THE NEWSIES

US, 1992, 121 minutes, Colour.
Robert Duvall, Ann- Margret, Christian Bale, Bill Pullman.
Directed by Kenny Ortega.

The Newsies is a lavish Disney production, a period piece, set in 1899, focusing on the newspaper empire of Joseph Pulitzer (and by implication of William Randolph Hearst) and the strike of the newspaper boys of that year.

However, it is presented in a stylised way, as a musical (with songs by Howard Mencken, Oscar winner for such films as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid). However, they seem a pale echo of some of the songs from West Side Story - as does the rather laboured choreography by the director of the film, Kenny Ortega (Hocus Pocus).

Robert Duvall offers an eccentric performance as a bearded Pulitzer. Ann- Margret appears twice as a vaudeville queen of the period who helps the newsboys. Star of the film is Christian Bale (Empire of the Sun, Little Women) replete with an American accent and much older than he was when he was so effective in Empire of the Sun. There is a good supporting cast led by David Moscow and Bill Pullman (who has a chance to sing) as the reporter who highlights the strike of the newsies.

The film has the atmosphere of New York, the sets and decor are quite striking. However, while the film is watchable, many audiences will not be attracted to its rather older style of musical.

1. The impact of the film? Lack of box office success? Designed for what audience: family, children, adults?

2. New York settings, 1899, the streets of Manhattan, Brooklyn? Period, costumes and decor?

3. The film as a musical: the songs, lyrics, tunes? Adding to the issues and themes, to the characters? King of New York? The choreography - in the theatre, on the streets of New York with the newsies?

4. The title, its focus on the emergence of newspapers in the late 1890s? The newspaper empires and the power brokers? New York? The use of child labour? The price of papers? Exploiting the children? Institutions? The reaction of the strike?

5. The presentation of the newsies: the opening, song and dance, their appearance, the institutions, waking up, the kindly janitor? The contrast with the warden and his cruelty - with the touches of Charles Dickens in New York? The boys and their life, work, on the streets, selling papers? Clashes with the agents for the selling of the papers? Their hopes in life?

6. Jack - the hero of the film? Irish background? Father in prison? Jack's friends, leadership? Songs and dances? Dreams of Santa Fe? Riding the horse through New York City? The work, the clashes with the agent? The friendship with David and his young brother? Going to the family, being well received? The increase in the paper price? The stand, the violence (and the echo of the violence in the trolley strike)? David and his ideas? Jack mouthing them? Getting the support of the other newsies, the visit to Brooklyn and winning them over - especially after the riot? His tactics in the riot? The meeting with Denton, his writing the articles, the photos? His support? The visit to Pulitzer, the temptation to money, going back into the institution? Appearing in the suit, David's disillusionment? Helping him when he was attacked? Taking a stand, confronting Pulitzer? Winning his case? The reconciliation? The fulfilment of his hopes? The court sequence?

7. David, his brother, sister, the family? Genial, poor? Needing the money, becoming newsies? The encounter with Jack, the friendship? David and his ideas, nervous to speak them out? Won over to the cause? With Denton? Interviewed? The cafe sequence and their success? His disillusionment with Jack? The change of heart, the court scene? The printing of the paper? Jack taking the paper to Pulitzer? The final reconciliation? Symbol of the labour movement of the period, the brains behind the unions?

8. Denton, his work in Cuba, interest in the boys, covering the story, the friendships? The celebration and song and dance with them? His being taken off the paper? The confrontation by David? His supporting them in printing the paper for distribution?

9. Robert Duvall as Pulitzer, the background of his newspaper empire, the comparisons with Hearst? The trade deals, exploiting the newsies? His assistants and their schemes, support, adulation? The mayor in his pocket? The card game and the introduction of the mayor to the magnates? The confrontation with Jack? His trying to bribe him, threaten him? The final confrontation, the paper, his giving in?

10. The role of Teddy Roosevelt, the hero of Cuba, governor of New York, the appeal about the institutions, his personal intervention?

11. Medder - and the theatre of the time, glamour, Ann-Margret's song and dance routines? Helping the boys?

12. The warden, his sinister attitudes, his pursuit of Jack, finding out the truth about him, pursuing him in the theatre, the visit to Pulitzer, his finally being arrested? The contrast with the kindly janitor?

13. The presentation of work and union issues of the 1890s? Their being part of New York life and New York heritage? The treatment of them in music and musical comedy? How effective?