Newsies (1992)

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, Robert Duvall

1 win & 6 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:

orphan | year 1899 | teenage boy | paperboy | based on true story | 

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Taglines:

A Thousand Voices. A Single Dream.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | History | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

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 USA:

$2,819,485

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:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The dress that Ele Keats (Sarah Jacobs) wears in the "High Times, Hard Times" number is an authentic 1899 dress. After every take, the costumer had to constantly sew up small holes because the dress was so old and delicate.

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Goofs

In the rally scene, there is a brightly lit EXIT sign in the background.

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Quotes

David Jacobs: I've never been to Brooklyn - have you guys?
Boots: Spent a month there one night.

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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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Alternate Versions

The featurettes on the DVD version of "Newsies", include at least two scenes that were altered in the final movie:

• On the soundtrack for "Newsies" during the song "Carrying The Banner" there is a line that goes, "You need a smile as sweet as butter, the kind that ladies can't resist. It takes an orphan, with a stutter, who ain't afraid to use his fists." This footage is also present during the song on one of the featurettes, however in the movie, this part is cut, leading straight to the scene where the boys jump over the barrels.
• During another featurette, one of the cast members mentions that Christian Bale had to learn an extra skill for his part and then there is footage of him with a lasso doing various tricks. This scene appears to be from the "Santa Fe" song, although it is not made clear.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return: Reptilicus (2017)

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Soundtracks

CARRYING THE BANNER (FINALE)
Written by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Performed by the Newsies Ensemble
With original underscore by J. A. C. Redford

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.