Little Fugitive (1953)

A young boy fears that he shot his older brother, who is only faking. He then runs away to Coney Island, a crowded beach area, and gets money by returning soda bottles for their deposits.

Directors:

Ray Ashley, Morris Engel

Writers:

Ray Ashley, Morris Engel

Stars:

Richard Brewster, Winifred Cushing, Jay Williams

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Brewster	...	Lennie
Winifred Cushing	...	Mother
Jay Williams	...	Pony Ride Man
Will Lee	...	Photographer
Charlie Moss	...	Harry
Tommy DeCanio	...	Charley
Richie Andrusco	...	Joey

Storyline

Joey, a young boy, runs away to Coney Island after he is tricked into believing he has killed his older brother. Joey collects glass bottles and turns them into money, which he uses to ride the rides.

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | coney island | younger brother | older brother | harmonica | 

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Taglines:

A Gem of American Comedy

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 December 1953 (France)

Also Known As:

The Coney Island Kid

Filming Locations:

2951 West 8th St., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,040, 3 February 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$27,373, 10 January 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Little Fugitive Production Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film heavily influenced the French "New Wave" style cinema of the late 1950's and 1960's.

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Goofs

As Joey rides the carousel, he almost falls off the horse trying to high five the ride operator. You can see somebody grab his foot until he's able to pull himself up.

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Quotes

Mother: I tell you what. Next Sunday, we're all going to get out into the air. I'm gonna take you to Coney Island.

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Connections

Referenced in The Dick Van Dyke Show: You Ought to Be in Pictures (1966)

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Soundtracks

Sobre las olas (Over the Waves)
(1887) (uncredited)
Music by Juventino Rosas
Played as Joey first approaches the merry-go-round

User Reviews

A Pleasant Little Film

Little Fugitive is a pleasant little film set in a more innocent time. The children that play Joey and Lennie act naturally and are light-years away from the gee-whiz-freckle-faced "kids" that usually inhabit films. There is a documentary, unjudgemental feel to the film, with not an ounce of condescension in the whole film. There are very few adults in the film, and when there are adults, they are presented as slight irritations to the children.

The story concerns two brothers who are forced to spend a weekend together because their single mom has to go an care for her mother. Lennie, the older boy, has to look after little Joey, despite the fact that he wanted to spend his Saturday at Coney Island. Early in the film, Lennie and his friends trick Joey into thinking that he killed his big brother, just to get rid of him. Joey, panic-stricken, runs off and hops on a subway (think 1953--Way Safer) and goes off to Coney Island. It is at this point that the film flexes its creative muscles. great b&w photography, interesting angles, wistful harmonica soundtrack, and a episodic, poetic narrative. Watch this film. its a keeper.