing, acting, and singing is great. i don't know many teenagers who can dance and sing like that! evenn thought this movie was made 10 years ago and i don't remember it, it's starting to come back. my mom's friend called one day saying that her daughter loves this movie called newsies, and i said that i love it! i thought nobody knew about it, but i was wrong. how could you forget a great movie like this? if you haven't seen it, i gaurentee you 100% that you will probably end up liking it as much as i do.